Chon Ji

(19 moves, left foot returns)

Means literally "the Heaven the Earth." It is, in the Orient, interpreted as the creation of the world or the beginning of human history; therefore, it is the initial pattern played by the beginner. This pattern consist of two similar parts; one to represent the Heaven and the other, the Earth.

Dan Gun

(21 moves, left foot returns)

Is named after the holy Dan-Gun, the legendary founder of Koreain the year 2333 BC.

Do San

(24 moves, right foot returns)

Is the pseudonym of the patriot Ahn Chang-Ho (1876-1938). The 24 movements represent his entire life which he devoted to furthering the education of Korea and its independence movement.

Won Hyo

(28 moves, right foot returns)

Was the noted monk who introduced Buddhism to the Silla Dynasty in the year 686 AD.

Yul Gok

(38 moves, left foot returns)

Is the pseudonym of a great philosopher and scholar Yi-I (1536-1584), nicknamed the "Confucius of Korea." The 38 movements of this pattern refer to his birthplace on the 38th degree latitude and the diagram ( + ) represents scholar.

Joong Gun

(32 moves, left foot returns)

Is named after the patriot Ahn Joong-Gun who assassinated Hiro-Bumi Ito, the first Japanese governor-general of Korea, known as the man who

played the leading part in the Korea-Japan merger. There are 32 movements in this pattern to represent Mr. Ahn's age when he was executed at Lui-Shung prison (1910).

Toi Gye

(37 moves, right foot returns)

Is the pen name of the noted scholar Yi Hwang (16th century), an authority on neo-Confucianism. The 37 movements of the pattern refer to his birthplace on the 37thdegree latitude, the diagram represents "scholar."

Hwa Rang

(29 moves, right foot returns)

Is named after the Hwa-Rang youth group which originated in the Silla Dynasty in the early 7th century. The 29 movements refer to the 29th Infantry Division, where Taekwondo developed into maturity.

Choong Moo

(30 moves, left foot returns)

Was the name given to the great Admiral Yi Soon-Sin of the Yi Dynasty. He was reputed to have invented the first armored battleship (Kobukson)

in 1592, which is said to be the precursor of the present day submarine.  The reason this pattern ends with a left-hand attack is to symbolize his regrettabledeath, having no chance to show his unrestrained potentiality, checked by the forced reservation of his loyalty to the king.

Kwang Gae

(39 moves, left foot returns)

Is named after the famous Gwang-Gae-Toh-Wang, the 19th King of the Koguryo Dynasty, who regained all the lost territories including the greater part of Manchuria.  The diagram ( + ) represents expansion and recovery of lost territory. The 39 movements refer to the first two figures of 391 AD, the year he came to the throne.