WTF Taegeuk Kup Grade Poomsae
This is a way of truly understanding and practising the martial art. The body and mind can work together in striving for perfection of technique which can never be achieved.
Poomsae is a set of pre arranged movements designed to strive for this perfection while developing the body and mind without thinking and all poomsae must be practised with this in mind. A series of defending and attacking movements performed against an imaginary opponent make up a poomsae
Different associations practise different poomsae however the majority of clubs practise Tae Geuk and Dan Grade Poomsae.
Taegeuk Poomsae is practised to achieve kup grade belts and it is important to remember that when learning the next pattern of movements the ones that have gone before are not forgotten.
Ideally it is recommended that when all the movements of the Taegeuk poomsae are learnt, they are practised one after the other without stopping, then the student will truly understand the first steps of poomsae.
Dan Grade Poomsae must be practised in exactly the same way while understanding the meaning of the movements and demonstrating them individually with maximum power, technique, focus and relaxed movement, this will be achieved through breathing and concentration and years of practise, all of which are essential skills for a Taekwondo student.
Remember Taekwondo is nothing without poomsae.
TAEGEUK The origin of all universal things
TAE Bigness
GEUK Eternity
Taegeuk represents the most profound oriental philosophy, from which Oriental philosophical views on the world, cosmos and life are derived. Taegeuk has no form, no beginning, no ending, yet everything comes from Taegeuk. It is something that contains the essence of everything.
TAEGUEUK POOMSAE
Each of the eight Taegeuk forms represents an ancient trigram and derives meaning from an ancient Chinese manuscript called the “Jooyeok” in Korean, better known to us as the “I Ching” (or “Book of Changes”).
IL JANG 18 movements Heaven & Light
EE JANG 18 movements Joyfulness
SAM JANG 20 movements Fire & Sun
SAH JANG 20 movements Thunder
OH JANG 20 movements Wind
YUK JANG 23 movements Water
CHIL JANG 25 movements Mountain
PAL JANG 24 movements Earth