The Reason for 24 Patterns

The life of a human being, perhaps 100 years, can be considered as a day when compared with eternity.Therefore, we mortals are no more than simple travelers who pass by the eternal years of an eon in a day. It is evident that no one can live more than a limited amount of time. Nevertheless, most people foolishly enslave themselves to materialism as if they could live for thousands of years. And some people strive to bequeath a good spiritual legacy for coming generations, in this way, gaining immortality. Obviously, the spirit is perpetual while material is not; therefore, what we can do to leave behind something for the welfare of mankind is, perhaps, the most important thing in our lives.

Here I leave Taekwon-Do for mankind as a trace of man of the late 20th century. The 24 patterns represent 24 hours, one day, or all my life. The name of the pattern, the number of movements, and the diagrammatic symbol of each pattern symbolizes either heroic figures in Korean history or instances relating to historical events.
- General Choi, Hong Hi

From "Taekwon-Do (The Korean Art of Self Defense)" also

known as "The Condensed Encyclopedia."
Fifth Edition 1999, All rights reserved

Copyright 1988, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1999 General Choi, Hong Hi.

Chang Hon Hyungs

Chon-Ji

The Chon-Ji Hyung has 19 movements. Literally Chon-Ji means "heaven and earth" or "heaven-the-earth", which is interpreted as the creation of the world or the beginning of human history. It is therefore the initial pattern performed by a beginner during their creation and entrance into the world of Tae Kwon Do. This pattern consists of two similar parts of 8 moves each (followed by 3 punches); one represents the Heaven and the other the Earth. The first consists of low blocks in front stance or walking stance, depending on the school; this stance puts the body higher up, thus representing heaven. In the second half, the blocks are in back stance (or L-stance); this stance puts the body closer to the earth. Both parts can be broken down into four sections each consisting of a block and a punch. These four sections symbolize the four elements of the Heaven and Earth; Fire, Water, Earth and Spirit.

There is a lake named Chon-ji Lake on the Chinese-Korean border that is sacred to both the Koreans and Manchu. It sits at the top of Mount Baekdu, which is the highest point on the Korean peninsula.

Tan-Gun

The Tan-Gun hyung has 21 movements. It is the second pattern among the International Tae Kwon Do Federation patterns, created by General Choi. It is named after the Holy Tangun, the legendary founder of Korea. Indeed all the punches in this pattern are high, to symbolise the mountain that Tangun was supposed to have climbed when he founded Korea. The story of Tangun is legend and truth in one. This leaves the hyung open to much interpretation.

Do-San

The Do-San hyung has 24 movements. Do-San is a pseudonym of the patriot Ahn Chang-ho. The 24 movements represent his entire life, which he devoted to furthering education in Korea and the Korean independence movement.

Won-Hyo

The Won-Hyo hyung has 28 movements. It is named after the noted monk Wonhyo who introduced Buddhism to the Silla Dynasty in the year 686 AD.

Yul-Gok

The Yul-Gok hyung has 38 movements. Yul-Gok is a pseudonym of a great philosopher and scholar Yi I nicknamed the "Confucius of Korea.” The 38 movements of this pattern refer to his birthplace on 38-degree latitude and the diagram of the pattern represents scholar.

Joon-Gun

The Joon-Gun hyung has 32 movements. Joong-Gun 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 patter to represent Mr Ahn's age when he was executed at Lui-Shung in 1910.

Toi-Gye

The Toi-Gye hyung has 37 movements. Toi-Gye is the pen name of the noted scholar Yi Hwang an authority on neo-Confucianism. The 37 movements of the pattern refer to his birthplace on 37-degree latitude, the diagram represents "scholar" as in the Yul-Gok hyung.

Hwa-Rang

The Hwa-Rang Hyung has 29 movements. Hwa Rang is named after the Hwarang youth group which originated in the Silla Dynasty in the early 7th century. The 29 movements refer to the 29th infantry Division, where Tae Kwon Do developed into maturity.

Chul-Gi

The Chul-Gi hyung has 25 movements. Chul-Gi literally means Iron Horse and stresses techniques performed in a horse/riding stance. Chul-Gi is Japanese in origin and practiced by many martial arts styles. Chul-Gi is known as Naihanchi in Okinawan Karate and as Tekki in Shotokan Karate.

Choong-Moo

The Choong-Moo hyung has 30 movements. Choong-Moo was the name given to the great Admiral Yi Sun-sin of the Yi Dynasty. He was reputed to have invented the first armored battleship (geobukseon) in 1592. This pattern ends with a left hand attack, to symbolize his regrettable death. He was noted for his unrestrained loyalty to the King.

Bassai

The Bassai hyung has 29 movements. Bassai is also Japanese in origin and is practiced in Tae Kwon Do and Tang Soo Do as well as many Japanese and Okinawan Karate styles. Bassai is also known as Balsek. Bassai is often translated as “to break down the fortress.” The Korean Pronunciation of the characters that make up Bassai is “Patsai.” It is also called the "Iron Horse" and is usually associated with the Cobra, because of the quick, snapping motions of the tecniques.

Kwang-Gae

The Kwang-Gae hyung has 39 movements. Kwang-Gae is named after the famous Kwang-Gae-Toh-Wang, the 19th king of the Koguryo Dynasty, who regained all the lost territories including the greater part of Manchuria. The diagram of the form represents the 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.

Po-Eun

The Po-Eun hyung has 36 movements. Po-Eun is the pseudonym of a loyal subject Chong-Mong-Chu who was a famous poet and whose poem "I would not serve a second master though I might be crucified a hundred times" is known to every Korean. He was also a pioneer in the field of physics. The diagram represents his unerring loyalty to the king and country towards the end of the Koryo Dynasty.

Gae-Baek

The Gae-Baek hyung has 44 Movements. Gae-Baek is named after Gyebaek, a great general in the Baekje Dynasty. The diagram represents his severe and strict military discipline.

Eui-Am

The Eui-Am hyung has 45 Movements. Eui-Am is the pseudonym of Son Byong Hi, leader of the Korean independence movement on March 1, 1919. The 45 movements refer to his age when he changed the name of his religion from Dong Hak (oriental learning) to Chondogyo (Heavenly Way Religion) in 1905. The diagram represents his indomitable spirit, displayed while dedicating himself to the prosperity of his nation.

Choong-Jang

The Choong-Jang hyung has 52 Movements. Choong-Jang is the pseudonym given to General Kim Duk Ryang who lived during the Yi Dynasty, 14th century. This pattern ends with a left hand attack to symbolize the tragedy of his death at 27 in prison before he was able to reach full maturity.

Ko-Dang

Kodang was one of the original 24 patterns created by General Choi. However, at some point in the development of ITF style Tae Kwon Do, Kodang was removed from the official syllabus by General Choi and replaced by a new pattern which he named Juche. Although no longer part of official ITF Tae Kwon Do, Kodang is still included in the syllabuses of many Tae Kwon Do organisations. In those organisations where it is still taught, it is generally taught to students at the level of black belt or above. It consists of a sequence of 39 individual techniques.

Although some sources lead to the deduction that Kodang is exactly the same pattern as Juche, they are in fact two completely different patterns.

Juche

The Juche hyung has 45 Movements. Juche is a philosophical idea that man is the master of everything and decides everything. In other words, the idea that man is that master of the world and his own destiny. It is said that this idea was rooted in Baekdu Mountain, which symbolize the spirit of the Korean people. The diagram represents Baekdu Mountain.

Sam Il

The Sam Il hyung has 33 Movements. Its name refers to the historic March 1st Movement, an important event in the Korean independence movement. The 33 movements in the pattern represent for the 33 patriots who planned the movement.

Yoo-Sin

The Yoo-Sin hyung has 68 Movements. Yoo Sin is named after General Kin Yoo Sin, a commanding general during the Silla Dynasty. The 68 movements refer to the last two figures of 668 AD the year Korea was unified. The ready posture signifies a sword drawn to the right rather than the left side, symbolizing Yoo Sin's mistake of following his king's orders to fight with foreign forces against his own nation.