WHAT ARE TAEKWONDO FORMS
Simply put, Taekwondo forms are patterns of stances, blocks and strikes intended to fine tune the techniques of the student.
The Korean terms hyeong, poomsae and teul are all used to refer to Taekwondo forms or “patterns.”
- The word hyeong is often romanized as hyung – hyeong is the term usually used in Traditional Taekwondo.
- Poomsae is sometimes romanized as pumsae or poomse – poomsae is the term officially used by Kukkiwon/WT- and ATA-styles of taekwondo.
- Teul is often romanized as tul – teul is the term usually used in ITF-style “Chang Hon” taekwondo.
There are eight basic poomsae forms in each series which are learned by all Taekwondo practitioners, and higher level forms for advanced students and black belts. Each form has a unique purpose – some teach the fundamentals of Taekwondo such as stances, kicks and punches; others focus on application of learned skills in self-defense scenarios. The practice of poomsae is an essential part of Taekwondo training, helping to improve strength, coordination, balance and flexibility while instilling valuable principles such as discipline and focus.
Beyond the foundational ones, there are additional special forms that may be used for competition and demonstration purposes. By mastering the poomsae, Taekwondo practitioners can progress to higher levels of proficiency in their chosen martial art.
Practicing tkd patterns is an effective way to develop physical strength, coordination and flexibility while learning valuable life skills such as discipline and focus. As practitioners progress along their Taekwondo journey, they will learn more complex patterns that can help them reach higher levels of proficiency in the martial art.
history of TAEKWONDO POOMSAE
Simply put, Taekwondo forms are patterns of stances, blocks and strikes intended to fine tune the techniques of the student.
Beginning in 1946, shortly after the conclusion of the Japanese occupation of Korea, new martial arts schools called kwans were opened in Seoul. These schools were established by Korean martial artists who had studied primarily in Okinawa and China during the Japanese occupation. Accordingly, the martial arts practiced in the kwans was heavily influenced by Shotokan karate and Chinese martial arts, though elements of taekkyeon and gwonbeop were also incorporated.
Authors typically attribute taekwondo’s adoption of forms to the the influence of Okinawan karate on the original Nine Kwans of taekwondo. In karate, forms are called kata. Kata, in turn, are believed to have been inspired by forms used in Chinese chuan fa and kenpo. In 1429 C.E. many Chinese nationals immigrated into Okinawa and other parts of Japan, and it is believed that these immigrants brought the idea of forms study with them. In fact, some of the karate kata still studied today bear the names of the Chinese practitioners who inspired them. The idea of forms study then is likely a Chinese invention.
In Korean martial arts history, the first documented use of form is in Muye Dobo Tongji, published in 1795 C.E.
Whether one chooses to travel back to the dawn of systematized martial practice and the origins of Chinese Kung-Fu, the advent of Karate-Do in Okinawa and its subsequent development in the island of Japan, or the formal creation of Taekwondo in Korea, this journey is increasingly interesting the further one delves into its finer points.
TYPES OF TAEKWONDO FORMS
Simply put, Taekwondo forms are patterns of stances, blocks and strikes intended to fine tune the techniques of the student.
Taekwondo forms vary across different federations, such as ATA, ITF, and WT. Even within the same federation, individual schools may use slightly altered variations of the same forms or have different names for identical forms, particularly in traditional styles of Taekwondo. This lack of standardization is especially noticeable in beginner forms, which are often less structured than advanced forms.
TRADITIONAL TAEKWONDO FORMS
Traditional Taekwondo, including styles such as Moo Duk Kwan Taekwondo and Tang Soo Do, incorporates various forms that predate even the ITF forms.
These forms date back to the 1940s-1950s, during which the Nine Kwans first established the foundations of what would become known as Taekwondo. Many of these forms were originally employed to train the South Korean military and were derived from other martial arts, such as Karate and Kung Fu.
Since Traditional Taekwondo is an amalgamation of several styles, there is no definitive “standard” for its curriculum. Different schools utilize varying curriculums. Nevertheless, the Pyong Ahn forms are commonly practiced across many Traditional Taekwondo curriculums.
INTERNATIONAL TAEKWONDO FEDERATION (ITF FORMS)
ITF-styles schools use 24 Chang Hon forms (firstly known as hyeong and currently known as teul), developed primarily in the 1960s by Choi Hong Hi.
The first forms developed for what is now referred to as modern-style Taekwondo came to be known as ITF-style Taekwondo. This style is also considered a “traditional” form of Taekwondo, given that it represents the first attempt at a consolidated style. Compared to traditional Taekwondo, ITF-style forms are less numerous. Beginners in ITF-style (White Belts) do not start with forms but instead learn short exercises such as Four Direction Block, Four Direction Punch, and Four Direction Thrust. However, ITF patterns are described in more detail in the main ITF Patterns article. It’s important to note that while some ITF-style schools adopt the Sine Wave approach to performing forms, not all do so.
Occasionally, certain forms from Traditional Taekwondo are included in ITF curriculums at some schools, such as Chul-Gi and Bassai. However, some authors consider these to be “unofficial” ITF forms, though this practice is far from universal.
After the establishment of the Global Taekwondo Federation in 1990, Park Jung Tae added six patterns to the original 24 ITF patterns. These patterns are Jee-Sang, Dhan-Goon, Jee-Goo, Jook-Am, Pyong-Hwa, and Sun-Duk.
WORLD TAEKWONDO FEDERATION
(WTF FORMS) (KUKKIWON FORMS)
The Palgwae forms used in Kukkiwon/WT-style taekwondo were developed in the late 1960s, but were later deprecated, as they were not authorized to be exported to countries outside Korea, and replaced with the Taegeuk forms in the early 1970s.
Initially designed for children, these forms are intended to prepare students for sparring in sports-style taekwondo by emphasizing less combat-oriented techniques. Consequently, the forms rely on more natural, upright sparring stances, such as the Walking Stance, rather than long, low stances.
The following forms are typically used in taekwondo:
- Taegeuk forms: These are the forms presently employed for color belts (geup grades).
- Palgwae forms: These forms precede the Taegeuk forms and are still taught in some schools.
- Black Belt forms (also known as the Yudanja series of forms)
- Beginner forms (Kibon forms): These are non-standardized, resulting in significant variations between schools.
Kukkiwon/WT-style taekwondo usually acknowledges ten geup grades before black belt, but there are only eight forms in the Taegeuk series. For this reason, most Kukkiwon/WT-style schools incorporate two Kibon forms into their curriculum, allowing students to learn one new form at each geup level.
American Taekwondo Association forms (poomsae)
Contemporary to ITF-style taekwondo, ATA forms were likewise developed in the late 1960s in the United States, based on the teachings of Traditional Taekwondo
Unlike sport-focused ITF forms, ATA forms prioritize combat. Interestingly, these forms place a greater emphasis on kicking. As a franchise-based organization, ATA forms are copyrighted by ATA and are not often found documented outside of official ATA publications. PDF files defining the forms are provided to ATA franchise schools.
Jhoon Rhee forms
When taekwondo pioneer Jhoon Rhee first brought taekwondo to the United States, he taught Traditional Taekwondo (what he was calling Korean Karate at the time).
Jhoon Rhee schools initially incorporated the ITF-style forms in their curriculum but later switched to developing their own forms for Color Belts due to controversies surrounding Choi Hong Hi. First-Dan Black Belts in Jhoon Rhee-style Taekwondo eventually study the ITF-style Color Belt forms, while Second-Dan Black Belts learn the ITF-style Black Belt forms. A noteworthy feature unique to Jhoon Rhee-style Taekwondo is the concept of setting forms to music, called Martial Ballet. For instance, the Jhoon Rhee form, Might for Right, is performed to the music of Theme of Exodus as part of Martial Ballet. Similarly, the form Jung-Yi is performed to the song Granada. Although the form Marriage of East to West is no longer part of the mainstream Jhoon Rhee curriculum, it is still performed at Martial Ballet competitions. Since the advent of the Martial Ballet, other schools have also adopted the practice of setting their forms to music to reinforce the cadence and rhythm of the movements.
Tae Kwon Do Forms in Competition
Poomsae performance is more than just technical correctness however, it is a performance, i.e., “an entertaining show”, so the technical factors listed above are not the only considerations typically evaluated.
The Taekwonsoft poomsae scoring device is a WTF-approved system used for scoring poomsae competitions. In such competitions, several event types exist, including Open Poomsae, Sport Poomsae, Team Poomsae, and Creative or Freestyle Poomsae.
Participants in Open Poomsae events know ahead of time which form to demonstrate, usually based on their belt rank. Sport Poomsae events, on the other hand, require participants to perform any of the standard forms with short notice, necessitating a thorough understanding of the style’s entire curriculum. In Team Poomsae events, participants perform a poomsae simultaneously as part of a team, and the team’s synchronization is also evaluated. In Creative or Freestyle Poomsae events, participants perform a self-designed poomsae.
Each tournament has its own guidelines for judging poomsae competitions. Typically, judges evaluate technical factors such as performance quality, timing, power, balance, and accuracy.
- Stance:
- Are the feet the correct distance apart for that stance
- Are the toes pointed in the correct direction
- Are the correct parts of the feet (heels, balls, toes, etc.) for that stance touching the ground
- Are the knees bent the correct amount
- Is the performer’s weight distributed correctly among the two legs
- And most importantly: did the performer finish the form at the same spot as where he started (within a few inches), thus demonstrating consistent length to his stances
- Blocking, Punches, and Strikes:
- Were the arms chambered correctly prior to the movement
- Did the arms travel along the correct path, and finish in the correct position
- Were the hands shaped properly before, during, and after the movement
- Were the wrists held correctly
- Kicks:
- Did the kicking leg travel along the correct path, strike in the correct position, and then recover along the correct path
- Did the supporting leg have the correct amount of bend and twist before, during, and after the movement
- Did the kicking foot use the correct striking surface (top, toes, ball, heel, etc.)
- Did the supporting foot support the performer’s weight using the correct parts of the foot (usually the flat or the ball of the foot)
- Note that according to some published technical guidelines for some styles, no guidance is provided for arm position during the kick
- Kihap
- Are the kihaps performed in the right places, and are they strong
A successful poomsae performance extends beyond technical accuracy; it is an entertaining exhibition. Therefore, the technical factors mentioned earlier are not the only criteria assessed. This aspect of poomsae performance is similar to gymnastics or figure skating, where the score comprises both technical precision and showmanship. Judges consider various elements, including:
- Scoring Criteria for Poomsae Competitions
- When evaluating poomsae performances, judges will consider:
- Technical correctness: Were all steps performed accurately without any mistakes?
- Basic techniques: Were basic kicks, blocks, strikes, and other fundamental movements performed well?
- Physical execution: Did the athlete display accuracy, balance, power, snap, speed, coordination, rhythm, and energy?
- Expressiveness: Was the athlete able to convey emotion and feeling through their performance? This factor can be more subjective than others.
- Overall performance: Did the athlete deliver an entertaining and excellent show that reflected the true essence of taekwondo?
- It’s important to note that in some competitions, scoring begins as soon as the athlete steps onto the mat. Judges may evaluate the athlete’s entrance, including whether they bow respectfully to the judges before beginning the event.
- Scoring Process for Poomsae Competitions
- Poomsae competitions typically involve at least three judges and one referee. The judges sit in a line along one edge of the ring, while the referee interacts with the athletes.
- During the competition, judges may assign numerical scores (usually from 1 to 10) based on the quality of the athlete’s performance. Four points are usually assigned to technical correctness, while the remaining six points are awarded for the quality of the performance. Alternatively, judges may select a winner among pairs of competitors, with the best 2 out of 3 judges determining the winner.
- The referee’s role includes bringing athletes onto the ring, having them bow to the judges, and starting and ending their performances. They also call for judges to score and record the scores if no designated score-keeper is present.
- After the elimination rounds, the referee will call the winners (in 3rd, 2nd, and 1st place order) back into the ring, where they will be announced and bow to the judges and audience.