Taekwondo Palgwe forms are a set of eight patterns that are practiced in the Taekwondo martial art. These forms were developed in the 1960s in order to standardize the practice of Taekwondo across the world. Each Palgwe form has its own unique set of movements, which are designed to improve a practitioner’s balance, strength, coordination, and flexibility.
The Palgwe forms are typically taught to Taekwondo students who have achieved a certain level of proficiency in the basic techniques of the martial art. They are an important component of the Taekwondo curriculum, as they provide students with an opportunity to practice more complex movements and techniques in a structured and controlled environment.
In addition to their physical benefits, the Palgwe forms also have a cultural significance. Each form is associated with a specific philosophical concept, such as perseverance, harmony, or unity. By practicing these forms, Taekwondo students not only improve their physical abilities, but also develop a deeper understanding of the principles that underlie the martial art.
Figure 1
The meaning of Pal Gwe is equivalent to the Chinese Pa Kua. These Pa Kua, or “trigrams” in the English language, relate to the I-Ching Octahedron (Figure 1).
Figure 2
This Oriental paradigm is a symbol that features a central, stylized “Yin-yang” symbol (Figure 2) in its center, surrounded on eight sides by these Palgwe or trigrams.
Figure 3
The Korean version Yin-yang (Center of Korean Flag, Figure 3), is achieved by a removal of the lesser Yin and Yang symbols (little circles), from the Yin-yang and a substitution of the black and white with the colors red and blue. These are usually described as “sky” and “sun”.
Figure 4
To truly represent the PalGwe concept in its Korean interpretation, as the I-Ching is of Chinese origins, one should substitute the Korean version “Um-yang”, or “Tae Guk”, in place of the Chinese Yin-yang (Figure 4).
8 Palgwe Forms
There are 8 Palgwe Forms of Taekwondo. Palgwe forms were used before the WTF switched to Taegeuk forms. However, many Taekwondo schools still use Palgwe poomsae. Even though the names of Palgwe forms and Taegeuk forms (i.e. Sam Jang) are very similar, they are completely different forms/patterns.