Name: CHON-JI (chun-gee)
Number of Moves: 19
Definition: Means literally “the Heaven and 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. The pattern consists of two similar parts; one to represent the Heaven and the other the Earth.
Name: DAN-GUN (dan-gun)
Number of Moves: 21
Definition: Is named after the holy Dan-Gun, the legendary founder of Korea in the year of 2333 B.C.
Name: DO-SAN (doh-sahn)
Number of Moves: 24
Definition: Is a name of the patriot Ahn Ch’ang-Ho (1876-1938). The 24 movements represent his entire life, which he devoted to furthering education in Korea and the Korean independence movement.
Name: WON-HYO (on-yo)
Number of Moves: 28
Definition: Is named after the noted monk Won-Hyo who introduced Buddhism to the Silla Dynasty in the year 686 AD.
Name: YUL-GOK (yul-guk)
Number of Moves: 38
Definition: Is a name of a great philosopher and scholar Yi I (1536-1584AD) 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.
Name: JOONG-GUN (jung-gun)
Number of Moves: 32
Definition: 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 Korean-Japan merger. There are 32 movements in this pattern to represent Mr. Ahn’s age when he was executed at Lui-Shung Prison in 1910.
Name: TOI-GYE (tay-gay)
Number of Moves: 37
Definition: Is the pen name of the noted scholar Yi-Hwang (16 century AD), an authority of neo-Confucianism. The 37 movements of the pattern refer to his birthplace on 37-degree latitude, the diagram (+) represents “scholar”.
Name: HWA-RANG (hwa-rang)
Number of Moves: 29
Definition: Is named after the Hwa-Rang youth group, which originated in the Silla Dynasty about 1,350 years ago. This group became the actual driving force for the unification of three kingdoms of Korea. The 29 movements refer to the 29th Infantry Division, where Taekwon-do developed into maturity.
Name: CHOONG-MOO (chung-moo)
Number of Moves: 30
Definition: 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 (kobukson) in 1592 A.D., which is said to be the precursor the present day submarine. The reason this pattern ends with a left hand attack to symbolize his regrettable death having no chance to show his full potential.
Name: GWANG-GAE (gwang-gay)
Number of Moves: 39
Definition: 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 (+) represents the expansion and the recovery of lost territory. The 39 movements refer to his reign for 39 years.
Name: PO-EUN (poh-en)
Number of Moves: 36
Definition: Is the pseudonym of a loyal subject Chong Mong-Chu (1400) 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.
Name: GAE-BAEK (gay-beck)
Number of Moves: 44
Definition: Is named after Gae-Baek, a great general in the Baek Je Dynasty (660 AD). The diagram represents his severe and strict military discipline.
Name: EUI-AM (oo-ahm)
Number of Moves: 45
Definition: 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 Dong Hak (Oriental culture) to Chondo Kyo (Heavenly way religion) in 1905. The diagram represents his Indomitable Spirit, displayed while dedicating himself to the prosperity of his nation.
Name: CHOONG-JANG (chung-jang)
Number of Moves: 52
Definition: Is said to be the pseudonym given to General Kim Duk Ryang who lived during the Yi Dynasty (14th Century). This pattern ends with a left-hand attack, intending to symbolize the tragedy of his death at age 27 in prison.
Name: KO-DANG (koh-dang)
Number of Moves: 39
Definition: Is the pseudonym of the patriot Cho Man Shik, who dedicated his life to the Korean Independence Movement and to the education of his people. The 39 movements signify his times of imprisonment and his birth place on the 39th parallel.
Name: SAM-IL (sam-ill)
Number of Moves: 33
Definition: Denotes the historical date of the independence movement of Korea which began throughout the country on March 1, 1919. The 33 movements in the pattern stand for the 33 patriots who planned the movement.
Name: YOO-SIN (yoo-sin)
Number of Moves: 68
Definition: Is named after General Kim Yoo Sin, a commanding general during the Silla Dynasty. The 68 movements refer to the last two figures of 668 A.D., the year Korea was united. The ready posture signifies a sword drawn on the right rather than left side, symbolizing Yoo Sin's mistake of following his Kings' orders to fight with foreign forces against his own nation.
Name: CHOI-YONG (choi-young)
Number of Moves: 46
Definition: Is named after General Choi Yong, premier and commander in chief of the armed forces during the 14th century Koryo Dynasty. Choi Yong was greatly respected for his loyalty, patriotism, and humility. He was executed by his subordinate commanders headed by general Yi Sung Gae, who later became the first King of the Lee Dynasty.
Name: SE-JONG (see-jung)
Number of Moves: 24
Definition: Is named after the greatest Korean King, Se-Jong, who invented the Korean alphabet in 1443, and was also a noted meteorologist. The diagram represents the king, while the 24 movements refer to the 24 letters of the Korean alphabet.
Name: YON-GAE (yun-gay)
Number of Moves: 49
Definition: Is named after a famous general during the Koguryo Dynasty, Yon Gae Somoon. The 49 movements refer to the last two figures of 649 A.D., the year he forced the Tang Dynasty to quit Korea after destroying nearly 300,000 of their troops at Ansi Sung.
Name: UL-JI (yul-gee)
Number of Moves: 42
Definition: Is named after general Ul-Ji Moon Dok who successfully defended Korea against a Tang's invasion force of nearly one million soldiers led by Yang Je in 612 A.D., Ul-Ji employing hit and run guerilla tactics, was able to decimate a large percentage of the force. The diagram represents his surname. The 42 movements represent the author's age when he designed the pattern.
Name: MOON-MOO (moon-moo)
Number of Moves: 61
Definition: Honours the 30th King of the Silla Dynasty. His body was buried near Dae Wang Am (Great King's Rock). According to his will, the body was placed in the sea "where my soul shall forever defend my land against the Japanese." It is said that the Sok Gul Am (Stone cave) was built to guard his tomb. The Sok Gul Am is a fine example of the culture of the Silla Dynasty. The 61 movements in this pattern symbolize the last two figures of 661 A.D. when Moon Moo came to the throne.
Name: SO-SAN (soh-sahn)
Number of Moves: 72
Definition: Is the pseudonym of the great monk Choi Hyong Ung (1520-1604) during the Lee Dynasty. The 72 movements refer to his age when he organized a corps of monk soldiers with the assistance of his pupil Sa Myunh Dang. The monk soldiers helped repulse the Japanese pirates who overran most of the Korean peninsula in 1592.
Name: TONG-IL (tonh-ill)
Number of Moves: 56
Definition: Denotes the resolution of the unification of Korea which has been divided since 1945. The diagram symbolizes the homogenous race.