In Taekwondo, patterns are a series of fundamental movements that are performed in a logical sequence to represent an imaginary fight against an opponent.
Patterns are a key part of Taekwondo training and are used to evaluate a person’s technique. They can help improve a student’s skills in many areas, including:
- Techniques: Improve existing techniques and develop sparring techniques
- Flexibility: Improve flexibility of movement
- Body shifting: Master body shifting
- Muscles: Develop muscles
- Balance and breathing: Improve balance and breathing control
- Rhythm: Develop fluid, smooth, and rhythmical movements
When performing patterns, students should:
- Start and end at the same spot
- Maintain correct posture and facing
- Tense or relax muscles at key moments
- Perform in a rhythmic manner
- Avoid delayed pauses or irregular sequences
- Complete the pattern in one continuous sequence without performing it too fast
Colour Belt Patterns
Black Belt Patterns
Some patterns are named after people or events, such as:
- Joong Gun
Named after Ahn Joong Gun, a patriot who assassinated the first Japanese-Governor General of Korea in 1910. The pattern’s 32 movements represent Ahn’s age at the time of his execution. - Yul-Gok
Named after Yi l, a scholar and philosopher nicknamed the “Confucius of Korea” who lived from 1536–1584. The pattern’s 38 movements refer to his birthplace on 38 latitude, and the diagram represents a scholar.