Forms-Poomse-Kata

Chung Do Kwan Forms

The Kuk Mu series is unique to schools with lineage to Duk Sung Son. These were all developed after the Korean War and after the formation of the Chung Do Kwan, in Seoul, Korea. The first two were introduced by Duk Sung Son in Seoul Korea , developed for ROK military circa 1955. Kuk Mus 3, 4, 5 were introduced by following Masters prior to 1975 to bring more kicks into the form curriculum

The Pyong - Ahn series are incorporated from Shotokan Karate Do. These forms originated in Okinawa, where they are called Pinan. In Japan, these forms are called Heian. The Chung Do Kwan was founded by Won Kuk Lee who had studied directly with Funikoshi Sensei in Japan, thus the relationship. These would have been the first forms studied at the CDK as the Kuk Mu & Tae Guk series had yet to be developed. Pinan (平安) literally means “the way of peace” or “peaceful and calm”. The Pinan Kata consist of five Kata, developed by Anko Itosu (1831-1915)

The Chulgi series is a Shotokan derivative, similar to the Pyong-Ahn forms above. Funakoshi renamed the form from "Naihanchi " to "Tekki" when he brought Karate to Japan from Okinawa. In Korean it is known as Chulgi. It is a very old Kata thought to be Chinese in origin and possibly brought to Okinawa by the legendary "Bushi" Matsumura. Others say that it was practiced in Okinawa even before "Bushi" Matsumura was born, but we can safely say that it was practiced from Matsumura lifetime and onwards. Chul-Gi literally means Iron Horse and stresses techniques performed in a Horse-Riding Stance.

** The extended version of Ja On, Silla, and Silla 2 were developed by Duk Sung Son in New York, USA in the last quarter of the 20th Century and are practiced exclusively by those with this lineage

A special Gomabsomneeda (Thank You) to our friends, Sobahnim Jeff Butler of Pyramid TKD in Cortland, NYs and GM Ted Hillson for sharing demo videos of these forms for student use.

Some of the patterns can be found in the WTKDA Red Book

Kuk Mu 1- White Belt

Origin- Duk Sung in Seoul Korea , developed for ROK military circa 1955

Kuk Mu 2- White Belt

Origin- Duk Sung in Seoul Korea , developed for ROK military circa 1955

Kuk Mu 3- White Belt

Origin- WTKDA, sometime between 1950-1975

Pyong 1- Yellow Belt

Origin- Okinawa, Anko Itosu , late 19th-early 20th century

Kuk Mu 4- Yellow Belt

Origin- WTKDA, sometime between 1950-1975

Kuk Mu 5- Brown Belt

Pyong 2- Yellow Belt & Green Belt

Origin- Okinawa, Anko Itosu , late 19th-early 20th century

Pyong 3- Green Belt

Origin- Okinawa, Anko Itosu , late 19th-early 20th century

Pyong 4- Purple Belt

Origin- Okinawa, Anko Itosu , late 19th-early 20th century

Pyong 5- Purple Belt

Origin- Okinawa, Anko Itosu , late 19th-early 20th century

Chulgi 1- Brown Belt

Origin- Chinese to Okinawa to Japan to Korea

Chulgi 2- Black Belt (1st Dan)

Palsek- Brown Belt

Demonstrated by GM Ted Hillson

“To break, to penetrate the fortress”

I included this just because it was cool

Ship Soo- 1st Dan Black Belt

Demo by Master Peter Everett- Boston, Mass

At tail end of his torturous traditional MIT torturous "Birthday" workout

Ja On (Extended Version)- 3rd & 4th Dan Black Belt

** Spinning kick on last move done by some schools, not others

Shilla 1- 5th Dan Black Belt

Demo by Master Chris Kelly- Newburgh, NY

Yudanja Forms

The Yudanja forms are the Kukkiwon developed forms required for Kukkiwon affiliated Black Belts. Each of the Yudanja forms has a floor pattern that traces out a Chinese character or other symbol.

Each character is said to represent a characteristic that should be exhibited by a Tae Kwon Do practitioner: wise, unbreakable, spiritual, peaceful, long-lived, pious, adaptable, etc.

These forms are practiced at Drexel/YMAP for developmental purposes and enjoyment but they are not part of advancement criteria thus we do not enforce rank based requirements for learning them.