Choong-Moo Pattern – Instructor Preview & Insights

Choong-Moo Pattern

Choong-Moo is the 1st gup pattern and a key stepping stone to 1st dan. It is best known for demanding kicking combinations, a flying side kick, and a 360-degree jump and spin. This is a real step up from Hwa-Rang and a suitable challenge for those aiming for their 1st dan.

Sample Video

This clip comes from a coaching session on Choong-Moo tul with ITF World Champion Master Mark Trotter. Master Trotter works with Miss Phillipa Henry to improve her height, timing, and execution of the flying side piercing kick – one of the most difficult elements of the pattern.

Key Technical Insights from GM Paul McPhail

Drawing from my ongoing study and technical work within ITF Taekwon-Do, each pattern in this Hub includes a short set of key technical points – practical reminders practitioners often overlook. These notes are personal insights based on decades of experience and are not official ITF Technical Committee statements.

About Choong-Moo

Choong-Moo was the name given to the great Admiral Yi Soon-Sin of the Lee Dynasty. He was reputed to have invented the first armoured battleship (Kobukson) in 1592, which is said to be the precursor of the present-day submarine. The reason why this pattern ends with a left-hand attack is to symbolise his regrettable death, having no chance to show his unrestrained potentiality, checked by the forced reservation of his loyalty to the king.

Key Teaching Points

• Insist on consistency: the same stance length and the same technique height every time – no drifting wider, shorter, or higher as the student tires.
• Teach the flying side piercing kick as a sequence (set-up, take-off, chamber, extension, re-chamber, landing) rather than a single “big moment”.
• Reinforce control after the special technique: the student must “reset” instantly so the next movements look like the same performer, not a recovery scramble.

Training Suggestions

• Use a “three-speed” approach: slow-motion run-through for shape, medium speed for rhythm, then full speed for realism – but never at the expense of posture and balance.
• For the flying side piercing kick, drill take-off and landing separately. Mark a start line and landing line so students learn correct distance instead of guessing.
• Film from side-on and 45 degrees. Review for hip line, chamber tightness, and whether the landing keeps the body upright and ready for the next technique.

Full Choong-Moo Premium Breakdown

The full, in-depth breakdown of Choong-Moo is available for TKDCoaching Premium Members. In this session you will see expert coach Mark Trotter critique the pattern movement by movement with Miss Phillipa Henry, including corrections, common mistakes, and coaching progressions you can apply in your own classes.

Watch the full Choong-Moo breakdown video (Premium)

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Background & Interesting Details

• At 31 years of age Yi Soon-Sin joined the army. His career flourished early on, but some of his seniors became jealous and falsely accused him of desertion from the battlefield, so he was stripped of his rank, imprisoned, and tortured.
• He was eventually released and allowed to fight as a simple enlisted soldier. He quickly rose through the ranks and became the commander of the Naval District. With war looming, he started to build up the Navy through a series of reforms, one of which led to the construction of the famous Kobukson.
• After many famous battles, Admiral Yi was again relieved of his command due to a plot by a Japanese agent, befriending a Korean general and convincing him he would spy on Japanese operations for them. The spy informed the Korean general that the Japanese were arriving with a great fleet of ships and that Admiral Yi should ambush them. Admiral Yi refused, as he knew the area was full of hidden sunken rocks and did not trust the information he was given. When the King was told of his refusal, he was arrested, imprisoned, and tortured to the point of death. Again, he was eventually freed and worked his way up the ranks in the Navy.
• All in all, Admiral Yi Soon-Sin had 23 victories, but the most famous was where he engaged a fleet of 333 ships with only 13 ships of his own. With 30 ships destroyed and many more damaged, the Japanese fleet retreated. Some say this could be the reason for the 30 movements in the pattern.
• Admiral Yi was struck by a stray bullet, and sensing it was fatal, he ordered one of his officers to impersonate him so as not to demoralise his men, allowing the battle to continue. He died moments later.

FAQ

• What grade is Choong-Moo for?
  Choong-Moo is the 1st gup pattern and is typically required before grading to 1st dan.
• What are the most common mistakes in Choong-Moo?
  Movement two (knifehand inward strike) is often performed incorrectly, and the grab and knee combination is frequently incorrect as well. Flying, jumping, and kicking techniques are also challenging.
• How should I introduce Choong-Moo to new 1st gup students?
  Teach it in logical chunks, reinforce stance consistency early, and introduce the flying side piercing kick as a progressive skill with separate drills for take-off, chamber, extension, and landing.

Resources

• ITF Encyclopaedia (General Choi Hong Hi) – in our Resources section for pattern explanations and movement applications.
• TKDCoaching Premium: Choong-Moo tul with Mark Trotter.

• TKD Patterns Hub – patterns and instructor-focused insights Explore more pattern previews and coaching notes for all 24 ITF tuls.

Related pages:
Insights on All 24 Patterns by GM McPhail
Favourite Pattern Survey – we’d love to know what you think

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