Insights on All 24 ITF TKD Patterns – GM McPhail
From time to time we hear our students mentioning they really like or dislike a particular pattern. So for fun I thought I would attempt to do my own ranking of all 24 patterns.
This question is tricky. For one, with age we find our favourites change.
Vote for your favourite Pattern here
When I was 22 I LOVED Juche… not so much now. :-) So below I give a few comments from this angle too.
I have used this simple criteria:
- Whether I think the pattern has good structure, such as how the movements connect and flow together.
- How it feels and the joy of performing it.
With this simple equation I have come up with my 24 Pattern Rankings. Even if you don’t know all 24 patterns yet, I’d be interested in your comments and comparisons.
Favourite Patterns Countdown
(24) Se-Jong
In last place is Se-Jong tul. This is a short (24 movements) pattern for 5th degree that I don’t enjoy much. Because each movement in the pattern is different (which I know is kind of cool), it feels somewhat disjointed. I like it, but sorry Se-jong, someone has to come last.
(23) So-San
Looks like I am picking on the 5th dan patterns… maybe the General thought we needed a kick up the butt at this level… and certainly this pattern screams PAIN.
The 72 movements are hard work – something I don’t mind, but this is really hard.
Movements 30 to 33 in particular for some reason I find REALLY difficult. They are a simple combination of a block and punch shifting in walking stance, but at that point in the pattern it just zaps my energy. Then I have nothing left for the spinning jumps, slides and kicks later in the pattern.
So-san was a challenge to learn and a real test to get through. It’s just all pain, so I rate it second form the bottom.
(22) Chon-Ji
I like Chon-Ji more and more these days. It’s been nearly 50 years since I first learnt it so you’d think I would be getting the hang of it.
There is plenty in the pattern to work on, regardless of it’s simple appearance. I like it, but it doesn’t compare to most of the others.
(21) Toi-Gye
Toi-Gye has no side or turning kicks so tends to be one that is not a favourite. It is a strong pattern, and I know people that absolutely love it, but the six consecutive W-Shape blocks spoil it for me and therefore it slides down the rankings.
(20) Won-Hyo
I think the second half of this pattern is great with the circular blocks and nice stepping after the side kick. But the three consecutive knifehand guarding blocks feel a little cumbersome.
(19) Hwa-Rang
I have a lot of respect for this pattern, being the first one developed in the Chang-Hon set, but I have always found it a bit disappointing for red belt level. I think all the L-stance punches make it a little bland, and the two high turning kicks feel a bit awkward.
(18) Choong-Moo
Hot on the heels of Hwa-Rang is the 2nd ever pattern created – Choong-Moo. A really nice pattern that is both challenging and great to watch. I can’t say I really enjoy doing it though – might be the 360 degree jump or the uncomfortableness of having to turn so far from one side kick to the other at the end.
(17) Dan-Gun
Dan-Gun is a really good pattern for yellow belts. Some tricky bits and it flows well. It is strong and it always great to perform.
(16) Do-San
This pattern always feels good, is technically a real step up from Dan-Gun and has plenty of interesting aspects to it. It’s a nice pattern to warm up with and I enjoy doing it.
(15) Joong-Gun
Great pattern. Lots of challenging movements and for the first time a blue belt gets to show off their side piercing kicks at full speed from the rear leg. The upward, pressing and U-shape blocks can all look great – or terrible, so lots of practice required. There are a number of stepping “secrets” to learn in this pattern for the performer to be able to arrive back on the spot.
(14) Yul-Gok
Just a lovely lower grade pattern that flows and is so strong. But beware, the hooking blocks must be performed in a precise manner otherwise they can look a mess. The X-stance jump at the end must be performed with full power arriving in a solid stance, otherwise than can also look disastrous.
(13) Po-Eun
This 1st dan pattern is a real challenge to pull off. I love the way we used to do it in the old days – a blur of movements at full speed – that gave the pattern real flair. The introduction of sinewave in the 70s meant the movements were slowed down drastically, still – it is great if done well with the proper power.
(12) Choong-Jang
This 52 movement monster is well… a 52 movement monster. :-) Even with its huge amount of repetition it still holds it’s own in terms of challenge and enjoyment. The only thing I don’t like is having to get up off the floor after the ground techniques – but hey, those movements make the pattern cool right?
(11) Yoo-Sin
I love this pattern for it obvious Karate roots, its power and its interesting movements. You have to be fit to get right through it with power.
The beginning movements of the release and angle punches are just amazing, as is the pivot from one walking stance to the other for the vertical punches near the end. And the angled knifehand guarding blocks for the last two movements… super cool.
The early editions of Gen. Choi’s book showed First Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha performing the movements exhibiting amazing power – something that to this day affects the way think of the pattern.
T H E T O P T E N
(10) Juche
Juche makes my top ten (just) mainly because it is a pattern that contains some amazing movements. I have fond memories or learning and grading with it back in 1984, and I still find it enjoyable to do.
(9) Kwang-Gae
This pattern has sentimental value to anyone who has been training since the 1970s. It was featured in the opening of the Jhoon Rhee film “When Taekwon-Do Strikes (see picture at the top of this article), and was pretty much the only black belt pattern you saw performed in those days. I remember clearly Master Willy Lim demonstrating the pattern to us at a grading back in 1975.
It’s combination of fast and slow movements create a pattern with real atmosphere, that is amazing to watch when it is done well.
(8) Ge-Baek
This is the power-house pattern which simply feels great to perform. It flows beautifully and showcases a variety of interesting movements. It contains 44 full power movements that when performed with a steady rhythm is both exhilarating and exhausting.
(7) Choi-Yong
This pattern contains a nice display of combination and consecutive kicks worthy of it’s inclusion at 3rd dan level. It gets better and better as it progresses towards beautiful little pivot into a high reverse hooking kick from an X-stance. Nice!
(6) Eui-Am
Eui-Am is one of the newer patterns; created in 1968, that’s even after the ITF was already formed! I have fond memories of learning the pattern in 1981 – simply not being able to believe all the kicks it contained. Remember in those days there was no video so we had never seen the patterns before we were taught it!
(5) Sam-Il
Sam-il is simply beautiful to perform as it is smooth and friendly. By friendly I mean there is nothing that feels difficult to do, yet it is still interesting and challenging. Most people will agree it is “a nice pattern” and everyone generally enjoys it.
(4) Tong-Il
The final Taekwon-Do pattern Tong-il is really something else! It is a blaze of interesting and difficult movements appropriate for the most senior pattern. It is a pattern that has undergone the most change from when it was first created. The spinning and high kicking that gives it its flair.
It’s a long pattern (56 movements) so is challenging in that regard. It has a number of symbolic movements that refer to the pattern meaning which is nice. The only part I don’t particularly like is two sets of repeated movements in the middle (27-34).
(3) Moon-Moo
The 4th dan patterns take out the top three spots for me in this ranking. Moon-Moo is a great pattern, by some considered the most difficult of all.
The pattern starts with an atmospheric high side piercing kick performed in slow motion – then the same kick is immediately fired out at full speed. That is followed by a slow motion reverse hooking kicks and jumping strikes making it quite a spectacular start.
Later in the pattern we get all sorts of difficult movements such as slow motion back kicks, side pushing kicks, reverse turning kicks, high twisting kicks, side thrusting kicks, sweeping kicks, side checking kicks and a mid-air kick. Wow!
So this pattern really show cases ITF Taekwon-Do’s amazing kicks and does it well. The only down-side is its length, with the 61 movements making it quite a struggle to get through if you are not fit. I first saw this pattern done by Grand Master CK Choi in Brisbane 1981. We were all spell-bound and to this day is one of my favourite TKD memories.
(2) Ul-Ji
I first saw this pattern performed by Grand Master Park Jung Tae in 1984 and was totally blown away. The pattern starts with a blaze of movements turning and spinning backwards from the ready stance which has the arms crossed in front of the chest. It then shoots off in another direction with a series of interesting movements including the only single “fast motion” movement in all of the patterns.
The pattern finishes with sliding and leaping backwards in a series of attack a retreat movements symbolic of the “Hit & Run” tactics of General Ul-Ji himself. Amazing. This pattern comes in a close 2nd for me and it is probably the pattern I enjoy doing the most.
NUMBER 1:
(1) Yon-Gae
At number 1 spot and making it a trifecta for the 4th dan patterns is Yon-Gae tul. The pattern has three main sections:
The first involves beautiful circular movements, shifting checking blocks and flying strikes. The knife hand reverse blocks have a real cool factor and this first section is a pleasure to perform.
From there the pattern moves sideways in a set of power-house twin arm movements that feel so powerful to do. There are also high reverse hooking and side kicks as well.
The third section contains mid-air kicks on both legs and sliding back to attack an opponent behind you without even looking!
It is a beautiful pattern that requires excellent technique and jumping ability to pull off successfully. But even without those, it feels great to do.
In the words of Master Mark Hutton this pattern is: “Sensational! Wow! Sensational!”
I hope you enjoyed this breakdown of my favourite patterns.
Grand Master Paul McPhail