So-San Pattern – Instructor Preview & Insights

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TKDCoaching’s TKD Patterns Hub provides instructors with clear teaching insights, coaching cues, and step-by-step guidance for every ITF pattern. This page offers an instructor-focused preview of So-San, highlighting key technical details, common errors to watch for, and practical coaching ideas you can apply immediately in class.

So-San Pattern

So-San is a 5th degree black belt pattern with 72 movements.

So-San 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 organised a corps of monk soldiers with the assistance of his pupil, Sa Myung Dang. The monk soldiers helped repulse the Japanese pirates who overran most of the Korean peninsula in 1592.

Sample Video

In the sample video above, you will see the level of detail covered in the full So-San breakdown, including practical corrections you can apply immediately. This session also features Mrs Suzanne Patterson (now Master), 7th degree black belt and former New Zealand team member and coach.

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.

Key Technical Points

Vertical punch: Do not pull right back to the hip. A small amount of backward motion is acceptable. The arm bends about 40 degrees, with the thumb at solar plexus height on the shoulder line. There is very little rotation of the punching fist, as it travels only a short distance.
Mov 5-8: Up to walking stance, then down to sitting stance – fast motion for two movements, then pause.
Side – turning kick: Keep hands out on the side kick, not on the turning kick.
Low double punch: Back fist at lower abdomen level.
Release: Grab the hand without bending the arm for the release. Relax so that you can reach the fist. Finish with the fingertips to the edge of the knuckles.
Double arc-hand block: No sine wave.
Scooping block: Slide on L-stance for scooping – maintain the length of the stance, then rise up.
L-stance punch: No backward motion on the punch with shift.

About So-San

So-San is a long pattern where small technical leaks become obvious: stance length drifts, breathing becomes inconsistent, and techniques start to rush. Instructors will often see students perform the early movements well, then lose crispness as fatigue builds. The goal is not just to finish, but to maintain the same standard from the first movement to the last.

Training Suggestions

Run So-San in sections – there are natural places to break the pattern for this purpose.
Many of the techniques are repeated, so be aware of this to make the pattern easier to remember.
Film and review stance length, shoulder height, and whether each technique finishes on line.

A useful approach is to treat So-San like an endurance pattern for precision: the standard you set at the start must still be there at the end.

Full So-San Premium Breakdown

The full, in-depth breakdown of So-San is available for TKDCoaching Premium Members. In this session, I cover detailed coaching points, corrections, common mistakes, and teaching progressions you can use in your own classes.

👉 Watch the full So-San breakdown video (Premium)

Background & Interesting Details

Hyujeong was the actual Buddhist name of the monk later honoured by the title So-San (Seosan Daesa). He was one of the most influential Seon (Zen) masters of the Joseon (Lee) Dynasty and is the historical figure commemorated in So-San tul.

During the Japanese invasions of 1592, he organised and authorised monk soldier units, despite Buddhism being politically suppressed at the time.

Why the names cause confusion

So-San (Seosan Daesa) = pen name / honourary title (used for the pattern)
Hyujeong = personal Buddhist name
Yujeong = personal Buddhist name
Sa Myung Dang = title / honourary name

FAQ

What grade is So-San for?
So-San is a 5th degree black belt pattern.
What are the most common mistakes in So-San?
Rushing the rhythm, inconsistent stance length, shoulder tension, and untidy hand recovery as fatigue builds.
How should I introduce So-San to new 5th degree students?
Teach it in clear chunks, insist on consistent stance and posture standards from day one, and use frequent short repetitions rather than full run-throughs every time.

More TKD Patterns and Resources

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Related pages:
Insights on All 24 Patterns by GM McPhail
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