Yon-Gae Pattern – Instructor Preview & Insights

Yon-Gae Pattern

Yon-Gae is a 4th dan ITF Taekwon-Do pattern with 49 movements. It emphasises powerful shifting, precise control of stance length, and confident use of rhythm and timing. At this level, examiners are looking for mature body control, balance, and expression rather than just remembering the sequence.

Sample Video

OTHER PATTERNS ARE LOVELY… THIS IS SENSATIONAL! Master Mark Hutton’s passion for Taekwon-Do is contagious – and you can see in this clip the way he feels about the 4th dan pattern Yon-Gae tul. It is a great example of the intensity, precision, and attitude expected in advanced ITF patterns.

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 Yon-Gae

Yon-Gae is named after a famous general during the Koguryo Dynasty, Yon Gae Somoon. The 49 movements refer to the last two figures of 649 A.D., the year he forced the Tang Dynasty to quit Korea after destroying nearly 300,000 of their troops at Ansi Sung.

Yon-Gae demands strong control of shifting and turning, with multiple directional changes and varied stances. For senior black belts, it is an excellent test of whether the fundamentals of balance, breath control, and rhythm are truly embedded, rather than simply “performed” for grading.

Training Suggestions

• Drill the main shifting combinations separately, focusing on stance length and hip alignment before adding full power.
• Pay close attention to the pattern diagram to ensure you arrive back on the starting spot.
• Film your performance from the side and front to check consistency of kicking height, posture and hand positions.

Full Yon-Gae Premium Breakdown

This full coaching session features Master Mark Hutton working with two black belts on Yon-Gae and Eui-Am, sharing essential corrections, timing cues, and performance details.

Watch the full Yon-Gae and Eui-Am coaching session (Premium)

Background & Interesting Details

As a 4th dan pattern, Yon-Gae marks a shift from “advanced student” to “developing senior” in the ITF Taekwon-Do Patterns journey. The pattern combines long travelling lines with sudden changes of direction, reflecting the need for adaptability and strategic thinking in higher level Taekwon-Do.

A useful way to view Yon-Gae is as a bridge between the earlier dan patterns and the very complex higher tuls. If the shifting, rhythm and balance are solid in Yon-Gae, they will support the rest of the senior ITF Taekwon-Do Patterns.

FAQ

• What grade is Yon-Gae for?
  4th dan black belt.
• What are common mistakes?
  Allowing the stance length to vary during shifts, losing hip connection in the longer hand combinations, and letting rhythm become rushed near the end of the pattern.
• How should I introduce Yon-Gae?
  Break the pattern into short segments built around the main shifts and kicking sequences. Revisit principles from earlier dan tuls, then show how they reappear in Yon-Gae with more demand on balance and timing.

More TKD Patterns and Resources

ITF Encyclopaedia – available for Premium Members in our Resources Section.

Other Yon-Gae videos for Premium Members.

TKD Patterns Hub – patterns and instructor-focused insights

Explore previews and coaching notes for all 24 ITF Taekwon-Do Patterns.

Related pages:
Insights on All 24 ITF Taekwon-Do Patterns by GM McPhail
Favourite Pattern Survey

Become a TKDCoaching Member

If you find these pattern insights helpful, you’ll love the full TKDCoaching library. Premium Members gain access to complete breakdowns, seminars, sparring sessions, warm-ups, self-defence modules and more.

Become a TKDCoaching Premium Member today