Macro-Patterns Overview

We all know that the patterns are supposed to mark your progression and teach you what you are supposed to learn and become proficient at for each belt rank.  A funny thing happens though after the 9th pattern (Choong-Moo).    From here, schools vary on the order that they teach the forms.  I find the groupings and what they teach to be very interesting especially in the light that some schools change the order around.  I want to look at some of the things I find interesting in the forms as a whole.  I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments section. 

My school uses the original chang-hon patterns (also we call them forms, a term I will use from this point on).  When I say the original forms, I mean we still do Ko-Dang and not Juche.  

The first 9 forms teach the various foundations of technique and stance transition.  The early forms Chon-Ji and Tan-Gun teach single stance single technique with one instance of single stance double technique being introduced in Tan-Gun. Chon-ji is a "multiple symmetrical" form.  It has mirrored techniques on the right and left side as well as having two distinct parts (hence the name, heaven and earth and all).  We have in the very first form the first transition from single stance movements (front stance into front stance) to stance transition (front to back and back to front) stance.  The form is, in my opinion a masterpiece of basic "technique".  It allows a white belt to grasp concepts that they'll still be working on well into the highest black belt levels.  Down block and inner forearm block also give the new student great techniques to practice using your hips to generate power.  For what it sets out to do, it is in many ways an excellent form. 

Tan-Gun offers more of the same and introduces the first set of single stance double techniques.  Tan-gan is an interesting form which I believe gives us some insight into the origins of the art.  Tan-gun is in foundation a form I was taught as "basic form 1" except with different techniques.  By "in foundation" I mean that the shape, cadence and in my opinion spirit are the same in Tan-Gun and basic 1.  Basic form 1 is in turn just a Korean art interpretation of the Shotokan form "taikyoku shodan".

I often wonder if our Korean forefathers thought they were improving on a "classic" with Tan-Gun.  History tells us that Koreans were very bitter after years of Japanese occupation and oppression.  Tan-Gun is the first form in which I wonder if the architects were changing the form as a sign of superiority, or as a snub.  This is a theme we'll actually see at least in one other place.

Chon-Ji and Tan-Gun have a very interesting relationship.  As the first and second forms of TKD, they, at the surface, teach the same ideas but do so in very different ways.   As a whole though, it is interesting that it isn't until the third form that you see the first front kick.  You might think that in the "foot, fist, way" you would get kicking right off the bat.  Kicking is what any style of TKD hangs its hat on after all.  I'll share what I think in my next installment - but I'm curious what your take is.