Patterns – Each Belt level has it’s Own Pattern(s)
Patterns form an important aspect of training in Taekwon-Do. The majority of the patterns start with a defensive move, which emphasizes taekwon-do’s defensive nature. All of the patterns start and end at the same location. This ensures that the practitioners’ stances are the correct length, width, and in the proper direction.
There are 24 patterns in the official ITF syllabus; this is symbolic of the 24 hours in a day. The names of these patterns typically refer either to events in Korean history or to important people in Korean history. Elements of the patterns may also be historical references, such as the number of moves, the diagram, the way the pattern ends, and so on.
Patterns are performed in accordance with “The Encyclopaedia of Taekwon-Do” in 15 volumes written by General Choi Hong Hi, the latest edition being from 1999. This comprehensive work contains 15 volumes with volumes 8 through 15 dedicated to the 24 patterns and containing descriptions of the pattern movements as well as pictures showing possible applications of some of the movements. There is also the book entitled “The Korean Art of Self Defence” (the 1999 edition, the latest used by ITF under Grandmaster Tran and ITF under Grandmaster Choi, or the 2004 edition, the latest used by ITF under Chang Ung), also known as the Condensed Encyclopaedia, written by General Choi Hong Hi. This is a single condensed encyclopaedia of approximately 770 pages with a section dedicated to the 24 patterns.