Palgwae Poomsae

See also main article: Palgwae

Kukkiwon/ WT-style taekwondo currently uses taegeuk forms (poomse) for color belts (below black belt). From 1967 to 1971 however, this "kukki" (national) style of taekwondo used the older palgwae (also spelled palgwe) forms for color belts. These forms are still taught at some schools.

• One reason sometimes cited for the switch from Palgwae forms to Taegeuk forms is that when the Palgwae forms were first developed in the mid-1960s, not all of the Kwans that would eventually consolidate to form Kukkiwon-style taekwondo were yet members. When the remaining schools (Jidokwan and Moo Duk Kwan) finally joined, the forms were redesigned to create the taegeuk poomsae, with appropriate representation from all of the kwans.
• A second reason sometimes cited for the switch is that the taeguek forms introduce earlier the techniques appropriate for sparring (such as upright stances); in other words, the change was made to support the WTF-style emphasis on sport taekwondo rather than on self-defense.