Sipjin

Kukkiwon/WT Taekwondo uses the following series of forms (called the Yudanja series) for Black Belt forms:

• Koryo (고려) - first dan, also spelled Goryeo and Koryeo ("learned man", symbolizing a wise person)
  • An older, deprecated form called Original Koryo also exists, but it isn't considered so by the Kukkiwon (for gradings or the Master Instructor Course) or by WT (for the World Poomsae Championships).
• Keumgang (금강)) - second dan ("diamond", symbolizing hardness, unbreakable)
• Taebaek (태백)) - third dan ("sacred mountain", symbolizing spirituality)
• Pyongwon (평원)- fourth dan, also spelled Pyeong-won ("open plain", symbolizing peacefulness)
• Sipjin (싶진)) - fifth dan, also spelled Shipjin ("eternal 10", symbolizing health and longevity)
• Jitae (지태) - sixth dan (symbolizes mankind as the connection between heaven and earth)
• Cheonkwon (천권) - seventh dan, also spelled Cheon-gwon ("sky", symbolizing piety)
• Hansoo (한수) - eighth dan, also spelled Hansu ("water", symbolizing adaptability)
• Ilyeo (일여) - ninth dan (symbolizing the Buddhist concept of oneness of the mind and body)

Each of the yudanja forms has a floor pattern that traces out a Chinese character or other symbol. Each character is said to represent a characteristic that should be exhibited by a taekwondo master: wise, unbreakable, spiritual, peaceful, long-lived, pious, adaptable, etc.

십진 (shipjin) is the Chinese character for 10, and refers to the ten essences of longevity: the sun, the moon, water, stone, mountains, pine trees, the herb of eternal youth, the tortoise, the deer, and the crane. This form expresses endless development and growth, but a highly orderly and predictable growth that fosters stability. Therefore, each movement of this form must follow an orderly and systematic progression.

Official Video

The Kukkiwon official video for this form.

GM Kyu Hyung Lee Video

The following video is a step-by-step demonstration of Sipjin, with notes.

Diagram

To print the diagram, click on the image and select "See full size image," or right-click and open the image in a new tab.

Written Instructions

The movements in this poomsae for a + sign. You start in the middle of the +, which makes this fairly unique among the WTF-style forms.

Beginning

Bull Block

• Ready stance
• 1. Without stepping, Bull Block.
• 2a. Without stepping, open the arms and pause briefly.

The Left Arm of the + Sign

Palm Augmented Outward Block

Horizontal Fingertip Thrust

Opening Mountain Block

Double Elbow Strike

• 2b. Move the left foot into a Right Back Stance (i.e., left foot forward). Left Palm Augmented Outward Block.
• 3a. Slowly open the left fist. Twist the left wrist inward. Slide the left foot forward into Left Front Stance.
  • Application note: The idea of this slow, augmented block is that your opponent has grabbed your arm, and you are either (a) twisting your arm to get him to release his grip, with your fingers prying under his grip to loosen the grip, or (b) using his grip against him, to force your opponent into an awkward position.
• 3b. Without stepping, Right Horizontal Fingertip Thrust (i.e., Horizontal Spearhand)
• 3c-d. Without stepping, Left then Right Punch.
• 4. Step forward with the right foot to turn 90 right into Horse Stance, looking right. Opening Mountain Block.
• 5a. Step with the left foot to place it in front of the right foot into Cross Stance. Grab your opponent with the left hand and chamber the right hand for a Side Punch.
• 5b. Continue moving in the same direction; step with the right foot into a Horse Stance. Right Side Punch. Kihap.
• 6. Step with the right foot to turn 180 counterclockwise into Horse Stance. Double Elbow Strike.

The Right Arm of the + Sign

• 7. Bring the left foot to the right foot, then step with the right foot into a Left Back Stance (i.e., right foot forward). Right Palm Augmented Outward Block.
• 8a. Slowly open the right fist. Twist the right wrist inward. Slide the right foot forward into Right Front Stance.
• 8b. Without stepping, Left Horizontal Fingertip Thrust (i.e., Horizontal Spearhand)
• 8c-d. Without stepping, Right then Left Punch.
• 9. Step forward with the left foot to turn 90 left into Horse Stance, looking left. Opening Mountain Block.
• 10a. Step with the right foot to place it in front of the left foot into Cross Stance. Grab your opponent with the right hand and chamber the left hand for a Side Punch.
• 10b. Continue moving in the same direction; step with the left foot into a Horse Stance. Left Side Punch. Kihap.
• 11. Step with the left foot to turn 180 clockwise into Horse Stance. Double Elbow Strike.

Moving Down the + Sign

Pull Up

Chamber for the Boulder Push

Boulder Push

• 12. Step backward with the right foot to turn 180 clockwise, into Left Back Stance (i.e., right foot forward). Right Palm Augmented Outward Block.
• 13a. Slowly open the right fist. When the fingers are nearly open, start twisting the right wrist inward. The left hand continues to support. Slide the right foot into Right Front Stance.
• 13b. Without stepping, complete the movement started in 13a by performing a Left Horizontal Fingertip Thrust.
• 13c-d. Without stepping, Left then Right Punch.
• 14. Step forward with the left foot into Right Back Stance (i.e., left foot forward). Double Knifehand Low Block.
• 15a. Step forward with the right foot into Right Front Stance. Bring the hands to the right side of the waist, palms open and thumbs pointing toward each other.
• 15b. Without stepping, Right Boulder Push.
• 16. Pivot 90 counterclockwise, slide the right foot back to Horse Stance. Ridgehand Opening Block.
• 17. Without stepping, Double Knifehand Low Opening Block.
• 18. Slowly close the fists so that you're in the position of a Low Opening Block. When the hands are almost closed, straighted the legs into a Wide Stance.
• 19. Pivot 90 counterclockwise into Left Front Stance. Pull Up Block.
• 20a. Without stepping, bring the hands to the right side of the waist, palms open and thumbs pointing toward each other.
• 20b. Without stepping, Right Boulder Push.

Moving Up the + Sign

Simultaneous Punch

• 21a. Right Front Kick.
• 21b. Set the right foot down into Right Front Stance. Simultaneous Punch.
• 22a. Left Front Kick.
• 22b. Set the left foot down into Left Front Stance. Simultaneous Punch.
• 23a. Right Front Kick.
• 23b. Stomp the right foot down in front, moving the left foot back into a Cross Stance. Right Augmented High Backfist Strike. Kihap.

Again Moving Down the + Sign

• 24. Step with the left foot to turn 180 counterclockwise into Left Front Stance. Right Boulder Push.
• 25. Slide the left foot back to Right Tiger Stance (i.e., left foot forward). Knifehand Low Cross Block.
• 26. Step forward with the right foot into Left Back Stance (i.e., right foot forward). Right Ridgehand Middle Block.
• 27. Step forward with the left foot into Right Back Stance (i.e., left foot forward). Simultaneous Punch.
• 28. Step forward with the right foot into Left Back Stance (i.e., right foot forward). Simultaneous Punch.
• Step with the right foot to turn 180 to the ready position; end.

References

• Black Belt forms at the Kukkiwon website
• Black Belt forms at the World Taekwondo Federation website
• Black Belt forms at TheSchoolofMartialArts.com