Four Direction Block

4 Directional Block (Saju Maki) - ITF Taekwon-Do Patterns

Four Directions (student view)

Four Direction Block (saju makgi) is the name of a basic exercise used at the white belt level in ITF-style taekwondo.

In each of the following movements, the step that takes place with the foot and the block should both happen simultaeneously, so that the block finishes at the same time as the step.

• Ready Posture - Parallel Ready Stance

1. Step back with the right foot toward C into a left walking stance facing D. Execute a left knifehand low block toward D.
2. Step forward with the right foot toward D into a right walking stance facing D. Execute a middle right inner forearm outward block (i.e., a side block with the right inner forearm) toward D.
3. Step back with the right foot toward A into a left walking stance facing B. Execute a left knifehand low block toward B.
4. Step forward with the right foot toward B into a right walking stance facing B. Execute a right inner forearm outward block (i.e., a side block with the right inner forearm) toward B.
5. Step back with the right foot toward D into a left walking stance facing C. Execute a left knifehand low block toward C.
6. Step forward with the right foot toward C into a right walking stance facing C. Execute a right inner forearm outward block (i.e., a side block with the right inner forearm) toward C.
7. Step back with the right foot toward B into a left walking stance facing A. Execute a left knifehand low block toward A.
8. Step forward with the right foot toward A into a right walking stance facing A. Execute a right inner forearm outward block (i.e., a side block with the right inner forearm) toward A.

• Finish - bring the right foot back to a ready position facing D.

The exercise may then proceed with the same movements in the opposite direction (right knifehand blocks and left inner blocks)

Color Belt (gup) Forms

• 10th gup - no form, just basic exercises: Four Direction Punch and Block
• 9th gup - Chon-Ji (19 movements)
• 8th gup - Dan-Gun (21 movements)
• 7th gup - Do-San (24 movements)
• 6th gup - Won-Hyo (28 movements)
• 5th gup - Yul-Gok (38 movements)
• 4th gup - Joong-Gun (32 movements)
• 3rd gup - Toi-Gye (37 movements)
• 2nd gup - Hwa-Rang (29 movements)
  • Basic exercise at 2nd gup: Four Direction Thrust
• 1st gup - Choong-Moo (30 movements)

References

The primary reference is:

• The Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do

The following websites are also particularly good online references for ITF-style taekwondo:

• http://www.taekwondo.edu.sg/
• http://www.bluecottagetkd.com/
• http://www.gt-uk.net/index.php
• http://www.taekwon-do.nl/
• http://wdkd.blogspot.com/2014/04/24-hyungs-of-tae-kwon-do-reason-for-24.html
• http://www.barrettonline.org/Tae%20Kwon%20Do/ITF%20Forms.htm