Yi I on the currently circulating 5,000 won note
Yul-Gok is the name of an ITF-style teul (form). The 38 movements of this pattern refer to Yi I's birthplace at the 38th latitude; the diagram is said to reprepresent the concept of "the scholar".
Yul-Gok is the pseudonym of the great philosopher Yi I (1536-1584 B.C.E.), nicknamed "the Confucius of Korea." Yi I was born on December 26, 1536. He was an infant prodigy who knew Chinese script at the age of three and composed poems in Chinese before the age of seven. By the age of seven, he had finished his lessons in the Confucian Classics. He passed the civil service examination in the literary department at the age of 13.
Yul-Gok was well-known for his development of a school of thought concerning the philosophy of the 12th century Confucian scholar Chu-Hsi. Chu-Hsi established the concepts of "li" (reason or abstract form) and "chi" (matter or vital force). He proposed that these two concepts were responsible for all human characteristics and the operation of the universe. As he defined the concepts, they are very similar to the concepts of body and soul in found in Western philosophy and religion. The "li," however, is not totally synonymous with the idea of an individual represents groups or models for each form of existence. Yul-Gok's school of thought supported the concept that the "chi" was the controlling agent in the universe and that the "li" was a supporting component. Experience, education, and practical intellectual activities were stressed in this school of thought. The other major school of thought, stemming from the philosophy of Chu Hsi ,was fostered by Yi Hwang (Yi ToiGye), who proposed that the "li" controlled the "chi" and stressed the importance of moral character building
Diagram
Movements in this Form
- Start in the Parallel Ready Stance.
- 1) Step to the left with left foot in a Sitting Stance, Left Slow Punch.
- 2) Right Punch.
- 3) Left Punch.
- 4) Step the left foot to right foot and Step the right foot to a Sitting Stance, Right Slow Punch.
- 5) Left Punch.
- 6) Right Punch.
- 7) Turn right 45 degrees to a Right Walking Stance and Right Inner Forearm Outward Block.
- 8) Left Front Kick.
- 9) Land foot forward in a Left Walking Stance and Left Punch.
- 10) Right Punch.
- 11) Pick up left foot and turn left 90 degrees to a Left Walking Stance and Left Inner Forearm Outward Block.
- 12) Right Front Kick.
- 13) Land foot forward in a Right Walking Stance and Right Punch.
- 14) Left Punch.
- 15) Pick up right foot and turn right 45 degrees to a Right Walking Stance and Right Hooking Block.
- 16) Without stepping, Left Hooking Block.
- 17) Without stepping, Right Punch.
- 18) Pick up left foot and step forward to a Left Walking Stance and Left Hooking Block.
- 19) Without stepping, Right Hooking Block.
- 20) Without stepping, Left Punch.
- 21) Step the right foot forward to a Right Walking Stance and Right Punch. Kihap.
- 22) Pick up left foot and move forward to a post, Guarding Block.
- 23) Left Side Kick.
- 24) Land in a Left Walking Stance and pull left hand in a pulling motion to a Right Elbow Strike.
- 25) Turn right 180 degrees, pick up right foot to Bending Ready Stance (Post Stance), Guarding Block.
- 26) Right Side Kick.
- 27) Land in a Right Walking Stance and pull right hand in a pulling motion to a Left Elbow Strike.
- 28) Pick up left foot, turn left 90 degrees to a Right L Stance (back stance), knifehand Square Block (high block with an outside block).
- 29) Step the right foot forward to a Right Walking Stance, Left Palmheel Pressing Block, right Spearhand Thrust.
- 30) Pick up right foot, turn 180 degrees right to a Left L Stance (back stance), knEehand Square Block (high block with an outside block).
- 31) Step the left foot forward to a Left Walking Stance, Right Palmheel Pressing Block, left Spearhand Thrust.
- 32) Pick up left foot, turn left 90 degrees to a Left Walking Stance and Left Outward Block.
- 33) Without stepping, Right Punch.
- 34) Step forward with the right foot to a Right Walking Stance and Right Outward Block.
- 35) Without stepping, Left Punch.
- 36) Pick up the left foot and jump forward to a left side X Stance with right foot behind, left downward backfist. Kihap.
- 37) Turn right 270 degrees to a Right Walking Stance and Right Double Forearm (sahn soo).
- 38) Step the right foot to left foot, pivot 180 degrees left, Step the left foot to a Left Walking Stance and Left Double Forearm (sahn soo).
- Finish - bring the left foot back to return to ready position.
ITF Color-Belt Forms
The other forms in the ITF-series of Color Belt forms are:
- 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 following websites are also particularly good online references for ITF-style taekwondo: