This is dedicated to coaxing the personalities out of Traditional Taekwondo patterns
This is a list of the first 10 patterns used in Chang Hon Taekwondo. Our system is a 'traditional' Taekwondo martial art system - we don't do sine wave, and we have an equal emphasis of hand and leg techniques. The applications contained herein thus do not include sporting aspects of Taekwondo. Most TKD practitioners will find little similarity with our practice. This is preferential - no one is casting a value judgement on your martial art. Also, the set of patterns are used to transmit the particular experience of *our* own black belts. Meaning what works for us may not work for your Taekwondo school. We do like to listen to your opinions, of course, and we try to keep an open mind.
The historical development of most traditional martial arts is unverifiable, making certain aspects of the practice inaccessible to practitioners. But logic tells us that a martial art is created because someone decided that enough was enough. Self defence tactics were formed and explored, tested, rejected, and then expanded upon. Collaboration was good. Getting killed was not. So anything that would help you figure out how to better defend yourself is what you want to look out for. Let's keep this in mind while going through this forum. Let's be martial artists ... not martial artistes.
Colin Wee Executive Curator 5th Dan member is offline
Joined: Feb 2004 Gender: Male Posts: 696 Location: Perth, Western Australia
Chang Hon: Won-hyo « Thread Started on Mar 1, 2004, 5:12pm »
“A noted monk who spread Buddhism in Korea during the Silla Dynasty (686 A.D.)” (http://www.itatkd.com/pattern_wonhyo.html). Won-hyo was a Buddhist monk that propounded the Pure Land School of Buddhism (http://www.tkdtutor.com/10Patterns/04Wonhyo/WonHyoInfo.htm). This form of Buddhism centred around the faith practitioners had to have in the ‘Other Power’ of Amitabha Buddha. It spread quicky amongst the population and was said to have helped the “unification of the three kingdoms of Korea” (http://www.tkdtutor.com/10Patterns/04Wonhyo/WonHyoInfo.htm).
The key ideas that can be linked with the Pure Lands School: simple, incisive, to the point, and unrestrained. I liken Pure Land Buddhism to what Bruce Lee said about cutting through the mess. If I had to translate this for fighters, I would focus on strikes and blocks that ‘cut through’ the opponent’s attacks or defences. The idea may be to understand speed, timing, distance, reach, and vectors in order for the clever fighter to take advantage of loopholes.
Colin Wee Executive Curator 5th Dan member is offline
Joined: Feb 2004 Gender: Male Posts: 696 Location: Perth, Western Australia
Re: Won-hyo « Reply #1 on Nov 15, 2005, 9:43am »
After looking at the basic forms and seeing how to-the-point they are, Won Hyo shows a different essence. This was one of the toughest forms for me to initially analyse from the standpoint of taekwondo being a 'military art' (read 'easy enough for grunts'). The more I look at it, the more Won Hyo reminds me of the Shotokan form Bassai. You have what seem to be circular hand techniques geared for linear tactics. As an aside, If shotokan was a bodyguarding type art and TKD was a soldiering type art, then we can say similar techniques may have different purposes based on the strategy of the form and the requirements of the soldier.
The interesting thing I look at with Won Hyo is the many takedown/locking opportunities in the form. This corresponds to my view that something has occured to the Taekwondo student and that the mechanisms for striking and movement are coming into their own as their newfound skills. This means that the student expand his bag of skills and can look towards other techniques which will round off the necessary tools that a fighter needs. A soldier engaging in unarmed combat needs to cross the gap, block/cover/control, strike, and/or takedown the opponent. So while I do think that the first few patterns all have elements of this, Won Hyo really stresses that takedown opportunities should be integrated into the fighting system and encourages us to return to the first few patterns to readdress the few takedown tools that need to be practiced. Certainly this is in line with the Pure Land Buddhism analogy - a simple 'recipe' for enlightenment, but which points or refers to the more complex religious doctrine; i.e. if you're ready, you can ascend to realise such teachings. But if you're not, you're not yet out of luck.
Step 1 in fact, if assumed to engage a high downward strike from the opponent may block/check/entangle his arms, strike him with a shuto (step 2) to the face from between his arms, grab, and break the opponent's ribs (step 3). Then the return to standing could be a sweep to the opponent's front leg and/or a sayunage on the neck as the left folds/chambers downward- ready for the next side.
Won hyo is interesting in that it introduces the side kick AND makes it apparent that the set up for both kicks is different (step 8 & 26). Thus it is the first kata that prompts you to think of why you would kick a person, how you'd do it, and how best it should be launched. Are they the same technique? Yes, they are side kicks, but to me they are different techniques! Everything in the kata is there for contrast. The first kick is done pivoting backwards on the support leg and blocking with the front elbow to the opponent's leg or striking weapon (step 7), the second is done pivoting forward on the support leg (step 25) and proactively attacking the opponent after blitzing him with hand techniques or a strike to the head (step 24). Both tactics accomplish way different things. This encorages us to look at all similar techniques in the kata, and not take each for granted. I'm not saying to micro manage yourself per technique. Won-hyo emphasises that similar techniques are different when applied differently - and our minds need to be flexible and innovative enough to see it, in order to apply it.
The three forward shutos (step 9 - 11) are just like Bassai aren't they? In Bassai I teach the three shutos as techniques against front lunging pushes or punches from the opponent. They can be applied as an arm bar, an irimi, or an elbow break. All are great exercises to practice as continuous takedown drills - giving the practitioner a 'cutting through the mess' type mindset even in the face of aggressive attacks. For those who can't handle soft style arts, the shutos can be performed easily as elbow breaks, or neck strikes, or mere 'blocks'.
But the three blocks are more than just techniques. In sparring, I many times set up the opponent to fall for similar techniques. For instance, I'll throw 1-2-3 short instep kicks and the last sequence I'll throw a instep followed by jumping roundhouse to knock the person out. This 3 shuto sequence could be a wind up so that your opponent goes for the first 2 or 3 and then in the end you get him with the check and finger thrust into the eye or neck. This is not a feint, which is a fake into a knockout technique, this is a longer sequence in which sets the opponent to react to an assumed move which will ultimately be your feint.
The scoop blocks (step 19 and 22) are just like bassai too. While I look at the scoop blocks in Bassai as finger breaking or joint locking opportunities, Won Hyo seems to use them more as a neck break (for someone lunging in for a waist grab) or kick defence technique (grab the kick, kick the nuts)- both required for the soldier.
There's a double block which is known to be the over the shoulder throw (Step 27 & 28). A nice way to end off the form.
I wrote an article which features some discussion on Wonhyo. Check it out:
We were practicing wonhyo this week, and notice something peculiar about wrist positioning. In step 8/26 when you perform a sidekick, the guarding hand is that of a hammerfist strike. The blade of the hand is parrallel to the outer edge of the forearm. However, when you're doing the last moves in step 27/28, the hands seem to emulate the way we structure our punches - with the first two knuckles parallel with the inner forearm. If 27/28 is really a bunkai for over shoulder throw, then the hands should be held as a hammerfist strike, rather than that of a lunge punch.
Defense against double arm grab from behind Step 18-21
I was taught a defence to beare hug from behind, that while good, was not related to the patterns, nor could I 'pull' a similar move from the pattern. Basically it required me to perform a footstomp, then shoot my hands forward and then elbow backwards to the opponent. Try as I might I couldn't find this from the patterns, nor could I find anything similar done from a horse stance that I could apply. The solution is from an alternate escape I learned a while ago from my first instructor - a defence against a full nelson, that required you to pry the opponent's fingers off the back of your neck. So in line with Won Hyo the opponent performs a bearhug from behind over your arms. You prise his right hand off you with your right fist. Wrench it outwards towards the position indicated by step 18. The variance comes here - turn to face the opponent by stepping the left foot forward and pivoting on your right (or if you want to remain true-er to the form add in a step backwards with your right foot). At the same time do the scoop block from step 19 by applying downward pressure (his palms faces towards you and the ground), then rotate inside/up/out. Now his palm faces you and the sky. The opponent should feel rather uncomfortable as there is a horizontal shearing force on both his fingers and wrist. Now if you like you can perform the right foot front kick and follow through with left lunge punch.
Colin Wee Executive Curator 5th Dan member is offline
Joined: Feb 2004 Gender: Male Posts: 696 Location: Perth, Western Australia
Re: Chang Hon: Won-hyo « Reply #7 on Oct 1, 2006, 2:38am »
I was looking at a video of my aiki instructor doing an interesting technique that seemed so nicely suited to the interpretation of steps 1-6. He performed an 'Ude Garami' or arm coil lock on an uke doing an oizuke.
Ude Garami can be seen at http://eej.free.fr/ (click on Kobujitsu on the left menu and scroll down to the last image). It's also called an arm triangle or figure four arm lock.
Anyway, my instructor performed the Ude Garami without folding the outside arm around the attacker's elbow. He stabilised the opponent's right punching elbow with his left hand, and grabbed onto the back of the guy's fist with his right. He then merely 'folded' the fist towards the elbow and turned his hips to where the guy was falling backwards.
If you wanted, you could add a horizontal hammerfist strike to accelerate the guy's head into the ground. Then it would look perfectly like the opening steps 1-6. It would also correspond to the Heian patterns version of this move.
On the opposite side, if you were grabbing a cross handed strike, you can perform a 'same side' kotegaeshi. You grab the arm as above. The back hand corkscrews the arm into the body, and you hammerstrike to the back of the neck. The hikite or pull back hand wrenches the guy's arm out of it's socket.
Joined: May 2006 Posts: 38 Location: Texas, of course
Re: Chang Hon: Won-hyo « Reply #9 on May 14, 2007, 8:41pm »
Quote:
Most TKD practitioners will find little similarity with our practice.
No kidding! What's really interesting is how similar this is to Heian Nidan in Shotokan. Perhaps it is is as my friend Joseph says, Tae Kwon Do is Korean Shotokan (shh... he didn't really say that did he?)
But seriously, as a TKD practitioner of oh too many years, I was shocked to come across this form in my Karate studies, it was so achingly familiar, yet different at the same time. A pleasure indeed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN6tRVts53c
I am curious though, when y'all perform the third step of the hyung are you doing a hammer fist, back fist or lunge punch in horse riding stance?
Colin Wee Executive Curator 5th Dan member is offline
Joined: Feb 2004 Gender: Male Posts: 696 Location: Perth, Western Australia
Re: Chang Hon: Won-hyo « Reply #10 on May 14, 2007, 10:58pm »
Quote:
No kidding! What's really interesting is how similar this is to Heian Nidan in Shotokan. Perhaps it is is as my friend Joseph says, Tae Kwon Do is Korean Shotokan (shh... he didn't really say that did he?)
Taekwondo is not Korean Shotokan. Korean Shotokan is Tang Soo Do Chung Do Kwan. Tang Soo Do translates into China Hand (or Karate before kara meant empty) and Chung Do Kwan is 'Shotokan'! Taekwondo is actually rehashed Chung Do Kwan ... Ooops ... don't let anyone hear I said that!
Quote:
But seriously, as a TKD practitioner of oh too many years, I was shocked to come across this form in my Karate studies, it was so achingly familiar, yet different at the same time. A pleasure indeed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN6tRVts53c
Yes. I've known for the past couple of years how close the connection is with shotokan. I've actually sought to embrace more of this than most other TKD exponents. But at the same time knowing that because TKD is TKD, I've got latitude to do whatever the hell I want!
Quote:
I am curious though, when y'all perform the third step of the hyung are you doing a hammer fist, back fist or lunge punch in horse riding stance?
I have taken to doing the 'windmill' block or the first three steps of Won-hyo as how it would be performed in Heian Nidan - in a backstance and not drawing the foot back. Because this particular technique is featured in Hwarang, I use the 'standard' Taekwondo moves that *we* were taught there - meaning double block with two hands, cross hands over and pull lead foot back, slide into horse stance and punch mid section.
I interpret the Won-hyo level (or Heian Nidan) move as an ude garami takedown. The Hwa-rang as an attack to the face and then to the ribs.
Joined: May 2006 Posts: 38 Location: Texas, of course
Re: Chang Hon: Won-hyo « Reply #11 on May 15, 2007, 12:05am »
Quote:
Tang Soo Do translates into China Hand (or Karate before kara meant empty) and Chung Do Kwan is 'Shotokan'!
Ah, that clears things up and explains my bias - as I come out of the Chung Do Kwan familiy of TKD and my current pursuit of Renbudo owes a great deal to Shotokan Karate. Man! I have sooooo much to learn about sooooo many things. I guess Martial Arts are like any art, the artist need not know the history of art to create a masterpiece, but it can sure broaden and deepen the artist's perspective to study the history.
Colin Wee Executive Curator 5th Dan member is offline
Joined: Feb 2004 Gender: Male Posts: 696 Location: Perth, Western Australia
Re: Chang Hon: Won-hyo « Reply #12 on May 15, 2007, 8:58am »
There were of course quite a few Korean organisations doing the Pyung Ahns - this was before General Choi's TKD 'National Sport' unification plan. Korean arts have historically been influenced and seeded from Japanese and Chinese influences.
Did you know General Choi and some of the original guard were Shotokan Black Belts?
The history of martial arts is quite important when you need to feel like you have a goal when you do each technique, each endless drill, and all those meaningless kata!
I myself have been totally excited about learning more about Okinawan arts - and how they relate to all the other variants coming out from there.
Taekwondo (also spelled Tae Kwon Do or Taekwon-Do) is the most popular of the Korean martial arts and is the Korean national sport. It is also one of the world's most commonly practiced sports. The World Taekwondo Federation's style of Taekwondo is currently an Olympic sport.
In Korean, derived from hanja, Tae means "to kick or destroy with the foot"; Kwon means "to punch with the fist"; and Do means "way" or "art". Hence, Taekwondo is loosely translated as "the art of kicking and punching" or "the way of the foot and the fist." Taekwondo's popularity has resulted in the divergent evolution of the art. As with many other martial arts, Taekwondo is a combination of combat technique, sport, exercise, entertainment, and philosophy.
Although there are great doctrinal and technical differences among Taekwondo styles, the art in general emphasizes kicks thrown from a mobile stance, using the leg's greater reach and power to disable the opponent from a distance. In sparring, roundhouse, front, ax and side kicks are most often used; advanced kicks include jump, spin, skip, and drop kicks, often in combination. Taekwondo training includes a comprehensive system of hand strikes and blocks, but generally does not emphasize grappling or close-in combat.
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