Basic Form 1

Basic Form 2

Basic Form 3

Taegeuk One represents the ancient principle of Heaven and Light. This form teaches blocking low, middle, and high as well as alternating between straight and reverse techniques. The short dominates this form with the long square stance used only up and down the middle of this form.

Taegeuk Two represents the ancient concept of happiness. There are only two high punches found in the Taegeuk forms, these are found in set two of Taegeuk Two. Short stances are once again used, and the only long square stances are found with punches to the sides of the form.

Taegeuk Three, done with creative passion, represents the ancient philosophy of Fire and Sun. This form introduces open-handed techniques as well as stressing combinations. Once again the long square stances are only used on punches to the side of the form.

Taegeuk Four symbolizes the ancient philosophy of Thunder. This form breaks away from the rigid movement of the previous forms and is considered the first advanced poomsae. The form makes use of a more fluid motion and introduces two-handed techniques as well as the Hammerblock. The short or walking stance is almost eliminated at this point with the exception of being on the two stances to the sides of step three. In addition, Taegeuk Four uses a backwards sliding parrying movement.

Taegeuk Five, the ancient philosophy of Wind, makes use of hand combinations which includes the hammer blow, back fist and elbow techniques. The square stances are all long stances. This is the first form to have two keups.

Taegeuk Six, symbolizing the ancient philosophy of water, once again uses a backward carrying motion. The smooth flowing circular techniques represent the yielding yet powerful motion of water. The palm block is first used in this form.

Taegeuk Seven symbolizes the ancient philosophy of the mountain. This form introduces the cat stance and a variety of two-handed techniques. The knee strike and the crescent kick are found in this form. The walking stance is seen again in movements 20 and 22.

Taegeuk Eight follows the ancient principle of earth. This is the last of the Taegeuk forms and should be performed with the precision and total concentration of mind and body learned in the previous forms. It is a culmination of all prior techniques combined with variations of these movements including the reverse square stance and jump front kicks. Dynamic tension is also to be found in this form.