ataru Tae Kwon Do

Significance of the Belt Colours

 

White:      Signifies innocence, as that of a beginning student who has no previous knowledge of Taekwon-do.

 

Yellow:    Signifies the earth from which a plant sprouts and takes root as the Taekwon-Do foundation is being laid.

 

Green:     Signifies the plant’s growth as Taekwon-Do skills begin to develop.

 

Blue:        Signifies the heaven, towards which the plant matures into a towering tree as training in Taekwon-Do pregresses.

 

Red:         Signifies danger, cautioning the students exercise control ad warning the opponent to stay away.

 

Black:      Opposite to white, therefore signifying maturity and proficiency in Taekwon-Do. It also indicates the wearer’s imperviousness to darkness and fear.

 

Interpretations of Patterns

 

The name of a pattern, the number of movements and the diagrammatic symbol of each pattern symbolises either heroic figures in Korean history or instances relating to historic events.

 

 

Chon-Ji: Means literally “the heaven the Earth”. In Orient it is interpreted as the creation of the world or the beginning of human history, therefore it is the initial pattern played by the beginner. This pattern consists of two similar parts; one to represent the Heaven and the other the Earth.

 

Dan-Gun: is named after the holy Dan-Gun, the legendary founder of Korea in the year of 2,333 BC

 

Do-San: is the pseudonym of the patriot Ahn Chang-Ho (1876 – 1938). The movements represent his entire life, which he devoted to furthering the education of Korea and its independence movement.

 

Won-Hyo: was the monk who introduced Buddhism to the Silla Dynasty in the year of 686AD

 

Yul-Gok: is the pseudonym of a great philosopher and scholar Yil (1536 – 1584) nicknamed the “Confucius of Korea” The 38 movements of this pattern refer to his birthplace on 38 latitude and the diagram represents “Scholar”.

 

Joong-Gun: is named after the patriot An Joong-Gun who assassinated Hiro-Bumi Ito, the 1st Japanese governor-general of Korea, known as the man who played the leading part in the Korea-Japan merger. There are 32 movements in this pattern to represent Mr. Ahn’s age when he was executed at Lui-Shung prison (1910)

 

Toi-Gye: is the pen name of the noted scholar Yi Hwang (16th Century). An authority on Neo-Confucianism. The 37 movements of the pattern refer to his birthplace on 37 degrees latitude, the diagram represents “scholar”.

 

Hwa-Rang: is named after the Hwa-Rang youth group, which originated in the Silla Dynasty in the early 7th century. The 29 movements refer to the 29th Infantry Division, where Taekwon-Do developed into maturity.

 

Choong-Moo: was the name given to the great Admiral Yi Soon-Sin of the Lee Dynasty. He was reputed to have invented the 1st armoured battleship (Kobukson) in 1592, which is said to be the precursor of the present day submarine. The reason why this pattern ends with a left hand attack is to symbolise his regrettable death, having no chance to show his unrestrained potentiality checked by the forced reservation of his loyalty to the king.

 

Kwang-Gae: is named after the famous Kwang-Gae-Toh-Wang, the 19th king of the Koguryo Dynasty, who regained all the lost territories including the greater part of Manchuria. The diagram represents the expansion and recovery of lost territory. The 39 movements refer to the 1st two figures of 391 AD, the year he came to the throne.

 

Po-Eun: is the pseudonym of a loyal subject Chong Mong-Chu (1400) who was a famous poet and whose poem “I would not serve a second master though I may be crucified 100 times: is known to every Korean. He was also a pioneer in the field of physics. The diagram (-) represents his unerring loyalty to the King and country towards the end of the Koryo Dynasty.

 

Ge-Baek: is named after Ge-Baek, a great general in the Baek Je Dynasty (660 AD). The diagram ( | ) represents his severe and strict military discipline.

 

Eui-Am: is the pseudonym of Son Byong Hi, leader of the Korean independence movement on March 1st, 1919. The 45 movements refer to his age when he changed the name of Dong Hak (Oriental Culture) to Chondo Kyo (Heavenly Way Religion) in 1905. The diagram ( | ) represents his indomitable spirit, displayed while dedicating himself to the prosperity of his nation.

 

Choong-Jang: is the pseudonym given to General Kim Duk Ryan who lived in the Lee Dynasty, 14th century. This pattern ends with a left-hand attack to symbolise the tragedy of his death at 27 in prison before he was able to reach his full maturity.

 

Ko-Dang: is the Pseudodym of the patriot Cho Man Shik, who dedicated his life to the Korean Independence Movement and to the education of his people. The 45 movements represent the last two figures of 1945, the year Korea was liberated from Japanese occupation.