Patterns & belts

Question 1

White belt

Answer 1

Signifies innocence, as that of a beginning student who has no previous knowledge of taekwondo.

Question 2

Yellow belt

Answer 2

Signifies the Earth from which a plant sprouts and takes root as the taekwondo foundations are being laid.

Question 3

Green belt

Answer 3

Signifies the plant’s growth as the taekwondo skill begins to develop.

Question 4

Blue belt

Answer 4

Signifies the Heaven, towards which the plant matures into a towering tree as training in taekwondo progresses

Question 5

Red belt

Answer 5

Signifies danger, cautioning the student to exercise control and warning the opponent to stay away.

Question 6

Chon-ji meaning

Answer 6

Means literally the Heaven and the Earth. In the 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 one to represent the earth.

Question 7

Chon-ji number of movements

Answer 7

19

Question 8

Dan-gun meaning

Answer 8

Is named after the holy Dan-gun, the legendary founder of Korea in 2333 BC.

Question 9

Dan-gun number of movements

Answer 9

21

Question 10

Do-san meaning

Answer 10

Is the pseudonym of the patriot Ahn Chung Ho (1876-1938). The 24 movements represent his entire life which he devoted to furthering the education of Korea and its independence movement.

Question 11

Do-san number of movements

Answer 11

24

Question 12

Won-hyo meaning

Answer 12

Was the noted monk who introduced Buddhism in the Silla dynasty in the year 686 AD.

Question 13

Won-hyo number of movements

Answer 13

28

Question 14

Yul-gok meaning

Answer 14

Is the pseudonym of the great philosopher and scholar Yil (1536-1584) nicknamed the Confucius of Korea. The 38 movements of this pattern refer to his birthplace on the 38th latitude and the diagram represents scholar.

Question 15

Yul-gok number of movements

Answer 15

38

Question 16

Joong-gun meaning

Answer 16

Is named after the patriot Ahn Joong-gun who assassinated Hiro Bumi Ito, the first 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 in Lui-Shung prison.

Question 17

Joong-gun number of movements

Answer 17

32