Forms
ITF Patterns (Tul): All 24 With Belt, Moves and Meaning
ITF taekwondo teaches 24 patterns called tul. This page lists each one by belt, the number of movements and who or what it honors.
Reviewed by Daniel Reyes, 4th dan Kukkiwon, 18 years teaching | Last checked: October 26, 2026ITF taekwondo uses 24 Chang-Hon patterns called tul, one for every hour of the day. Nine are for color belts (Chon-Ji at 9th kup to Choong-Moo at 1st kup) and fifteen for black belts (Kwang-Gae at 1st dan to Tong-Il at 6th dan). They differ from Kukkiwon poomsae, which use 8 Taegeuk forms and 9 Yudanja forms.
| Total patterns | 24 (one for each hour in a day) |
|---|---|
| Color belt patterns | 9 (Chon-Ji to Choong-Moo) |
| Black belt patterns | 15 (Kwang-Gae to Tong-Il) |
| First pattern | Chon-Ji, 19 movements, 9th kup |
| Longest pattern | So-San, 72 movements, 5th dan |
| Shortest black belt pattern | Se-Jong, 24 movements, 5th dan |
| Color belt movements combined | 258 |
| Assembled by | General Choi Hong Hi |
What ITF patterns are
Patterns are fixed sequences of blocks, strikes, kicks and stances done against imaginary opponents. ITF schools call them tul and the whole set the Chang-Hon syllabus. The set was assembled by General Choi Hong Hi, who founded the International Taekwon-Do Federation in 1966. There are 24 patterns, which the ITF says stand for the 24 hours in a day. Every pattern starts and ends on the same spot, which checks that your stances have the right length, width and direction.
Kukkiwon and World Taekwondo schools use a different set. You can compare them in Taegeuk poomsae and black belt poomsae.
Color belt patterns
| Grade | Pattern | Movements | Named for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9th kup | Chon-Ji | 19 | Heaven and Earth; the start of creation |
| 8th kup | Dan-Gun | 21 | Legendary founder of Korea, dated to 2333 BC |
| 7th kup | Do-San | 24 | Pen name of patriot Ahn Chang-Ho (1876 to 1938) |
| 6th kup | Won-Hyo | 28 | Monk who brought Buddhism to the Silla dynasty in 686 AD |
| 5th kup | Yul-Gok | 38 | Pen name of the philosopher Yi I (1536 to 1584) |
| 4th kup | Joong-Gun | 32 | Patriot Ahn Joong-Gun, who assassinated Ito Hirobumi |
| 3rd kup | Toi-Gye | 37 | Pen name of the scholar Yi Hwang, 16th century |
| 2nd kup | Hwa-Rang | 29 | Hwa-Rang youth group of the Silla dynasty |
| 1st kup | Choong-Moo | 30 | Admiral Yi Soon-Sin, credited with the Kobukson armored ship (1592) |
The nine color belt patterns add up to 258 movements. The syllabus published by the British Schools Taekwon-Do Federation starts with four-direction punching and blocking exercises at 10th kup, before Chon-Ji.
Black belt patterns
| Rank | Pattern | Movements | Named for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st dan | Kwang-Gae | 39 | Gwang-Gae-Toh-Wang, 19th king of Koguryo |
| 1st dan | Po-Eun | 36 | Pen name of the poet Chong Mong-Chu (1400) |
| 1st dan | Ge-Baek | 44 | General Ge-Baek of the Baek Je dynasty (660 AD) |
| 2nd dan | Eui-Am | 45 | Pen name of Son Byong Hi, leader of the March 1, 1919 independence movement |
| 2nd dan | Choong-Jang | 52 | Pen name of General Kim Duk Ryang, 14th century |
| 2nd dan | Ko-Dang or Juche | 39 or 45 | Ko-Dang: pen name of Cho Man Sik. Juche: the idea that people master their own destiny |
| 3rd dan | Sam-Il | 33 | The March 1, 1919 independence movement; 33 stands for the patriots who planned it |
| 3rd dan | Yoo-Sin | 68 | General Kim Yoo Sin of Silla; 668 AD, the year Korea was united |
| 3rd dan | Choi-Yong | 46 | General Choi Yong, 14th-century Koryo dynasty |
| 4th dan | Yon-Gae | 49 | General Yon Gae Somoon of Koguryo; 649 AD |
| 4th dan | Ul-Ji | 42 | General Ul-Ji Moon Dok, who defended Korea against a Tang invasion in 612 AD |
| 4th dan | Moon-Moo | 61 | The 30th king of Silla; 661 AD |
| 5th dan | So-San | 72 | Pen name of the monk Choi Hyong Ung (1520 to 1604) |
| 5th dan | Se-Jong | 24 | King Se-Jong, who created the Korean alphabet in 1443; 24 letters |
| 6th dan | Tong-Il | 56 | The goal of reunifying Korea, divided since 1945 |
Movement counts vary a little between sources for a few patterns, such as Choi-Yong (45 or 46) and Tong-Il (42 or 56). Ask your instructor which count your organization uses. Ko-Dang and Juche are listed as alternatives for the same slot at 2nd dan.
Movement counts at a glance
| Group | Patterns | Total movements | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Color belt (9th to 1st kup) | 9 | 258 | 28.7 |
| 1st dan | 3 | 119 | 39.7 |
| 2nd dan (with Ko-Dang) | 3 | 136 | 45.3 |
| 3rd dan | 3 | 147 | 49.0 |
| 4th dan | 3 | 152 | 50.7 |
| 5th dan | 2 | 96 | 48.0 |
| 6th dan | 1 | 56 | 56.0 |
The average rises through 4th dan. Se-Jong, at 24 movements, pulls the 5th dan average down. Totals use the counts in the tables above.
ITF patterns compared with Kukkiwon forms
| ITF (Chang-Hon) | Kukkiwon / WT | |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Tul or patterns | Poomsae |
| Color belt set | 9 patterns | 8 Taegeuk forms |
| Black belt set | 15 patterns, 1st to 6th dan | 9 Yudanja forms, 1st to 9th dan |
| Naming | People, events and dates in Korean history | Trigrams (Taegeuk), then history and philosophy |
| Governing body | ITF | Kukkiwon and World Taekwondo |
If you switch schools, ask which set the new school teaches and how it handles transfers before you plan your testing. The poomsae finder shows which Kukkiwon form matches your belt.
Why the movement counts matter
Many pattern movement counts carry a meaning. Yul-Gok has 38 movements for the 38th parallel where the philosopher was born. Joong-Gun has 32 for the age at which Ahn Joong-Gun was executed in 1910. Kwang-Gae has 39 for the year 391 AD, and Yoo-Sin has 68 for 668 AD. So-San has 72 for the age at which the monk organized his troops. Se-Jong has 24 movements, one for each letter of the Korean alphabet he created. Knowing these helps you remember the counts when you test.
How to learn a pattern
- Learn the pattern in sections and know the foot you finish on.
- Count aloud while you practice so that you do not skip or add a movement.
- Check that you end on the starting spot. If you drift, your stances are too long or too short.
- Practice the previous pattern before each session. Later patterns reuse the earlier ones.
- Learn who or what the pattern honors. It makes the count easier to remember.
Where to go next
The history of the two systems explains the split. Read the history of taekwondo for how the kwans, the ITF and World Taekwondo came about. For belt order and testing details, see belt requirements and how long it takes to earn a black belt.
Frequently asked questions
How many ITF patterns are there?
24 patterns, which the ITF says stand for the 24 hours in a day.
What is the first ITF pattern?
Chon-Ji, with 19 movements, taught at 9th kup.
What is the last ITF pattern?
Tong-Il, taught at 6th dan.
Which ITF pattern has the most movements?
So-San, with 72 movements.
Which ITF pattern has the fewest movements?
Chon-Ji, with 19. The shortest black belt pattern is Se-Jong, with 24.
What is the difference between tul and poomsae?
Tul are the ITF Chang-Hon patterns. Poomsae are the Kukkiwon and World Taekwondo forms.
Who created the ITF patterns?
General Choi Hong Hi assembled the Chang-Hon set.
What does Chon-Ji mean?
Heaven and Earth.
What belt learns Dan-Gun?
8th kup in the syllabus used by the British Schools Taekwon-Do Federation. Check your own organization.