Taegeuk Poomsae 1 to 8: Meaning, Belt and Techniques

What the Taegeuk forms are

A poomsae (also spelled poomse or pumsae) is a set pattern of blocks, strikes, kicks and stances done against imaginary opponents. Kukkiwon teaches eight Taegeuk forms to color belts and nine Yudanja forms to black belts. The word taegeuk means the great ultimate, the same yin and yang symbol on the Korean flag. The eight trigrams around that symbol give each form its name and theme: heaven, lake, fire, thunder, wind, water, mountain and earth.

Students usually learn one new form for each belt test. Your school may shift a form by one belt, so treat the table below as the common layout. For the other styles, see ITF patterns and the poomsae finder.

Taegeuk forms at a glance

Form by form

Taegeuk 1, Il Jang (Heaven)

The first form is built from three stances and three blocks. The goal is a clean walking stance, a low block that reaches the hip line and a middle punch that stops on the target. Instructors look for steady hips and a front snap kick that does not lean back.

Taegeuk 2, Ee Jang (Lake)

Ee Jang repeats the first form’s structure and adds the high punch. Lake stands for a calm surface with power underneath, so the form rewards smooth transitions over speed.

Taegeuk 3, Sam Jang (Fire)

The back stance and knifehand techniques arrive here. The knifehand block needs a sharp stop to show fire.

Taegeuk 4, Sa Jang (Thunder)

Sa Jang has the most new techniques so far: double and high knifehand blocks, palm block, back fist, spearhand and the side kick. Thunder asks for sudden power, so the side kick should chamber fast and land with the heel.

Taegeuk 5, Oh Jang (Wind)

Wind brings the cross stance, the L-shape stance, the hammer fist and the elbow strike. Many students find the hammer fist and elbow sequence the hardest part to time.

Taegeuk 6, Yook Jang (Water)

The roundhouse kick enters the forms with the water theme of flowing motion. The double wedge block and outer forearm block need wide, relaxed arms before the snap.

Taegeuk 7, Chil Jang (Mountain)

Tiger stance and horse stance make this the first form with deep, held positions, plus the knee strike, uppercut and crescent kick. Stability matters more than speed.

Taegeuk 8, Pal Jang (Earth)

The last color-belt form adds the single mountain block and a jumping front snap kick. Most schools expect all eight Taegeuk forms to be clean before a black belt test.

Where each new technique first appears

The front snap kick appears in Taegeuk 1, the side kick in 4, the roundhouse kick in 6, the crescent kick in 7 and the jumping front snap kick in 8. Practice each kick on its own before you add it to the form. Our kicks guide covers the technique.

From Palgwae to Taegeuk

Before the Taegeuk forms, Kukkiwon-style taekwondo used the Palgwae forms, developed by the Korea Taekwondo Association from 1967 to 1971, and a newer Taegeuk set was developed by 1970. By 1971 the Palgwae forms were deprecated, though some schools still teach them. Kukkiwon opened in 1972 and made the Taegeuk set the standard. For the wider story, read the history of taekwondo.

Example learning schedule

At a school that tests every 4 months and starts at 10th gup, a student could follow this timetable. Real schools differ, and attendance changes it.

That works out to a little over 3 years. Use the black belt time estimator to adjust for your classes per week, and read how long it takes to earn a black belt.

How WT scores a poomsae

In World Taekwondo competition a recognized poomsae is scored out of 10.0 points.

Accuracy deductions are 0.1 for a small mistake, 0.3 for a big mistake and 0.6 for restarting the poomsae. Presentation is judged on the whole performance.

How to practice

1. Learn the form in sections of 4 to 6 movements, then join the sections.
2. Practice the stances alone for 5 minutes before every session.
3. Do the form slowly at half speed once, then at full speed twice.
4. Record yourself from the front and side and check your stance width and hip height.
5. Return to earlier forms. A clean Taegeuk 1 teaches more than a rushed Taegeuk 5.

Your next step after Taegeuk 8 is the black belt series. See black belt poomsae and the belt test guide.

Common mistakes instructors flag

• Rising and dipping between techniques. Keep your head at one height in walking and front stances.
• Blocks that stop short of the target line. Finish each block at the same spot every time.
• Kicks that start before the chamber is complete.
• Uneven tempo, rushing the easy movements and slowing down on the hard ones.
• Looking at the floor on turns. Turn your head first, then your hips.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Kukkiwon: official site
• World Taekwondo: poomsae rules
• Wikipedia: Taegeuk (taekwondo)
• North Bay Taekwondo: recognized poomsae scoring