Wales & West Tae Kwon-Do : Pattern : Yul-Gok

Home

Syllabus

History

Theory

Links

Shop

Joining

Dojangs

Competitions

News

Sitemap

What is English for Sang Palmok Makgi?
Click here!

Yul-Gok
Yul-Gok is the pseudonym of the great philosopher and scholar Yi I (1536-1584 AD).

Yul-Gok is nicknamed the 'Confucius of Korea'. The movements of this pattern refer to his birthplace on the 38th degree latitude and the diagram represents 'scholar'.

Number of movements:	38
Starting position:	Parallel ready stance (Narani Chunbi Sogi) on X facing towards E.
Move the left foot to B forming a sitting stance toward D while extending the left fist to D horizontally Execute a middle punch to D with the right fist while maintaining a sitting stance toward D Execute a middle punch to D with the left fist while maintaining a sitting stance toward D. Perform 2 and 3 in a fast motion Bring the left foot to the right foot and then move the right foot to A forming a sitting stance toward D while extending the right fist to D horizontally Execute a middle punch to D with the left fist while maintaining a sitting stance toward D Execute a middle punch to D with the right fist while maintaining a sitting stance toward D. Perform 5 and 6 in a fast motion Move the right foot to E forming a right walking stance toward E while executing a middle side block to E with the right inner forearm Execute a low front snap kick to E with the left foot keeping the position of the hands as they were in 7 Lower the left foot to E forming a left walking stance toward AD while executing a middle punch to E with the left fist Execute a middle punch to E with the right fist while maintaining a left walking stance toward E. Perform 9 and 10 in a fast motion Move the left foot to F forming a left walking stance toward F at the same time executing a middle side block to F with the left inner forearm Execute a low front snap kick to F with the right foot keeping the position of the hands as they were in 11 Lower the right foot to F forming a right walking stance toward F while executing a middle punch to F with the right fist Execute a middle punch to F with the left fist while maintaining a right walking stance toward F. Perform 13 and 14 in a fast motion Execute a middle hooking block to D with the right palm while forming a right walking stance toward D, pivoting with the left foot Execute a middle hooking block to D with the left palm while maintaining a right walking stance toward D Execute a middle punch to D with the right fist while maintaining a right walking stance toward D. Execute 16 and 17 in a connecting motion Move the left foot to D forming a left walking stance toward D while executing a middle hooking block to D with the left palm Execute a middle hooking block to D with the right palm while maintaining a left walking stance toward D Execute a middle punch to D with the left fist while maintaining a left walking stance toward D. Execute 19 and 20 in a connecting motion Move the right foot to D forming a right walking stance toward D at the same time executing a middle punch to D with the right fist Turn the face toward D forming a right bending ready stance A toward D Execute a middle side piercing kick to D with the left foot Lower the left foot to D forming a left walking stance toward D while striking the left palm with the right front elbow Turn the face toward C forming a left bending ready stance A toward C Execute a middle side piercing kick to C with the right foot Lower the right foot to C forming a right walking stance toward C while striking the right palm with the left front elbow Move the left foot to E forming a right L-stance toward E while executing a twin knife-hand block Move the right foot to E forming a right walking stance toward E while executing a middle thrust to E with the right straight finger tip Move the right foot to F turning clockwise to form a left L-stance toward F while executing a twin knife-hand block Move the left foot to F forming a left walking stance toward F while executing a middle thrust to F with the left straight finger tip Move the left foot to C forming a left walking stance toward C while executing a high side block to C with the left outer forearm Execute a middle punch to C with the right fist while maintaining a left walking stance toward C Move the right foot to C forming a right walking stance toward C while executing a high side block to C with the right outer forearm Execute a middle punch to C with the left fist while maintaining a right walking stance toward C Jump to C forming a left X-stance toward B while executing a high side strike to C with the left back fist Move the right foot to A forming a right walking stance toward A at the same time executing a high block to A with the right double forearm Bring the right foot to the left foot and then move the left foot to B forming a left walking stance toward B while executing a high block to B with the left double forearm
When finished:	Bring left leg back to X, in parallel ready stance facing towards E.

Yi I was born on December 26, 1536, in Bukpyeong, in Gangwon Province. He was a child prodigy who knew Chinese script at the age of three and composed poems in Classical Chinese before he had reached his seventh birthday. By the age of seven, he had finished his lessons in the Confucian Classics, and he passed the Civil Service literary examination at the age of 13. At the age of 29, Yi I passed a higher Civil Service examination (with full marks) and he started government service. His winning thesis, titled Cheondochaek, was widely regarded as a literary masterpiece, displaying his knowledge of history and the Confucian philosophy of politics, and also reflecting his profound knowledge of Taoism. At 34, Yi I authored "Dongho Mundap", an eleven-article treatise devoted to clarifying his conviction that righteous government could be achieved even within his own lifetime, showing his aspirations and also measures to achieve it. Yi I temporarily renounced the world by secluding himself in the Diamond Mountain following his mother's death when he was 36. It is not known why he did this, although it is thought that either: he sought three years of lamentation until the Buddhist phrase, "life is transient", eased his sorrow; he may have understood that the Confucian teaching, "preserve your mind and nurture your nature", was synonymous with the Buddhist teaching, "open your mind and see your nature"; or he may have regarded it as a pleasure simply to retire to the countryside to rest. Following his return to society, he authored "The Essentials of Confucianism" in 1576, which was considered to be a most valuable book, showing examples for a good Confucian life. Yi I died in 1584, and the Yul-Gok Jeonjip ("The Complete Works of Yul-Gok") was compiled after his death on the basis of the writings he bequeathed. Yulgongno (a street in central Seoul) is named after him, and he is depicted on the currently circulating South Korean 5,000-Won note.