Wales & West Tae Kwon-Do : Pattern : Toi-Gye

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Toi-Gye
Toi-Gye is the pen name of the noted scholar Yi Hwang (16th century AD).

Yi Hwang was an authority on neo-Confucianism. The 37 movements of this pattern refer to his birthplace on the 37th degree of latitude and the diagram represents "scholar" as in the Yul-Gok hyeong.

Number of movements:	37
Starting position:	Closed Ready Stance 'B' (Moa Chunbi Sogi 'B') on X facing towards E.
Turn to face A, move left foot into right L stance, left middle inner forearm block. slip front foot forward, left walking stance, low upset fingertip thrust. Bring left foot to right foot, make closed stance facing E, left low outer forearm block, right high backfist strike (perform in slow motion). Turn to face B, move right foot into left l stance, right middle inner forearm block. slip front foot forward, right walking stance, low upset fingertip thrust. Bring front foot to left foot, make closed stance facing E, right low outer forearm block, left high backfist strike (as 3). Step forwards towards E, left walking stance, low X-fist pressing block. Same stance, high twin vertical punch (7 & 8 to be performed in continuous motion). Step foward, execute middle front snap kick with right leg. Lower right foot to E, right walking stance, right middle section punch. execute a middle section punch (10 & 11 to be performed in fast motion). Bring left foot to right foot, turn to face C, closed stance bring forefists onto belt simultaneously (to be performed in slow motion). Move right foot into sitting stance to c, outer forearm W-shaped block (to be performed in stamping motion). Move left foot 180 degrees to C, face F, sitting stance, outer forearm W-shaped block (to be performed in stamping motion). Move left foot 180 degrees to D, face F, sitting stance, outer forearm W-shaped block (to be performed in stamping motion). Move right foot 180 degrees to D, face E, sitting stance, outer forearm W-shaped block (to be performed in stamping motion). Move left foot 180 degrees to D, face F, sitting stance, outer forearm W-shaped block (to be performed in stamping motion). Move left foot 180 degrees to C, face E, sitting stance, outer forearm W-shaped block (to be performed in stamping motion). Bring right foot to left foot, slip left foot forward into right L stance, face E, low double forearm block. Slip front foot forward, left walking stance, extend both hands foreward to high section as if to grab nape of neck. Kick upwards with the right knee while pulling both hands downwards. Lower right foot to left foot, turn 180 degrees anti-clockwise to face F, right L stance, middle knifehand guarding block. Execute a low front snap kick with the left foot. Slip forward, face F left walking stance, left high flat fingertip thrust. Step forward, left L stance, middle knifehand guarding block. Execute a low front snap kick towards F with right foot. Slip foward, face F, right walking stance, right high flat fingertip thrust. Move right foot to E forming a right L stance, high backfist strike with riht hand and low outer forearm block with left hand performed simultaneously. Jump to F, face B, right X stance, X pressing block to low section (high jump). Step towards F with right leg, right walking stance, high double forearm block. Spin 270 degrees anti-clockwise face A, right L stance, low knifehand guarding block. Slip front foot forward into left walking stance, face A, right circular block. Bring left foot to right foot, 180 degrees clockwise, left L stance, low knifehand guarding block. Slip front foot forward into right walking stance, facing B, left circular block. Pivot on the same spot into left walking stance right circular block. Pivot on the same spot into right walking stance, left circular block. Move right foot into sitting stance on line AB, facing E, right middle forefist punch.
When finished:	Bring right leg back to X in closed ready stance 'B' facing E.

On his death, Yi Hwang was posthumously promoted to the highest ministerial rank, and his mortuary tablet is housed in a Confucian shrine, as well as in the shrine of King Seonjo. He was the author of many books on Confucianism, and he also published a "shijo" collection, a short poetic form popular with the literati of the Choson period. During forty years of public life he served four kings (Junjong, Injong, Myeongjong and Seonjo), and his interpretation of the "li-chi" dualism gained him fame in Korea and beyond. Toegyero (a street in central Seoul) is named after him and he is depicted on the currently circulating South Korean 1,000-Won note.