International Tae Kwon Do Federation
aka ITF

The original Taekwondo pattern set developed by by General Choi Hong Hi, founder of the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) and disputed founder of Tae Kwon Do.  The set contains 24 patterns each named for a significant person or event in Korean history. The total of 24 patterns represents the number of hours in a day. 

This pattern set is one of the most difficult for new students since it uses intricate footwork and jumping kicks for color belt rank patterns (most schools using this pattern set use the first nine patterns for color belts). The black belt patterns are long (Yu-sin has 68 movements) with numerous jumping, spinning kicks, which make them physical and mentally demanding, especially during testing and competition.

Each pattern has a meaning. Except for Chon-Ji and the Juche, all the patterns are named after important people in Korean history, or historic events. For non-Koreans, these names are not too important in a historical sense, but they are still taught to Tae Kwon Do students to preserve and respect Korean tradition. The diagram of movement in each of the Tae Kwon Do patterns is based upon the traditional ideology of ancient Korean people. Each diagram attempts to match the ideological figure of what the pattern's name means.

ITF History

In the very first editions of his book Taekwon-Do, General Choi only mentioned twenty Tae Kwon Do patterns, along with some karate patterns.   In the 1970's, Choi removed the karate patterns and added four more Tae Kwon Do patterns, moon-moo, yon-gae, So-san, and Eui-Am, for a total of twenty-four Tae Kwon Do patterns. During the early 1980's, Choi thought some important techniques were missing from the original patterns, so he replaced one of the original patterns (Ko-Dang) with a new pattern (Juche, Juche is very difficult to perform so some organizations, either do not use it or allow a substitution for older students.). This kept the total number of patterns at twenty-four. The order of the patterns has changed somewhat over time, as well as the total number, but regardless of the number of patterns, Tong-Il will be always the last one. This is because it stands for the hope that North and South Korea will one day be unified.

The complete twenty-four patterns are used by the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF). Some or all of these patterns are used by various other Taekwondo organizations.

In 1971, General Choi became embroiled in political disputes with the South Korean government and left Korea and formed the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF). His original patterns with their Shotokan influence are still used by the ITF. ITF patterns are known as hyung or tul. ITF patterns are known for their stepping motion (sine wave) while moving into techniques, which applies the force of the entire body at the movement of impact.

The Forms:

Form Name	Form Meaning	Our School Rank Required
Chun Ji	Literally means heaven and earth. It is in the orient interpreted as the creation of the world or the beginning of human history, therefore it is the initial pattern played by the beginner.
Dan Gun	Dan Gun is named after the Holy Dan Gun, the legendary founder of Korea in the year 2333 B.C..
Do San	Do-San is a pseudonym of the patriot Ahn Chang-Ho. The 24 movements represent his entire life which he devoted to furthering education in Korea and the Korean independence movement.
Won Hyo	Won-Hyo was the noted monk who introduced Buddhism to the Silla Dynasty in the year 686 AD.
Yul Guk	Yul-Gok is a pseudonym of a great philosopher and scholar Yi I nicknamed the "Confucius of Korea". The 38 movements of this pattern refer to his birthplace on 38 degree latitude and the diagram of the pattern represents scholar.
Joong Gun	Joong-Gun 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 patter to represent Mr Ahn's age when he was executed at Lui-Shung in 1910.
Toi Gye	Toi-Gye is the pen name of the noted scholar Yi Hwang (16th century) an authority on neo-Confucianism. The 37 movements of the pattern refer to his birthplace on 37 degree latitude, the diagram represent "scholar".
Hwa Rang	Hwa Rang is named after the Haw Rang youth group which originated in the Silla Dynasty in the early 7th century. The 29 movements refer to the 29th infantry Division, where Taekwondo developed into maturity
Choong Moo	Choong-Moo was the name given to the great Admiral Yi Soon-Sin of the Yi Dynasty. He was reputed to have invented the first armored battleship (Kobukson) in 1592, which is said to be the precursor of the present day submarine. This pattern ends with a left hand attack, to symbolize his regrettable death. He was noted for his unrestrained loyalty to the King.
Kwang Gae	Kwang-Gae is named after the famous Kwang-Gae-Toh-Wang, the 19th king of the Koguryo Dynasty, who regained all the lost territories including the greater part of Manchuria. The diagram represent the expansion and recovery of lost territory. The 39 movements refer to the first two figures of 391 AD, the year he came to the throne.
Po Eun	Po-Eun is the pseudonym of a loyal subject Chong-Mong-Chu (1400) who was a famous poet and who's poem "I would not serve a second master though I might be crucified a hundred time" is know to every Korean. He was also a pioneer in the field of physics. The diagram represent his unerring loyalty to the king and country towards the end of the Koryo Dynasty.
Gae Baek	Ge-Baek is named after Ge-Baek, a great general in the Baek-Je Dynasty (660AD). The diagram represents his severe and strict military discipline.
Eui Am	Eui-Am is the pseudonym of Son Byong Hi, leader of the Korean independence movement on March 1, 1919. The 45 movements refer to his age when he changed his name of Dong Hak (oriental Culture) to Chondo Kyo (Heavenly Way Religion) in 1905. The diagram represents his indomitable spirit, displayed while dedicating himself to the prosperity of his nation.
Yu Sin	Yoo Sin is named after General Kin Yoo Sin, a commanding general during the Silla Dynasty. The 68 movements refer to the last two figures of 668 AD the year Korea was unified. The ready posture signifies a sword drawn to the right rather than the left side, symbolizing Yoo sin's mistake of following his king's orders to fight with foreign force against his own nation.
Choong Jang	Choong-Jang is the pseudonym given to General Kim Duk Ryang who lived during the Yi Dynasty, 14th century. This pattern ends with a left hand attack to symbolise the tragedy of his death at 27 in prison before he was able to reach full maturity.
Ul Ji	UL-JI is named after general UL-JI Moon Dok who successfully defended Korea against a Tang's invasion force of nearly one million soldiers led by Yang Je in 612 AD, Ul-JI employing hit and run guerilla tactics was able to decimate a large percentage of the force. The diagram represents his surname. The 42 movements represent the author's age when he designed the pattern.
Sam Il	Sam Il denotes the historical date of the independence movement of Korea which began throughout the country on march 1, 1919. The 33 movements in the pattern stand for the 33 patriots who planned the movement.
Choi Yong	Choi Yong is named after General Choi Yong, Premier and Commander-in Chief of the armed forces during the 14th century Koryo Dynasty. Choi Yong was greatly respected for his loyalty, patriotism, and humility. He was executed by subordinate commanders headed by General Yi Sung Gae, who later became the first king of the Yi Dynasty.
Ko Dang
Se Jong	Se-Jong is named after the greatest Korean King, Se-Jong, who invented the Korean alphabets in 1443, and was also a noted meteorologist. The diagram represents the king, while the 24 movements refer to the 24 letters of the Korean alphabet.
Tong Il	Tong Il denotes the resolution of the unification of Korea which has been divided since 1945. The diagram symbolises the homogenous race
Moon Moo	Moon Moo honors the 30th king of the Silla Dynasty. His body was buried near Dae Wang Am (Great King's Rock). According to his will, the body was placed in the sea "Where my soul shall forever defend my land against the Japanese". It is said that the Sok Gul Am (Stone Cave) was built to guard his tomb. The Sok Gul Am is a fine example of the culture of the Silla Dynasty. The 61 movements in this pattern symbolize the last two figures of 6612 AS when Moon Moo came to the throne.
Yon Gae	Yon Gae is named after a famous general during the Koguryo Dynasty. Yon Gae Somoon. The 49 movements refer to the last two figures of 649 AD the year he forced the Tang Dynasty to quit Korea after destroying nearly 300,000 of their troops at Ansi Sung.
JuChe	Juche is a philosophical idea that man is the master of everything and decides everything, in other words, the idea that man is that master of the world and his own destiny. It is said that this idea was rooted in Baekdu Mount which symbolise the spirit of the Korean people. The diagram represents Baekdu Mountain.
So San	So San is the pseudonym of the great monk Choi Hyong Ung (1520 - 1604) during the Lae Dynasty. The 72 movements refer to his age when he organised a corps of monk soldiers with the assistance of his pupil Sa Myung Dang. The monk soldiers helped repulse the Japanese pirates who overran most of the Korean peninsula in 1592.

Refrences:

• Galloway, J. P. (2001).  Mastering forms: The Lost World of Basic Principles.  Taekwondo Times, 21 (6),  pp.52-56.

• Sol, Kim. (1997). Learning from Kodokan Judo: a Role for Poomse in Taekwondo. The Monograph, Winter, 1997, Vol. III, University of California Martial Arts Program, pp. 161-173

• Unofficial Taekwondo Resource. [Online]. Available: http://paperwindow.com/tkd