Students at this level will have been training for some considerable time and now need to become rooted to the ground, represented by the brown stripe. Strength of technique comes from being well balanced and working from the ground/floor being developed through the pattern Toi-Gye. This is the time when the plant becomes a tree with training methods and movements becoming more meaningful.
Pattern: Toi-Gye Hyong 37 Movements
퇴계
Pattern Toi-Gye is named after the noted Neo-Confucianism Scholar Yi Hwang who used Toi-Gye as his pen name. He was born in 1501, the youngest of 8 children in Ongye-ri, now known as T’osan in North Korea, said to be within the 37˚ latitude but is actually further north at 38.302˚. Although incorrectly said that the 37 movements are to represent his birthplace they could more accurately relate to his age when his mother died or equally that he was a renowned government figure from the age of 33 until his death at age 70, i.e.: 37 years.
Yi Hwang is considered one of the two greatest Confucian Scholars in Korea and also like Yul Gok (Yi I) has appeared upon South Korean notes and has a street named after him in Seoul. He held many positions within the government including ‘Secret Royal Inspector’, a role appointed by the King and used to route out corruption in government officials. Yi Hwang wrote poetry in his spare time and towards the end of his life he wrote government advisory notes and gave lectures on his philosophies, the I-Ching and other Confucian scripts he had studied.
37 Movements
Ready Stance: Both feet together, form a right fist and encompass it with the left hand, place in front of belt knot. Focus your mind upon the pattern Toi-Gye.
1. Move the left foot to the left forming a right back stance whilst performing a left inner forearm block.
2. Execute a low section thrust with a right reverse spear-hand whilst moving the left foot into left forward stance. Move left fist to the right shoulder.
3. Bring the left foot to the right forming a closed stance while performing a right outer forearm block simultaneously with a left low section block in slow motion.
4. Move the right foot to the right forming a left back stance whilst performing a right inner forearm block.
5. Execute a low section thrust with a left reverse spear-hand whilst moving the right foot into right forward stance. Move right fist to the left shoulder.
6. Bring the right foot to the left forming a closed stance while performing a left outer forearm block simultaneously with a right low section block in slow motion.
7. Step forward into left forward stance and execute a double low section X-block.
8. Execute a high section twin vertical fist punch in quick succession to step 7.
9. Execute a right mid-section front kick.
10. Lower the right foot into right forward stance and execute a a right mid-section punch.
11. Follow up quickly with a left mid-section punch.
12. Move the left foot to the right foot, turning 90˚ left into a closed stance, slowly bringing both fists to the hips down along the centre line of the body.
13. Move the right foot in a stamping motion into a horse-riding stance whilst executing a W-shape block with the outer forearms.
14. Move the left foot in a stamping motion into a horse-riding stance whilst executing a W-shape block with the outer forearms.
15. Move the left foot in a stamping motion into a horse-riding stance whilst executing a W-shape block with the outer forearms.
16. Move the right foot in a stamping motion into a horse-riding stance whilst executing a W-shape block with the outer forearms.
17. Move the left foot in a stamping motion into a horse-riding stance whilst executing a W-shape block with the outer forearms.
18. Move the left foot in a stamping motion into a horse-riding stance whilst executing a W-shape block with the outer forearms.
19. Move the right foot to the left foot then move the left foot forward into right back stance executing a double low section inner wrist block.
20. Slip the left foot forward into left forward stance whilst extending both arms to grab opponent’s head or throat.
21. Kick up with right knee while pulling both hands downwards.
22. Lower the right foot beside the left foot whilst tuning 180˚ anti-clockwise and step left foot forward into right back stance, knife-hand guarding block.
23. Execute a low front kick with the left foot.
24. Lower the left foot into left forward stance and execute a high section spear-hand thrust with the left hand.
25. Move the right foot forward into left back stance and perform a knife-hand guarding block.
26. Execute a low front kick with the right foot.
27. Lower the right foot into right forward stance and execute a high section spear-hand thrust with the right hand.
28. Quickly move the right foot backwards into right back stance executing a right back fist strike to the rear, simultaneously with a left low section block.
29. Jump forward rotating 90˚ left, landing into a low X-stance and executing a low section X-block.
30. Move the right foot into right forward stance and execute a double inner forearm block.
31. Pivot on the right foot 90˚ anti-clockwise into right back stance and execute a twin low section knife-hand guarding block.
32. Slide the left foot forward into left forward stance executing a right inner forearm circular block towards your ‘original front’.
33. Bring the left foot to the right foot, move the right foot out into left back stance and execute a twin low section knife-hand guarding block.
34. Slide the right foot forward into right forward stance executing a left inner forearm circular block towards your ‘original front’.
35. Rotate the right forward stance into left forward stance pivoting on both feet and execute a right inner forearm circular block towards your ‘original front’.
36. Rotate the left forward stance into right forward stance pivoting on both feet and execute a left inner forearm circular block towards your ‘original front’.
37. Move the right foot into horse-riding stance and execute a right mid-section punch towards the front. (Kyup)
Finish: Move the right foot back into ready stance.