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Notes from 41st International Instructor Course

March 20-22, 2009
Queens, New York

General Information

  • Beginning of Sine Wave requires a very subtle (1inch) downward motion, especially when stepping forward.  When turning around by bringing the feet together or performing a spot turn, Sine Wave begins after the first foot moves.
  • The first half of the Sine Wave should be performed much slower than the second half to allow preparation of the technique, breathing in, backward motion, balance, etc.
  • The backward motion of all techniques is essential to create power. Therefore, it was emphasized during the explanation of patterns’ techniques.
  • After all kicks, be sure to regain balance and perform Sine Wave.
  • For strikes, the attacking tool should be placed at the appropriate level for that attack.

For a punch:

    • High – First two knuckles are eye level
    • Middle – First two knuckles are shoulder level
    • Low – First two knuckles are umbilicus level
  • For blocks, the top of the fist or fingertips (not the blocking tool) should be placed at the appropriate level for that attack.

For a guarding block with the knife hand:

    • High – Fingertips, not the knife-hand, are eye level
    • Middle – Fingertips, not the knife-hand, are shoulder level
    • Low – Hand is closer to thigh than if performed with forearm

For an outward block with the inner forearm:

    • High – First two knuckles, not the forearm, are eye level
    • Middle – First two knuckles, not the forearm, are shoulder level
  • When performing W–Shape Block, the elbows are maintained slightly below the shoulder line at all times, regardless of the blocking tool used. Forearms should never be perpendicular to the floor.
  • For all turning kicks (except Choong-Jang) the hand position of the previous movement DOES NOT need to be maintained.
  • All low-section twisting kicks should be posed. Middle and high section twisting kicks should be snapped.
  • Rule of Thumb for correct height of front kicks (Color Belt, 1st Dan, 2nd Dan, Choi Yong) Patterns)
    • If the technique that precedes the front kick is performed in Full Facing, then the front kick is Middle Section.
    • If the technique that precedes the front kick is performed in Half or Side Facing, then the front kick is Low Section.


Dan-Gun

  • The primary block for the twin forearm is the front hand because the hips move in that direction. The primary block begins on the inside when crossing (palms facing in).
  • With continuous motion for low block and rising block, the second cross of the hands for rising block should begin and end with the body full facing.
  • When stepping forward for rising block, body may turn slightly but must end in full facing.

Do-San

  • When preparing for middle thrust with right straight fingertip, hands should be at shoulder height, facing in, and outside the shoulder line.
  • Wedging blocks are performed 15 degrees outside of line CD.
  • After performing each wedging block execute a MIDDLE front snap kick, keeping the hips as straight as possible.

Won-Hyo

  • To perform the right bending stance (technique #7) bring the right front foot in at the same angle as the back foot. Feet should come together, then begin the Sine Wave.
  • To perform the left bending stance (technique #25) the sine wave begins as soon as the right foot leaves the floor.
  • Circular block must be performed by crossing the arms inside the body (palms down, blocking hand on the bottom). When going down on the circular block, do not lean the body forward, keep the body straight. Block should point in the same direction as the back foot.

Yul-Gok

  • 1st & 4th techniques are performed in an arc motion.
  • The middle blocks with the inner forearm are half facing and on a 45 degree angle outside of line CD.
  • All hooking blocks are middle section and half facing.
  • With connecting motion, the second hooking block occurs at the top of the sine wave and is half facing in the opposite direction and the punch is executed on the way down from the sine wave.
  • Left back fist, the body is half facing with the feet pointed forward in a left X-stance.

Joong-Gun

  • Rear-foot stance is performed with front foot at a 25 degree angle and placed in-line with the center (not the heel) of the back foot.
  • Palm faces downward during side upward elbow strike.
  • When executing the high vertical punch with twin fist, the first two knuckles should be at philtrum level.
  • When executing the upset punch with twin fist, the elbows should be maintained close to the ribs (2 or 3 inches) and the forearms should be angled slightly outward and upward.
  • After the high back fist, release should be performed using both hands for reaction force.
  • The cross of hands on the rising block with X fist is at forehead level.
  • Pressing block with the twin palm – both hands are at the shoulder line, the low palm is slightly angled out, and both wrists are STRAIGHT!
  • U-Shape Block – only the top hand rotates and both hands begin open with palms facing up. The blocking tool is the reverse knife hand.

Toi-Gye

  • Pressing block with the X-fist is performed almost as if punching downward and the blocking tool is the forearm between the cross of both arms.
  • When performing W–Shape Block, the elbows are maintained slightly below the shoulder line.
  • The low pushing block with the double forearm is NOT performed in a circular motion.

Hwa-Rang

  • Turning kicks are performed in fast motion. Must perform sine wave after the second turning kick.
  • When performing the side elbow thrust, the slide must be on a slight angle, not straight to C. (Refer to the encyclopedia in additional techniques for feet placement when performing this technique).
  • After the sliding side elbow thrust, you perform high side block and while extending the left forearm side downward. Do not raise the heels while going from L-stance to Closed stance.

Choong-Moo

  • After upward kick with the right knee, bring feet together before turning around to perform high front strike with reverse knife hand.

Kwang-Gae

  • Ready posture – parallel stance with a heaven hand is 12 inches away from forehead and then perform a closed ready stance B which is 8 inches away from body.
  • Do not rotate the body when performing upset punch, maintain full facing.
  • When stepping to perform the first high hooking block step half facing to the left. It is not needed for the second high hooking block because you are already in half facing in the previous technique.
  • Downward strikes with the side fist are performed from the inside.

Po-Eun

  • U-shape grasp is in L-stance and only rotate the top hand and bend the body slightly forward in order to maintain a straight line with both hands and foot.
  • When performing a continuous motion with more then two techniques, each technique does not require a full Sine Wave. Be sure to maintain one breath.

Ge-Baek

  • Pose the low twisting kick with the knee bent.
  • Do not move the foot position of the walking stance and do not perform a Sine Wave when executing the high block with double arc hand…only use the hips.
  • Cross the striking hand on the bottom prior to executing the front strike with back fist.
  • When performing the turning kick after the high front strike with the reverse knife-hand do not maintain the hand position, form a guarding block instead.

Eui-Am

  • Pose the low twisting kick with the knee bent.

Choong-Jang

  • Cross the striking hand on the bottom prior to executing the front strike with back fist (technique #6), palms down.
  • Low front snap kick with the knee is performed in a snapping motion and the opposite foot is turned to the side.
  • Downward strike with the back hand – this is straight with the shoulder line with the elbow slightly bent.
  • After the high crescent punch with a twin fore-knuckle fist rotate on the balls of the feet so that the left heal crosses over the right instep.

Juche

  • After the side piercing kick, bend the knee slightly while performing the high reverse hooking kick then hook slowly.
  • After executing the pick-shape kick, do not put the kicking foot down until you have performed a sine wave and are prepared to execute the middle guarding block in rear foot stance.
  • You should look down when executing the downward punch (technique #32)
  • The flying reverse turning kick should be performed straight to D.
  • Flying front punch and upset punch are to be executed both in the air and using the opposite hand as reaction force between the two techniques.

Sam-IL

  • Middle twisting kick is performed in a snapping motion.
  • Wedging block is middle, so the fingertips are shoulder height.
  • Prepare the low punch with double fist with palms up. Technique ends with the front arm straight and back arm slightly bent with fist at waist level.
  • When performing the diagonal stance with the left back elbow thrust, make sure to look back.
  • Perform downward motion of the sine wave when executing the pressing block with X-fist (technique #21).
  • After the middle front block and high punch perform a low front snap kick and lower the kicking foot forward one shoulder in front of the other foot.

Yoo-Sin

  • High hooking blocks follow the back foot…same angle.
  • U-shape punch should begin with palms facing up at waist level. Support the lower punch by placing the elbow against the hip.

Choi-Yong

  • Keep the elbow straight when executing the high punch with the middle knuckle fist.
  • After the middle turning kick, lower the foot about a shoulder in front of the other foot. Then execute the high reverse hooking kick and middle side piercing kick, pulling both hands.
  • When performing W–Shape Block with the knife-hand, the elbows are maintained slightly below the shoulder line and forearms should be angled out, not perpendicular to the floor.

Yon-Gae

  • Checking block with the x-fist – do not switch hands to perform the high outward crosscut.
  • Checking block with the twin straight forearm – keep hands close together.
  • Waist block with the inner forearm is performed in a natural motion.
  • After the waist block, step back slightly then perform the high outward strike with the knife hand in a stamping motion.

Ul-Ji

  • When performing high front strike with the knife hand (technique #15), make sure to perform the downward motion of the sine wave before straightening the legs.
  • After performing the side back strike while extending the left arm, do not raise the heels when performing the twin side elbow in a closed stance.

Moon-Moo

  • Slow reverse hooking kick – do not keep the position of the hands, form a guarding block and bend the knee slightly.
  • Jumping motion knife hand strike is in half facing.
  • When performing the high side block with the knife hand and low side block with the knife hand, the low side block is not in front, it is close to the outer thigh.
  • When executing the low punch in X-stance, the opposite hand is on the shoulder with the palm down. Your eyes should look on an angle to follow the punch (AC and AD), not straight.
  • For the first sweeping kick, the hands remain in position. For the second sweeping kick, relax the hands, they do not need to remain in the same position.