Taegeuk Il Jang

Taegeuk Il Jang, the first form in Taekwondo, consists of 18 movements. It is performed on three parallel lines, each representing a trigram associated with natural elements. The form begins and ends in the ready stance, symbolizing the beginning of creation and representing Keon (건, 乾) — meaning heaven or sky and yang.

Movements are primarily executed from walking stances and include low blocks, middle punches, inward blocks, high blocks, and front kicks.

Steps

1. Turn left 90° into a walking stance (left foot forward) and perform a left low block.
2. Step forward (right foot forward) → right middle punch.
3. Turn right 180° into a walking stance (right foot forward) → right low block.
4. Step forward (left foot forward) → left middle punch.
5. Turn left 90° into a front stance (left foot forward) → left low block then right middle punch.
6. Turn right 90° into a walking stance (right foot forward) → left inward block.
7. Step forward (left foot forward) → right middle punch.
8. Turn left 180° into a walking stance (left foot forward) → right inward block.
9. Step forward (right foot forward) → left middle punch.
10. Turn right 90° into a front stance (right foot forward) → right low block then left middle punch.
11. Turn left 90° into a walking stance (left foot forward) → left high block.
12. Right front kick → land right foot forward → right middle punch.
13. Turn right 180° into a walking stance (right foot forward) → right high block.
14. Left front kick → land left foot forward → left middle punch.
15. Turn right 90° into a front stance (left foot forward) → left low block.
16. Step forward (right foot forward) → right middle punch and yell “Kihap!”.

The floor pattern features three solid lines — the trigram Geon (☰) — symbolizing the sky or heavens.

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