Taegeuk Chil-Jang
태극 칠장
Taegeuk 7
“Teyh-Goog Chihl-Jahng”
2nd Geup Poomsae
Trigram: ☶ Mountain

Taegeuk 7-Jang represents 간 Gan (山) in Palgwae. Gan symbolizes a strong mountain range with meandering ridges and the connection between mountains. It represents the spine, the flexion and extension of joints and vertebrae in the human body. A mountain is more than a pile of soil; it includes the flow of groundwater through its rocks. Mountain soil, rocks, and groundwater correspond with muscles, joints and blood vessels and nerves in the human body, respectively. At this stage, you should train to exert force along with the efficient use of flexion and extension of joints and muscles.

“범 서기 Beom Seogi (Tiger Stance) is the new addition to Taegeuk 7-Jang. It is a type of stance wherein you can easily adjust the distance and change directions while simultaneously practicing techniques of attack and defense. Additionally, you will train to block using two arms inside out in different directions with 가위 막기 Gawi Makgi (Scissor Block), 헤쳐 막기 Hechyeo Makgi (Opening Block) and various 치기 Chigi (Striking) moves. These include 등 주먹 바깥 치기 Deung Jumeok Bakkat Chigi (Back Fist Outward Strike), 팔굽 표적 치기 Palgup Pyojeok Chigi (Elbow Target Strike), short-range attacks such as 표적 안 차기 Pyojeok An Chagi (Target Inward Kick), 두 주먹 젖혀 지르기 Du Jumeok Jeojhyeo Jireugi (Double Turn Over Punch) and 걸어 막기 Georeo Makgi (Tripping Block) along with 엇걸어 막기 Eotgeoreo Makgi (Cross Block) — a technique to block the opponent’s own close range knee strike. Other techniques learned at this stage are 보 주먹 준비 자세 Bo Jumeok Junbi Jase (Covered Fist Ready Posture), breath control (linking the flow of Ki and keeping a calm mind) and 잡기 Japgi (Grabbing) to connect with 무릎 올려 치기 Mureup Ollyeo Chigi (Knee Upward Strike).”

Technique Summary

서기 Stances:

  • Closed Stance / Moa Seogi / 모아 서기

  • Parallel Stance / Naranhi Seogi / 나란히 서기

  • Tiger Stance / Beom Seogi / 범 서기

  • Backward Stance / Dwit Gubi / 뒷 굽이

  • Forward Stance / Ap Gubi / 앞 굽이

  • Back Cross Stance / Dwi Kkoa Seogi / 뒤 꼬아 서기

  • Walking Stance / Ap Seogi / 앞 서기

  • Riding Stance / Juchum Seogi / 주춤 서기

방어 기술 Defensive Skills:

  • Palm Heel Inward Block / Batangson An Makgi / 바탕손 안 막기

  • Middle Inward Block / Momtong An Makgi / 몸통 안 막기

  • Assisted Knife Hand Downward Block / Sonnal Geodeureo Naeryeo Makgi / 손날 거들어 내려 막기

  • Assisted Palm Heel Inward Block / Batangson Geodeureo An Makgi / 바탕손 거들어 안 막기

  • Scissor Block / Gawi Makgi / 가위 막기

  • Middle Opening Block / Momtong Hechyeo Makgi / 몸통 헤쳐 막기

  • Low Cross Block / Arae Eotgeoreo Makgi / 아래 엇걸어 막기

  • Knife Hand Side Block / Sonnal Yeop Makgi / 손날 옆 막기

공격 기술 Offensive Skills:

  • Front Kick / Ap Chagi / 앞 차기

  • Assisted Back Fist Forward Strike / Deung Jumeok Geodeureo Ap Chigi / 등 주먹 거들어 앞 치기

  • Grabbing Upward Knee Strike / Japgo Mureup Ollyeo Chigi / 잡고 무릎 올려 치기

  • Double Turn Over Punch / Du Jumeok Jeojhyeo Jireugi / 두 주먹 젖혀 지르기

  • Back Fist Outward Strike / Deung Jumeok Bakkat Chigi / 등 주먹 바깥 치기

  • Target Inward Kick / Pyojeok An Chagi / 표적 안 차기

  • Target Elbow Strike / Palgup Pyojeok Chigi / 팔굽 표적 치기

  • Side Punch / Yeop Jireugi / 옆 지르기

특수품 Special Skills:

  • Basic Ready Posture / Kibon Junbi Jase / 기본 준비 자세 (5 Seconds)

  • Covered Fist Ready Posture / Bo Jumeok Junbi Jase / 보 주먹 준비 자세 (5 Seconds)

기합 Kihap:

  1. On the Side Middle Punch

Performance Notes

  • Rhythm / Tempo:
    Be mindful of the different intervals between movements, which are determined by whether or not the next technique is offensive or defensive. Assisted Knife Hand Downward Block→ Assisted Knife Hand Downward Block is done with offense timing rather than defense timing.

  • Difficulty Level:
    Taegeuk Chil-Jang has a very high amount of possible score deductions, there are many fine details.

  • Assisted Palm Heel Block → Assisted Back Fist Forward Strike:
    The assisting hand should be at solar plexus height (as in the majority of Assisted class techniques) and must raise high enough on the strike that your Back Fist is at philtrum height — it doesn’t stay at the standard height. After blocking, bring the thumb of your striking hand directly to the opposite shoulder to prepare the movement, do not take a swoopy circular path. The hips must move for the block as well as the strike.

  • Assisted Knife Hand Downward Block:
    In 1st Position the assisting hand starts with its wrist at philtrum height rather than at shoulder height. Make sure that the assisting arm ends at solar plexus height with the finger tips parallel to the floor, not angled down like on the blocking arm.

  • Covered Fist Ready Posture:
    The hands meet below the abdomen in a direct movement from the previous strike. Make sure that the fingers are together and the thumb of the open hand wraps around the thumb of the fist. The end of the movement should gently push out at philtrum height with the fist pointing slightly to the left and the elbows pointing while being slightly bent.

  • Scissor Block:
    Is comprised of Inner Forearm Outward Middle Block and Downward Block — the path and finish of each movement is the same as if it was done by itself. Make sure that you don’t start the Downward Block until the Outward Block’s fist has lifted to shoulder height and that the hip movement compliments the Outward Block.

  • Scissor Block → Scissor Block:
    Make sure to do the proper 1st Position, path and 2nd Position every time you block.

  • Grabbing Upward Knee Strike:
    WT sport poomsae has the hands reaching to shoulder height with the palms down while Kukkiwon standard has the hands reaching to head or neck height with the palms pointing inward. Please use the WT sport standard. The arms should bend then straighten as you pull your hands down past the ankle during the Upward Knee Strike.

  • Back Cross Stance:
    The version in Taegeuk 7 has the forward foot’s toes pointing around 30° out (as opposed to 30° in like Taegeuk 5) which should square the hips forward.

  • Double Turn Over Punch:
    Make sure to pull your fists to the hips with the palms facing down prior to punching — don’t swoop from the ankle of the Upward Knee Strike. This is not an Uppercut, but rather a strike that goes directly into the body. It should finish in time with the placement of the front foot of Back Cross Stance and not the back foot, your elbows should be alongside your ribs and the strike lands a little lower than the solar plexus.

  • Low Cross Block:
    In 1st Position the bottom fist is at the hip with the palm facing down and the top fist is palm facing up — the wrists and not fists should be touching each other at this point. From here the hands should lift up to the pectoral muscle before proceeding to the 2nd Position. The center of the finished block should line up with the center of the body and should have enough space between the wrists to stop a knee strike at the height of the lower abdomen.

  • Back Fist Outward Strike:
    Make sure to go to the proper 1st Position after Low Cross Block as well as after the Target Elbow Strike. The thumb of the striking hand should be on the opposite shoulder and the thumb of the pulling hand should be on the opposite hip. The elbow should be straight with the fist at jaw height at the end of the strike. Make sure to time the finish of the 2nd Back Fist Strike with the front foot’s placement in Walking Stance rather than the rear foot.

  • Target Inward Kick:
    Keep your rear fist at hip chamber position and open your hand at the last moment to strike with the inner edge of the foot, make sure that your open hand and the kick are both directed to the front and don’t stray off to the side as your body rotates into the strike. Don’t turn your chest in the direction of the kick, rather leave it in the same position it was in during your Walking Stance — if you turn your hips over you will end up doing a Monkey Kick with the bottom of the foot hitting into the target hand rather than the inner blade of the foot.

  • Target Elbow Strike:
    Identical as in Taegeuk 5, the strike begins at the hip chamber position and ends at solar plexus height with the fingertips pointing forward and the elbow striking your palm.

  • Riding Stance → Walking Stance:
    Each foot steps rather than one step and one pivot. The right foot should step before the left foot and should happen on the same spot without any forward travel.

  • Knife Hand Side Block:
    Make sure to go to the proper 1st Position after the Target Elbow Strike rather than swinging your arms directly to the block. Turn your hips to begin and complete the technique as usual.

  • Riding Stance → Riding Stance:
    Be sure that you don’t pivot early or pivot more than once.

  • Side Punch:
    Make sure that the knuckles still finish at solar plexus height — do not reach out and grab before striking.