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Oerjan Nilsen
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Applications from the Kukki TKD forms

The Korean section is still very silent so I will share a few of my latest Blog Posts to see if it garners some discussion. The series came about because of a discussion I had with another Taekwondo practisioner who felt that looking at deeper applications within the Poomsae was pointless because the originators of the Taekwondo Poomsae knew nothing (his point of view not mine). I then made the argument that I copied below which he did not have a clear answer too. I then wrote a series of posts (4 in total) demonstrating one basic technique (Face Block or Eulgeul Makki) and how it could be applied in various ways. It is therefore not Poomsae applications per se but rather a Gibon Dongjak Application (I believe Poomsae applications should make sense within the dynamic context the technique is presented in). Following is the argument that laid the basis for the discussion and following that is 4 links to the posts:-)

"All Poomsae consists of roughly the same building Blocks as Karate Kata. We agree that Karate Kata had practical Applications. We are both fans of the excellent work that Iain Abernethy, Vince Morris, Patric Mcarthy, Jesse Enkamp and others has put forth on Karate Kata. They all say that each technique in Kata can be several Things however. So each basic technique has several different Applications. Making New forms out of the same building Blocks would therefore be like playing Scrabble With only the white pieces (the ones without letters). They can be any letter you want so eventhough there are New unique sequences in KTA Poomsae that are not found within Karate Kata we can still make Words and sentences With them."

http://jungdokwan-taekwondo.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/part-1-applying-eulgeul-makki.html (applied as a block)

http://jungdokwan-taekwondo.blogspot.no/2014/07/part-2-applying-eulgeul-makki.html (applied as a wrist grab release)

http://jungdokwan-taekwondo.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/part-3-applying-eulgeul-makki.html (applied as a "lifting up joint press"/Gichin Funakoshi application)

http://jungdokwan-taekwondo.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/part-4-applying-eulgeul-makki.html (applied as "Parry - Pass" / "Parry - Uproot" / "Parry - Strike")

Oerjan Nilsen
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http://jungdokwan-taekwondo.blogspot.no/2015/09/self-defense-application... Above is a link to one of the applications I teach for taegeuk il jang.

Oerjan Nilsen
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Here is part two of the Taegeuk il jang series, focusing on the momtong an makki/ momtong jireugi combination (inward middle section block and middle section punch combo) http://jungdokwan-taekwondo.blogspot.no/2015/09/part-2-self-defense-appl...

DaveB
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I think it is commendable that you are working to add more depth to your martial art. Unfortunately the videos you put up don't work on my phone. When I started on my path analysing kata I soon found a paradox in that I realised we only see applications if we already know the technique we are.looking at. There were occasional exceptions to this, but mostly it held true. I eventually learned that the real benefit I could take from kata was the lessons behind the sequences: why if I'm jamming a kick do I follow with a high rolling trap and strike, etc. This approach has opened up a wealth of new insights, and many of the most potent of those came from studying and understanding sequences of techniques in their basic form. Perhaps this can be of use to you as you construct your application syllabus.

Oerjan Nilsen
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Most of the links are to blogposts without videos :-) And thank you for sharing your insights in your own search for applications Dave :-)

Oerjan Nilsen
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http://jungdokwan-taekwondo.blogspot.no/2015/09/part-3-self-defense-appl...

Here is the last post (for now) on Taegeuk il Jang. This post concludes the series I have been writing and now we have an article series that covers the whole form from start to finish with practical applications for each move :-) I think I will revisit the form in a future post focusing on drills that one can use to practise these applications once they have been practised in isolation.

Oerjan Nilsen
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I'm a huge fan of Iain Abernethy's podcasts. Therefore I've listened to him telling "me" repeatedly that he wished for more activity in the Korean section of the forum:-P I have written about applications from more Korean forms so I thought I could share some links here. First is Taegeuk Oh Jang. I gave an application for the opening movement in my last taegeuk 1 jang post. In the following link you'll get the high section block, side kick into elbow strike combination:

http://jungdokwan-taekwondo.blogspot.no/2015/10/taegeuk-oh-jang-applicat...

Keeping to Taegeuk Oh Jang, I recently wrote about the outward knife hand block, elbow strike combo:

http://jungdokwan-taekwondo.blogspot.no/2018/01/self-defense-application...

Oerjan Nilsen
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Poomsae Jitae has an interesting sequence that don't really work in the kick block punch paradigm. I wrote a post on it, proposing a few different takes on it a while back:

http://jungdokwan-taekwondo.blogspot.no/2014/02/practical-application-fr...

Oerjan Nilsen
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Here's one where I write about the Kukki-TKD knife hand guarding block (which has a different chamber to the modern shotokan chamber). It's illustrated by very poor drawings, but I think the meaning is clear:

http://jungdokwan-taekwondo.blogspot.no/2013/12/three-posts-for-price-of...

Iain Abernethy
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Great links these Oerjan! Thanks for sharing!

All the best,

Iain

Oerjan Nilsen
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Thanks for that Iain :-) I'll share more in the relatively near future:-)

Oerjan Nilsen
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Here's an article I wrote a while back on the interconnectedness of poomsae. It focuses on how one receiving/defensive (makki) technique is followed up in different ways in different poomsae. Application from Taegeuk Sam (3) Jang, Taegeuk Sa (4) Jang, and Poomsae Pyungwon (black belt poomsae for grading to 4th Dan). I hope you enjoy: http://jungdokwan-taekwondo.blogspot.no/2016/11/the-interconnectedness-o...

Oerjan Nilsen
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Here's one post on Taegeuk Chil (7) Jang (outward backfist strike, crescent kick, targeted elbow strike combo. In the last position I failed to use the horse stance as an extra control of the opponent, so just picture that in your head :-P I did mention it in the text though: http://jungdokwan-taekwondo.blogspot.no/2017/02/taegeuk-chil-jang-revisi...

Oerjan Nilsen
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One of my first attempts on making something beyond uploading it "as is". It's a short clip demonstrating one application for knife hand guarding block vs a haymaker, and then use a variation from taegeuk sa (4) jang as a follow up. It's not directly from the Poomsae as I have altered a few things (striking surface, not stepping through), but it is recognizable as taegeuk sa jang the first two steps:-) I hope you enjoy:-)

Oerjan Nilsen
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This time I have filmed one of my takes on Kheun Doltzeogi from Keumgang Poomsae. The technique translates into larger or bigger hinge. It also pops up in Naihanchi/Nafanchi/Tekki/Chulgi Hyung so it might be of interest to those who practise "Karate Kata" as well as those who practice Keumgang Poomsae:-)

Iain Abernethy
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That’s an interesting video! Not being a practitioner of Korean forms, I am also not familiar with the associated labelling. That’s an interesting observation. Thanks for sharing!

All the best,

Iain

Oerjan Nilsen
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I'm very happy that you liked the video:-) I'll try to make more in the relatively near future.

Oerjan Nilsen
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In this video I have focused on the Gawi Makki or scissors block. The "block" also appears in some versions of Naihanchi, and in at least one of the pinan forms possibly even others. In Kukki Taekwondo the movement appears in Taegeuk Chil Jang and in Taebaek Poomsae. I have tried to explain why they appear in different ways within those two forms in the clip. In Taegeuk Chil Jang we do it as a "double block" while in Taeabaek we do it as a single "block". I hope you guys enjoy :-)

Oerjan Nilsen
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A clip demonstrating several different applications. I mostly made it to try out how the cyberlink video editing software worked, but it does contain applications from taegeuk il jang, sa jang, chil jang, keumgang, taebaek and some basic techniques applications as well. I hope you guys like it :-)

Mylan Byrd
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Very nice applications. I also practice the Kukkiwon forms and would like to contribute to this thread. Here is a recent video on my interpretation of the opening moves of Koryo. In the video I give credit to Iain for the first couple moves.

Oerjan Nilsen
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Great that you contribute, and welcome to the forum Mylan:-) The problem I have with that sequence is that in the form it's the back leg that kicks which messes up the distance (I have the exact same take as you do in this sequence), but you solve this like I do by using the front leg instead. I haven't given up on the form, but koryo is my least favourite form because of its opening sequence :-)

Mylan Byrd
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That was the one issue I had as well. I tested the same sequence using the back leg to kick but I ended up getting all twisted. I think as we're looking at practical applications for the Kukki forms we have to remember that they were created for the sole of purpose of being different, and not with self-defense in mind. We can still find many practical applications in the forms of course. You and I are both examples of that. However, because these froms were not intended to be practiced for self-defense purposes I feel that we have to...tweak things here and there. I hope to film another application soon from the ending of o-jang, and would love your input. Its another sequence that I've tweaked a bit to fit more practical uses. 

Thank you for the welcome! I appreciate it. Keep up the great work your doing. 

Iain Abernethy
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Mylan Byrd wrote:
I also practice the Kukkiwon forms and would like to contribute to this thread.

Thanks for posting and for the name check in the video. As a karateka, my knowledge of the Korean forms which aren’t based on the Okinawan / Japanese ones is almost nothing.  However, the opening sequence looks like the opening of Kururunfa. Thanks once again for contributing!

All the best,

Iain

Mylan Byrd
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I'll have to look at Kururunfa. I find it interesting to find the similarities between the Korean forms and Okinawan kata. We have one called pyongwon that looks very similar to Naihanchi, in my opinion at least. I'll have to post a video dissecting that form soon. 

Mylan Byrd
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My latest video looking at the ending sequence of O-Jang. Its been tweaked slightly, and we're using a high block with a knife hand instead of the low block and inside block that's in the form. The students I was teaching were not familiar with O-Jang but had similar movements in one of their own. Close enough is good enough in this case. Anyway enjoy.

Iain Abernethy
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I really do appreciate all the great work that is being done in this section of the forum! It was quiet for the longest time, but it’s really kicked off in the last few weeks! That’s largely due to the hard work of a relatively small number of contributors and I am so grateful!

One thing that would help spread this work would be if a new thread was opened for each new video. This will make it simpler to share links and the ensure things are picked up by the automatic distribution we have in place. If you have any questions on that, please let me know in email or private message.

Loving the great work that is being done!

All the best,

Iain

Oerjan Nilsen
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I'll be sure to keep that in mind when posting next time :-) I just figured that it would be more "tidy" to have all "kukki TKD" forms in one section since the forms sets are so different from each other in Taekwondo.

Thanks for the feedback and uplifting words. I haven't posted in a little while but that's because I've devoted my filming and editing to two mini lectures (not strictly applications) and flow drills for limb control and redirecting. I plan on filming more applications soon :-)

And thanks to the rest of the contributors:-)

Oerjan Nilsen
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Interesting application Mylan Byrd.

I have two takes on these two counts in the poomsae. One is a very "standard" shoulder throw where you do a low line kick to set it up and taking the opponents structure, you feed the backlist arm under the opponents arm and the cross stance implies the turn and throw.

The second one I again apply the kick as a low line kick, and I have already captured the opponents arm in a cross grip from the previous actions in the form. The backfist arm is applied in a downward elbow strike fashion to put pressure on the elbow of the opponent and the stance let's you sink straight down so all your body weight goes into the elbow press. You are not hitting with the elbow though, you are using the part from the elbow to your armpit anything goes :-)

I find these two approaches allow me to stay very close to the form.

Mylan Byrd
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The students I was teaching in the video were actually not familiar with the taeguek forms, but they had a form with similar movements so I kind of just rolled with it. The school I was in is actually owned by a family I'm close with so I teach for them part-time. Only for a few more weeks though as I'm about to move a couple hours away.

Anyway, I think I see what you're saying with your applications of those movements. I'll have to play with them a little bit as they sound really cool. Over the next few weeks I'll be doing a series on some of the applications that I see in the taeguek forms. I'll be sure to post them in seperate threads (thanks for that tip by the way Iain), and would love your input.

Oerjan Nilsen
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Great:-) I'm looking forward to it Myland :-)