ONE STEPS
One steps, are the practice in which the student will take his martial art training and practically apply it in a self defense format. Instead of only practicing hyung (kata) or (forms) against an imaginary opponent or free sparring in perpetual, “tag-you’re-it” mode, one steps takes a movement from the forms and uses it in a real situation from an attack. The attack is usually intended to be a punch or kick at a close proximity. The defense is a movement from a form intended to block the attack and lead to a counter attack with the goal of disabling or controlling the attacker. The goal is to gain control or disable the attacker within three movements. If it takes more than three movements then it is my opinion that the defense used is not valid.
The student will find that distancing from the opponent becomes an important issue. Free sparring is the most distant practice in that the two opponents usually stay a leg or an arm distance away from each other. One steps cause the opponents to place themselves within 12 to 18 inches apart. One steps require the students to position themselves in a more realistic fighting distance from each another.
This practice is divided into three separate categories consisting of three steps, two steps and one steps. Three steps will require the defender to step back from the attacker one step for each of the three attacks. After the defender completes the third block he will then counter with an attack of his own. Three steps are designed to give the beginning student time to think about what technique they will use in response as a counter. Likewise, two step’s will require the middle ranked student a little less time to prepare a counter which then leads the advanced student to one steps or simultaneous block strike combinations.
This list of one steps has been designed to correlate with the forms required for each rank. The list will provide the one steps, self defense, and forms required for each Rank. This list is not a complete or final interpretation of potential defensive applications from the forms but is only a sampling of application and usually an obvious application of a technique found in each form. As the student progresses through the Black Belt ranks he will start to identify the implied and then the hidden technique in the form. The following is considered the minimum requirement for advancement.
9th GYUP Yellow tip
A) 3 step sparring (defensive move / offensive counter)
· Down block / reverse punch
· Center block / reverse punch
B) Self defense
· One hand lapel grab
· Two hand lapel grab
C) Hyung
· None
8th GYUP Yellow belt
A) 3 step sparring (defensive move / offensive counter)
· Rising block / reverse punch
· High block / reverse punch
· Inward block / reverse punch
B) Self defense
· Same side hand grab
· Cross hand grab
C) Hyung
· Chon Ji
7th Gyup Green tip
A) 3 step sparring (defensive move / offensive counter)
· Center Block / front kick
· Rising block / knife hand
· Down block / (power step) slide in same hand rising block
B) Self defense
· Side by side hand grab
· Hands grabbed from the rear
C) Hyung
· Dan Gun
6th Gyup Green belt
A) 3 step sparring (defensive move / offensive counter)
· x wedging block (attack with double face punch) / front kick
· High block / outside knife hand
· Downward palm / spear hand
· Inward palm / round kick
B) Self defense
· Two hand grab
· Front choke
C) Hyung
· Do San
5th Gyup Blue tip
A) 2 step sparring (defensive move / offensive counter)
· Knife hand / side kick
· Inward palm / grab, side kick
· Inward block / back side kick
· Diamond block / outside knife
B) Self defense
· Rear choke
· Side choke
C) Hyung
· Won Yoh
4th Gyup Blue belt
A) 2 step sparring (defensive move / offensive counter)
· Downward palm / grab (with other hand), back fist
· Inward palm / grab, wrist throw
· C block / pull, outside arm bar
· Inward block (continuous motion) / grab, back hand, head grab, elbow
B) Self defense
· Side head lock
· Full nelson
C) Hyung
· Yol Gok
3rd Gyup Red tip
A) 2 step sparring (defensive move / offensive counter)
· Knife hand / rising elbow strike
· wedging block ( attack double face punch ) / double palm heal face punch, head grab, knee slam
· Center block / circular arm lock, front kick or reverse punch
· Hook block /grab, pull, front leg front kick, upward palm strike
B) Self defense
· Choke or punch on ground
· Bear hug arms in
C) Hyung
· Joon Gun
Up to this point, the student has been backing away from the opponent with each attack. The student should not only move away from the attack but rather now start moving into the attack using the “x” step. The “x” step is a 45 degree angle either towards or away from the attacker. Instead of just blocking the attacker, start thinking about intentionally attacking the attackers weapon i.e. arm or leg. At this level of one steps, the defensive block can now start to become an attack in itself. The student should begin to develop simultaneous block strike combinations.
2nd Gyup Red belt
A) 1 step sparring (defensive move / offensive counter)
· Shin block / back side kick
· Groin grab / drop
· # 9 block trap (attack with round kick) / high low block
· Mountain block / variations
· Stick block
· 5 major blocks and the x step / wrist locks, arm bars, takedowns
B) Self defense
· Bear hug arms out
· Lapel choke
C) Hyung
· Toi Gye
1st Gyup Black tip
A) 1 step sparring (defensive move / offensive counter)
· Push away palm / punch or kick
· # 9 block / variations
· Down block (Continuous motion) / circular trap, reverse punch
· C block / outside knife hand
· One hand knife down block / head grab, knee slam
· Inward block (Continuous motion) / back fist
· High block, circular trap / outside ridge
· Using the x step use the front, side, round, back side, and crescent kicks at various targets
B) Self defense
· Club attack
· Knife attack
· Gun attack
C) Hyung
· Hwa Rang
· Choong Mu
Now you should be in a position to work towards your 1st Dan (1st degree black belt) test. Remember, the things you have been working on with these one steps is only a suggestion or an obvious application of technique. Once you are promoted to 1st Dan, you are then ready to become a beginning student. As a beginning student, 1st Dan, you should now go back to the beginning of your forms and look for the implied and hidden applications in the movements.
I have not specifically outlined technique for you in the black belt forms. As a black belt student it is your responsibility to examine these forms and discover their technique and applications. To study a martial art or self defense is a life long adventure. The best way for you to gain understanding of the black belt forms is to continue working with your instructor and attend clinics. Clinics provide a great opportunity to gain a different perspective. Also be sure to try to obtain ranking in another system or at least attend clinics of various martial art styles. This kind of study will help you understand your own style better. After all, all the styles are related to each other. There is nothing new under the sun.
The following is the list of hyung required for ranking through 4th Dan.
1st Dan
· Kwang Gae
· Po Eun
2nd Dan
· Ge Baek
· Choong Jang
3rd Dan
· Ko Dang
· Sam Il
4th Dan
· Yu Sin
· Ul Chi
TAE KWON DO HYUNG
MEANINGS AND NUMBER OF MOVEMENTS
CHON JI 19
Heaven and Earth, begging and end.
DAN GUN 21
Founder of Korea 2333 B.C.
DO SAN 24
Pen name of Ahn Ch’Ang Hi. Korean patriot and educator.
WON HYO 28
Monk who spread Buddhism in the Silla dynasty
YUL GUK 38
Pen name of Yi I, philosopher and scholar. Nicknamed the confusious of Korea.
CHOONG GUN 32
Korean patriot who assassinated the first Japanese governor of Korea. Knew he would be captured and executed.
TOI GYE 37
Yi Hwang, a scholar and authority of neo Confucianism.
HWA RANG 29
Youth group, was the driving force for unification of Korea. Known as the flower knights.
CHOONG MOO 30
Dedicated to Admiral Yi Sun Sin. Inventor of the first armored battleship. 1592 A.D.
KWANG GAE 39
The 19th King who recovered the lost territories. Represents the expansion and recovery of the lost territory.
PO EUN 38
Pseudonym of Chang Mong Chu, a famous poet. His poem “I would not serve a second master though I might be crucified 100 times” is known by every Korean.
GE BAEK 33
Ge Baek was a great general in the Beak Je dynasty. The diagram (I) represents his severe and strict military discipline.
CHOONG JANG 52
Pseudonym of general Kim Dwk Ryang. The pattern ends with a left hand attack to symbolize his death at 27 in prison.
KO DANG 39
Pseudonym of Cho Man Sik, who dedicated his life to the independence movement of and education of Korea. 39 movements represent the number of times he was imprisoned.
SAM IL 33
Represents the first of March which was the historic date when the independence movement of Korea started In 1919.
YU SIN 68
Named after Kim Yu Sin, a general of the Silla dynasty.
UL CHI 38
Named after general Ul Ji Mum Dok.
CH’OI YONG 31
Named after general Ch’oi Yong.
SE JONG 24
Named after Se Jong who invented the 24 letters of the Korean alphabet.
TONG IL 43
Represents the unification of Korea.
