Part 2: The lost Ji Do Kwan Taegeuk Hyung (not the modern taegeuk poomsae)

 This is Part 2 of a series. I strongly suggest you click here for part 1 and start there, as I will assume you know the information contained within that part. 

In part 2 I will continue documenting the original tae keuk hyung of Ji Do Kwan, not to be confused with the modern taegeuk poomsae series. Tae Keuk Hyung is a series of three forms, all following the same floor pattern (an inverted "H-shape") and all consisting of fairly basic stances and attacks. The first form in the series which we covered in part 1 is identical to Shotokan's Taikyoku Shodan (1) Kata, move for move, and even the Kihap points. Its when we come to the 2nd and 3rd form we see differences. When I first stumbled across these I looked at the first form which was illustrated (the 2nd and 3rd were text only) and I recognised the form as Shotokan's Taikyoku Kata 1. I therefore assumed given Chun Sang Sup's background in Shotokan that the Tae Keuk forms were simply shotokan copies. Years later when revisiting them since I thought it was a tragedy that the Ji Do Kwan forms were lost (or at least it does seem like they were) I was hoping that there might be something different about them and it was. So without further adu let us look at how the 2nd form of the Tae Keuk Hyung were performed. 

Text move for move from "Better Karate for Boys" by Sihak Henry Cho published 1970 page 52-55

1. Starting position for Tae Keuk Hyung (identical to Shotokan Yoi but in modern times Gibon Chumbi Seogi can be used)
2. Step to the left in forward stance (ap koobi) and perform rising block (eulgeul makki)
3. Step forward with the right foot and execute middle target punch
4. Turning through the right side on the right foot, make a rising block in the opposite direction.
5. Step forward on the left foot and make a middle target punch.
6. Moving the left foot a half turn through the left side, perform a low block.
7. Stepping forward three times, execute three middle section spear hand thrusts with the right, left and right hands. On that last spearhand thrust, make a "kee-up". (NOTE: They are done like the 2nd and 4th movement of Taegeuk Sa Jang Poomsae that is to say spear hand thrust same foot forward same arm, other hand under the elbow)
8. Turn through your rear, moving the left foot to the right, and execute a rising block. You are now at a right angle to your previous position. 
9. Step forward on your right foot with a middle target punch.
10. Turning on your right side with the right foot, execute a rising block in the opposite direction. 
11. Step forward on the left foot, perform a middle target punch.
12. Moving the left foot a half turn through the left side, perform a low block.
13. Step forward three times, execute low target punches with the right, left and right hands. On the last punch, make a "kee-up".
14. Turn through your rear, moving the left foot to the right, and execute a rising block
15. Step forward on the right foot and make a middle target punch
16. Turning on your right side with the right foot, execute a rising block in the opposite direction.
17. Step forward on the left foot, perform a middle target punch.
18. Turning on your left side with the left foot, come back to your original starting position.

So how does this compare to the Shotokan version? Well there are no spear hands, no low level punches (in this one at least) and no high blocks. In Shito-Ryu version I have seen where the 1st is identical to Shotokan the 2nd have high blocks but no spear hands, nor low punches. Likewise Mu Duk Kwan's Kicho Hyung where the first one is identical to Shotokan's version the 2nd one does not fit in with Ji Do Kwan's version either. These two Kwans were organised under the Su Bahk Do Association until 1966 so I was curious if they shared the same forms under different names (Kicho/Tae Keuk). 

Ji Do Kwan Tae Keuk Hyung 2 is a lot more "advanced" in its techniques than what many other versions do. I have checked out Korean versions, kyokushin, shotokan, Goju-Kai, Shito Ryu and none of them uses spear hands in their basic forms. The closest fit we have with the Ji Do Kwan version is the Shito-Ryu version I have seen. There might be other assication of Shito Ryu that have changed their Kata to reflect their goals so I should maybe not be so sure when I say that the Ji Do Kwan version is unique, but it is rare. 

Below I have attempted to make a video of the Ji Do Kwan version as a tutorial akeen to the Shotokan version of form 1 I shared in part 1. I had to make it myself since I could not find the 2nd form anywhere done as in the Ji Do Kwan, but then again the whole premise of this series is that it is worth it to preserve the Ji Do Kwan versions since they are rather unique or at least rare :-) As for the performance of the basic techniques I checked with another book of Sihak Henry Cho publised in 1968 where he shows how to do the different basics and I can say that the high blocks or rising blocks are identical to modern Kukki-Taekwondo (other Kwan chamber this on the inside, but not Ji Do Kwan) and the spear hands are done as in Taegeuk Sa Jang movement 2 and 4 so theyre the same as in Kukki-Taekwondo. The low blocks are also demonstrated like modern Kukki-Taekwondo in that book, so doing the Tae Keuk Hyung in "Kukki-Taekwondo style" is the same as Ji Do Kwan style for the most part (the Ji Do Kwan stances were a little deeper and it seems as if they move their feet in a crescent shape when stepping forward or backward in long front walking stance). I just did the form with Kukki-Taekwondo standard. If you are interested in looking at techniques as done in Ji Do Kwan I can certainly try to find out if you contact me or give me a comment on the blog. 

Video Tutorial of Tae Keuk 2 Hyung  

In the clip below I give a quick overview of the form, talk a little about the source and what makes this unique, then I teach it from the front and from the back :-) all in all it should be easy to learn if you have a little experience with Taegeuk 1-4 Jang Poomsae :-)