The life of a human being, perhaps 100 years, can be considered as a day when compared with eternity. Therefore, we mortals are no more than simple travellers who pass by the eternal years of an eon in a day. It is evident that no one can live more than a limited amount of time. Nevertheless, most people foolishly enslave themselves to materialism as if they could live for thousands of years. And some people strive to bequeath a good spiritual legacy for coming generations, in this way, gaining immortality. Obviously, the spirit is perpetual while material is not. Therefore, what we can do to leave behind something for the welfare of mankind is, perhaps, the most important thing in our lives. Here I leave Taekwon-Do for mankind as a trace of man of the late 20th century. The 24 patterns represent 24 hours, one day, or all my life - General Choi Hong Hi.  

A pattern is like a song sung in a foreign language.
It sounds beautiful, but unless you understand the language, its words are meaningless.

What are Patterns?

A pattern/form/hyung/tul/poomse/kata is a prearranged series of different defensive, counter, and offensive techniques that must be performed in a precise, logical sequence with specific foot movements and stances in imaginary combat against a number of assailants. The student must systematically deal with several imaginary opponents who are attacking with various techniques from different directions. The student begins a pattern by standing at attention, bowing, and then stepping with his or her left foot in a certain direction using a specific technique. Some patterns are performed solidly, some quickly with acrobatics, some gracefully, and some are performed very slowly with great muscle tension. The closest relatives of patterns are shadow boxing, dancing, or a gymnastics floor routine.  

The "founder" of one of the "realistic" martial arts says that patterns are useless. He says that "Learning to dance is not learning to fight." In his opinion, pretending to learn how to fight while dancing is a way for instructors to drag out the time required to advance. Although patterns have been used by millions of great martial arts masters and their students for centuries, this "master" says it is all useless. As others of the same ilk have done in the past, if you do not enjoy doing something or you cannot do something, then criticize it and invent something you can do.

Patterns help students develop:

•  Stronger, faster, and more effective kicks, blocks, and strikes

• Stronger and more secure fighting stances and positions

• Sparring techniques

• Defensive and offensive moves for every self-defence situation

• Build endurance

• Condition muscles to be harder and stronger

• Rhythm and grace of movement

• Awareness of oneself and body

• Effective breathing techniques

Patterns mark the progress of student development. Higher ranks require more complex patterns that challenge them to increase their level of discipline and proficiency. As students progress in rank, the patterns they are required to learn increase in complexity and difficulty. Traditionally, students must perform a pattern hundreds of times before learning the next one, but in modern Taekwondo, this level of proficiency is not usually required.

Hyung (connected moves) is the Korean term for a pattern/form. Other terms used are "poomse" and "tul" (Korean) and "kata" (Japanese). The Taekwondo America  organization uses the English term "pattern."

In the ancient Orient, a law similar to the law of Hamurabi (an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth) was rigorously enforced. If you injured another person, you had to be punished, even when the injury was caused accidentally. Since modern free-sparring had not yet been developed, Taekwondo students who practiced their fighting skills against other persons risked their own safety if they harmed their opponents. Therefore, the development of fighting proficiency was somewhat hindered until the first patterns were developed. Then students were able to fight imaginary opponents with no chance of injuring an opponent.

Through the practice of patterns, students learn to apply various Taekwondo techniques in practical ways and to join the techniques into useful combinations. They improve their sparring skills by developing fluid, smooth, rhythmical, powerful movements. Gichin Funakoshi taught only a little sparring, he based his teaching on patterns. Funakoshi believed that  "Once you have completely mastered kata, then you may adapt it to kumite." Patterns also help students refine their coordination, flexibility, balance, timing, endurance, and breath control, all of which are essential to the proper execution of Taekwondo techniques. Patterns enable students to practice techniques alone and to practice them against simulated attacks that are difficult to duplicate during class exercises or while sparring. While free-sparring enables students to compare their fighting skills to those of other students, patterns permit students to critically evaluate their own individual techniques in a controlled situation. Karate master, Richard Kim, always believed that within kata was  all he would ever need to know to defend himself.

Just as individual letters form words, which are then used to compose sentences that express a thought; individual techniques and movements form patterns, which are then used to express the essence of Taekwondo. Just as students in elementary school first learn to print precisely and then to write in their own personal style, Taekwondo students first learn to perform each movement in a pattern in a specified manner, and then they begin to develop their own personal performance style. Patterns are the link between technique training and actual fighting.

Taekwondo competition may be compared to figure skating competition. Taekwondo free-sparring is similar to a figure skating free-style performance. Both are spectacular, very physical, and entertaining. Taekwondo patterns performance is similar to the figures of figure skating (which are no longer required in competition) where a skater is judged on how perfectly he or she can skate specific figures on the ice. In both, everyone does the same movements, movements are precise, mental concentration is more important than in sparring, and competition is relatively boring to watch.

Why 24 Patterns?

A human life may be considered as a day when compared to eternity. A day is 24 hours long, therefore, General Choi developed 24 patterns to represent each of the 24 hours of one day.

No First Attack

There is no first attack in Taekwondo. The tenets of Taekwondo demand that a student of Taekwondo never initiates an attack. Therefore, all patterns begin with a block.

Chunbi Hand Positions

All patterns start and end with a chunbi (ready) position. The position symbolize various states of readiness. The basic chunbi (both fists in front of the belt knot) shows a warrior who is ready to defend him or herself at a moments notice. Chunbi using high twin open hands held in a triangular shape shows a warrior in meditation. Chunbi using low crossed open hands shows a warrior at peace with him or herself.  Chunbi using an enclosed fist symbolizes the restrained force of Taekwondo. Taekwondo may be a destructive force when unleashed, this is symbolized by the closed fist. However, we train to restrain this force and only use it for a just and honorable reason. This is symbolized by the open hand that encloses the fist.

Interpretations of Patterns
Lower belt patterns have more fist movements and long range techniques. Higher belt patterns have more open hand movements and close range techniques.

Not all movements are intended for actual application, some are only included to condition the muscles and reflexes. So possible application of pattern movements are open to interpretation.

Higher patterns emphasize hand techniques not introduced in the color belt patterns. Therefore, if you do not progress beyond black belt, you miss out on many hand techniques. This means that Taekwondo usually does not get credit for many of its hand techniques.

Movements in the patterns emphasize the action-reaction principle. They teach how to chamber before movement which helps set the rhythm of the pattern. Each movement sets up the next movement by using a action/reaction movement and the momentum resulting from it. Thus, the thrust of one movement leads into the next movement. so transitions are smooth. Patterns stress hip snap and torso twisting for power generation.

It is not always clear as to whether a technique is an offensive or defensive technique. Sometimes they may be both. Sometimes blocks target pressure points for immobilization.

Higher forms have the chi-component. Energy is directed into a hard  block with a tensed fist. Instead, open hand blocks let energy flow using the "water principle."  Knife hand blocks are not used in a stiff stopping motion but are used in a deflecting push-through motion.

Lower rank patterns use blocks that block an attack at the end of its motion. Upper level blocks block and attack before its movement is completed. sometimes targeting a pressure/nerve point.

Some techniques in patterns are feints that set the opponent up for a following technique. Some movements are performed in rapid combination.

Most ITF patterns start to the left first because most people are right handed. They block with the left arm and attack with the right. Since emphasis of Taekwondo is on defense, most patterns start their movement to the left. There are exceptions such as in  Gwang-gae.

Learning

Patterns must be learned from a qualified instructor. Pattern movements may be learned from a book, but the emphasis and flow of the movements and  the metal aspects of a pattern are learned from the watchful eye of an instructor. All patterns have specific movements that must be perform in a specific order and speed, but there is still room for variation. The height, weight, gender, age, etc. of a student affects the performance. These factors also affect how the instructor teaches the pattern.

Karate has the concept of "Shuhari." "Shu" means to copy the techniques and teachings of the instructor as closely as possible. "Ha" refers to the freedom permitted for subtle changes that will inevitably occur due to variations in physiques combined with the student’s own experiences and understanding of the techniques. "Ri" is when the student has mastered the techniques to the point were they are no longer just techniques, but are a part of his or her being.

Techniques

All patterns consist of a combination of five techniques:

1. Stances
2. Blocks
3. Kicks
4. Punches
5. Strikes

Mental or Physical

Are patterns a mental or physical exercise? I think they are more mental. Some people can perform a technically perfect pattern in class but cannot perform the pattern until stress, such as at a testing or tournament. Some people whose physical ability is lacking can still perform an beautiful and intense pattern that draws high scores. The body supports the brain, gives it mobility, and serves its will.

To prepare mentally, you must concentrate on visualization, attitude, and presentation. The old adage "What the mind can perceive, the body can achieve." is true. Visualize yourself performing each movement of the form perfectly every day and when the time comes to perform the pattern perfectly, the body will respond. Visualize yourself blocking and attacking a real opponent so you can appreciate the meaning of each technique. Practice relaxation techniques so you will be relaxed during the stress of pattern performance.

Train with the proper attitude and you will perform with attitude. A pattern is a mock fight where you are defending yourself against attack. Have a warrior spirit. Perform the pattern with the same power and intenseness that you would use in a real fight.

Taekwondo is an martial art so make each pattern an artistic presentation. Each pattern as set movements and each movement uses precise Taekwondo techniques, but, there is still room for you to make the pattern an exciting expression of your inner self.

To prepare physically, concentrate on increasing your flexibility, strength, and endurance. These attributes will increase your power and speed and help you stay more relaxed during the physical exertion

Mental Aspects of Patterns

Students tend to overlook the mental aspects of patterns during their training, but they are just as, if not than more than, important. One of the obviously mental aspects of pattern performance is the kiai/kiyup. The kiai is not just a yell to be performed at specific points in a pattern, it is the convergence of all your energy and thought at a single instantof maximum power. When the pattern is performed correctly, you feel so good that you can not help but make a noise. An explosion will make a loud noise, but a loud noise is not an explosion, likewise, the kiai is a shout, but a mere shout is not a kiai. When you perfect a technique to the point that you know an opponent would be powerless against it and you execute the technique in a pattern, you feel exalted at its perfection. This feeling of exaltation and perfection is released through the kiai. Only perfection will bring out a true kiai. Otherwise, it will only be a yell. If you have an unshakeable belief in both yourself and your ability to apply the techniques of the kata, regardless of the circumstances, then your kata will posses Kiai. 

When an opponent is helpless against your techniques, you will feel the kiai. When the opponent feels overcome by the kiai, he or she will feel "aiki." Aiki occurs when one is overwhelmed by a dominating spirit. Feeling aiki will cause an opponent to doubt his or her skills and to resign to defeat. In combat, if you break your opponent’s spirit so that they lose their will to fight, you are guaranteed victory. Sometimes a highly confident stare may cause aiki in an opponent. In the classic text, The art of War, Sun-Tzu states, “Achieving victory in every battle is not absolute perfection, neutralizing an adversary’s forces without battle is absolute perfection.” A high quality pattern performed to perfection will cause aiki in those who view it. They will feel a cold chill come over them. Arrogance, making mean faces, and overacting will not cause aiki. Aiki not a caused by a conscious effort of the performer,  is something that occurs naturally when one has perfected his or her pattern to point that it viewer are awestruck by it performance.

As you perform your pattern, you should look like an robot performing programmed motions. You should appear as a alert warrior who is reacting to attacks from unseen attackers. Your performance should cause viewers to visualize your attackers. They should feel as though they are watching a real fight. Master Itsou (founder of the Pinan and Heian Karate katas), when outlining his philosophy of Karate to the Prefecture Education department wrote, “During practice, you should imagine you are on the battlefield. When blocking and striking, you should make your eyes glare, drop the shoulders, and harden the body. Now block the enemy’s punch and strike! Always practice with this spirit so that, when on the real battlefield, you will naturally be prepared.” 

Once you bow at the beginning of the pattern, you should have "no mind," a mind that is open and not fixed upon any particular object or thought. You are not thinking about performing the pattern, you are merely reacting attackers with fearless power.

Do not exhibit arrogance during your performance. From the time you are called forward to perform you pattern, you should exhibit the quite courtesy and humility of a fearless warrior who has been called upon to do battle for the kingdom. A true warrior is confident and is to be feared, while at the same time presents him or herself as a kind, gentle and humble servant of the king.

Reference: Galloway (2001);Sol (1997); http://paperwindow.com/tkd