Tae Guk Pal Jang

There are many sites on the Internet, which offer instruction on performing the forms of taekwondo. They vary widely, partly because instructors refer to the same techniques by different names, but mostly because people just write things differently. I am intrigued at the notion that although we are all doing these forms exactly the same way, we are all talking and writing about them very differently. It's really easier to learn forms in class than it is to learn them from written text, but I think this is helpful. I wrote this out to help me study for my test (December 2011), and I offer it up to anyone who might find it useful. If you note any errors, please let me know. Thanks.


Tae Guek Pal (8th) Jang is represented by the symbol for earth.


From the Joon Be (ready) position (facing north):

1. Step forward with the left foot in back stance and perform a double middle block with the left hand, then immediately move left foot to to create a front stance and perform a middle punch with the right hand.
   
2. Perform a jumping front kick with the left foot. KI HAP! (yell) Land in front stance, left foot forward and perform an outside-in middle block with the left hand, followed immediately by two punches.
   
3. Step forward with the right foot into front stance and perform an middle punch with the left hand.
   
4. Turn 270* to the right into front stance right foot forward (west), look back (east) perform a low block with the left hand and a middle block with the right hand (also known as mountain block).
   
5. Turn both feet 180* to the left into front stance with the left foot forward (facing east) and perform an upper cut with the right hand in slow motion (8 count).
   
6. Step back with the left foot into cross stance with the arms crossed in front of the chest and look right. Step forward with the right foot into front stance left foot forward (east), look back (west) and perform a low block with the right hand and a middle block with the left hand (also known as mountain block).
   
7. Turn both feet 180* to the right into front stance with the right foot forward (facing west) and perform and upper cut with the left hand.
   
8. Turn 90* to the left into backstance (left foot forward) and perform a double knife-hand block with the left hand, then shift into front stance and perform a middle punch with the right hand.
   
9. Perform a front kick with the right foot. Bring the right foot back behind the left foot in tiger stance and perform a palm block with the right hand.
   
10. Turn 90* to the left in tiger stance with the left foot forward and perform a double knife-hand block with the left hand.
    
11. Perform a front kick with the left foot, landing in front stance with the left foot forward and perform a middle punch with the right hand, pull the left foot back into tiger stance and perform a palm block with the left hand.
    
12. Turn 180* to the right into tiger stance with the right foot forward and perform a double knife-hand block with the right hand.
    
13. Perform a front kick with the left foot. Bring the left foot back behind the right foot in tiger stance and perform a palm block with the left hand.
    
14. Turn 90* to the left into back stance with the right foot forward and perform a double fist low block.
    
15. Perform a front kick with the left foot followed immediately by a jumping front kick with the right foot. KIHAP! Come down in front stance with the right foot forward and perform an inside-out middle block with the right hand followed immediately by a middle punch with the left hand and another middle punch with the right hand.
    
16. Turn 270* to the left into back stance with the left foot forward and perform a single knife-hand block with the left hand. Shift into front stance (left foot forward) and perform an elbow strike with the right hand followed immediately by a back fist with the right hand and a middle punch with the left hand.
    
17. Turn 180* to the right into back stance with the right foot forward and perform a single knife-hand block with the right hand. Shift into front stance (right foot forward) and perform an elbow strike with the left hand followed immediately by a back fist with the left hand and a middle punch with the right hand.