Choi-Yong

Quick Facts

About the kata

Choi-Yong is a tul practiced in ITF federations for the 3rd dan test; dotaekwondo.net lists it as the twentieth tul in its overview of that test. According to dotaekwondo.net, torbaytkd.co.uk and the Choong Sil Federation, it has 46 movements. The practitioner starts in the ready stance Moa Sogi C, and according to the Choong Sil Federation returns on the right foot at the end. In the first half of the tul, dotaekwondo.net's breakdown lists two series of three kicks in a row, movements 12–14 and 17–19: Dollyo Chagi, Bandae Dollyo Gorochagi and Yop Cha Jirugi. The W-shaped knife-hand block Sonkal San Makgi appears twice, as does the side back-fist strike Dung Joomuk Yop Taerigi from the crossed stance Kyocha Sogi and the kick Yop Cha Jirugi from the stance Guburyo Junbi Sogi A. The final movement is the strike Kaunde Jirugi in the fixed stance Gojung Sogi. The tul is named after General Choi Yong, prime minister and supreme commander of the armed forces of the Koryo dynasty in the 14th century. The tul's definition, as given by the Choong Sil Federation, highlights loyalty, patriotism and modesty.

The kata in different styles

Meaning of the name

Choi-Yong is a person's name, not a concept: in Korean 최영, in Chinese 崔瑩. The English Wikipedia transliterates it as Ch'oe Yŏng and gives the years 1316–1388. We have not been able to find a translation of the name in sources on the tul; the ITF definition only speaks of the general. The modesty the definition highlights has a concrete form in Wikipedia: his father left him the principle of treating gold as mere ordinary stone.

Creator and history

The ITF definition ends by saying that Choi Yong was executed by his subordinate commanders, led by General Yi Sung Gae, who later became the first king of the Yi dynasty. The English Wikipedia clarifies the events: Yi Sŏng-gye, his former subordinate, turned his army back from Wihwa Island in 1388 instead of marching north, staged a coup and had Choi Yong executed. Before his death, according to Wikipedia, Choi Yong predicted that grass would never grow on his grave, and that held true until 1976. The tul belongs to the set that, according to Chan Hun ITF (chitf.org), was created by General Choi Hong-hi.

Technique Sequence — ITF Taekwondo

Breakdown source: dotaekwondo.net

1. #1
   Dwitbal SogiKaunde Palmok Daebi Makgi
2. #2
   Dwitbal SogiJoongji Joomuk Nopunde Jirugi(L)
3. #3
   Dwitbal SogiKaunde Palmok Daebi Makgi
4. #4
   Dwitbal SogiJoongji Joomuk Nopunde Jirugi(R)
5. #5
   Gunnun SogiSonkal Baro Chookyo Makgi(L)
6. #6
   Gunnun SogiAn Palmok Dollimyo Makgi(R)
7. #7
   Gunnun SogiKaunde Jirugi(L)
8. #8
   Gunnun SogiSonkal Baro Chookyo Makgi(R)
9. #9
   Gunnun SogiAn Palmok Dollimyo Makgi(L)
10. #10
    Gunnun SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)
11. #11
    Niunja SogiSonkal Najunde Daebi Makgi
12. #12
    Dollyo Chagi(R)
13. #13
    Bandae Dollyo Gorochagi(L)
14. #14
    Yop Cha Jirugi(L)
15. #15
    Gunnun SogiAp Palkup Taerigi(R)
16. #16
    Niunja SogiSonkal Najunde Daebi Makgi
17. #17
    Dollyo Chagi(L)
18. #18
    Bandae Dollyo Gorochagi(R)
19. #19
    Yop Cha Jirugi(R)
20. #20
    Gunnun SogiAp Palkup Taerigi(L)
21. #21
    Gunnun SogiSonbadak Noollo Makgi(R)
    Fast
22. #22
    Gunnun SogiSonbadak Noollo Makgi(L)
    Fast
23. #23
    Gunnun SogiSonkal San Makgi
24. #24
    Ap Cha Busigi(R)
25. #25
    Niunja SogiKaunde Palmok Daebi Makgi(R)
26. #26
    Gunnun SogiSonkal San Makgi
27. #27
    Ap Cha Busigi(L)
28. #28
    Niunja SogiKaunde Palmok Daebi Makgi(L)
29. #29
    Niunja SogiKaunde Palmok Daebi Makgi
30. #30
    Gunnun SogiOpun Sonkut Tulgi(L)
31. #31
    Gunnun SogiOpun Sonkut Tulgi(R)
32. #32
    Narani SogiSonbadak Golcha Makgi(R)
33. #33
    Narani SogiKaunde Jirugi(L)
34. #34
    Guburyo Junbi Sogi A
35. #35
    Yop Cha Jirugi(R)Palmok Daebi Makgi(R)
36. #36
    Kyocha SogiDung Joomuk Yop Taerigi(R)
37. #37
    Bandae Dollyo Gorochagi(R)
38. #38
    Niunja SogiSonkal Bakuro Taerigi(R)
39. #39
    Narani SogiSonbadak Golcha Makgi(L)
40. #40
    Narani SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)
41. #41
    Guburyo Junbi Sogi A
42. #42
    Yop Cha Jirugi(L)Palmok Daebi Makgi(L)
43. #43
    Kyocha SogiDung Joomuk Yop Taerigi(L)
44. #44
    Bandae Dollyo Gorochagi(L)
45. #45
    Niunja SogiSonkal Bakuro Taerigi(L)
46. #46
    Gojung SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)