Choong-Moo

Quick Facts

About the kata

Choong-Moo is a Chang-Hon-series tul for 1st kup, the last grade before first dan (Torbay Taekwondo, TKD Coaching). According to ITF's interpretation, it bears the name of admiral Yi Sun-sin of the Yi dynasty, to whom ITF attributes the invention of the first armoured vessel, the kobukson, in 1592. The tul has 30 movements and ends with a left-hand attack, meant by ITF to recall the admiral's death, which did not let him show his full ability, bound as he was by loyalty to the king. TKD Coaching characterises the tul by demanding kicking combinations, a jumping side kick and a 360-degree turning jump. The jumping side kick is, according to kidokwan.org and TKD Coaching, movement 9; the high turning kick and the back kick (14 and 15) are, according to kidokwan.org and dotaekwondo.net, performed quickly. The counter-clockwise turning jump landing on the same spot is numbered by dotaekwondo.net as movement 19. Brendan Doogan (kidokwan.org) classes Choong-Moo among tuls with an I-shaped diagram, named after figures who, in his view, shaped modern Korea.

The kata in different styles

Meaning of the name

Choong-Moo, in the older spelling Chung-Mu, is written in hangul as 충무 and in characters as 忠武. According to the English Wikipedia, it is part of the posthumous title Chungmugong (忠武公), "Duke of Loyalty and Warfare," awarded to admiral Yi Sun-sin; the ITF tul is named after precisely this posthumous name. Yi Sun-sin was born on 28 April 1545 in Hanseong. In the Imjin War against the Japanese invasion, he won at least 23 naval battles without losing a single one. He died on 16 December 1598 in the battle of Noryang, where he was fatally struck by a bullet from an arquebus. Wikipedia writes that he designed and built the turtle ships; ITF's interpretation is more cautious and only attributes the invention of the first armoured vessel to him.

Creator and history

According to the chronology on itftkd.sport, Choi Hong-hi created the first two Korean tuls, then still called hyung, in 1955: Hwa-Rang and Chung-Mu. Historyoftaekwondo.org lists the first three as Hwa-Rang, Chung-Mu and Ul-Ji and places them "around 1955-56"; according to this source, Chung-Mu was worked on mainly by captain Nam Tae-Hi together with general Choi Hong-hi. A book from 1959 recorded Chung-Mu among the first five tuls alongside Hwa-Rang, Ul-Ji, U-Nam and Sam-Il. The Southbury Taekwondo source mentions a dispute over the jumping side kick: sergeant Han Cha-Kyo proposed changing the technique to something more natural, but Choi kept it as it was.

Bunkai – applications

Southbury Taekwondo interprets movements 13 to 15 (reverse knife-hand strike, turning kick and back kick) as defence against a two-handed choke from behind. The turn and left-hand strike into the attacker's elbow break the grip, and the right-hand reverse knife-hand strike then targets the neck. For the tul's other movements, we found no documented application.

Technique Sequence — ITF Taekwondo

Breakdown source: kildaretaekwondo.com

1. #1
   Niunja SogiSang Sonkal Makgi
2. #2
   Gunnun SogiSonkal Ap Taerigi(R)
3. #3
   Niunja SogiSonkal Daebi Makgi
4. #4
   Gunnun SogiOpun Sonkut Tulgi(L)
5. #5
   Niunja SogiSonkal Daebi Makgi
6. #6
   Guburyo Junbi Sogi A
7. #7
   Yop Cha Jirugi(R)
8. #8
   Niunja SogiSonkal Daebi Makgi
9. #9
   Niunja SogiTwimyo Yop Cha Jirugi(R)
10. #10
    Niunja SogiNajunde Bakat Palmok Makgi(L)
11. #11
    Gunnun Sogi
12. #12
    Moorup Chagi(R)
13. #13
    Gunnun SogiSonkal Dung Ap Taerigi(R)
14. #14
    Dollyo Chagi(R)
    Fast
15. #15
    Dwit Cha Jirugi(L)
    Fast
16. #16
    Niunja Sogi
17. #17
    Dollyo Chagi(L)
18. #18
    Gojung SogiDigutja Makgi
19. #19
    Niunja SogiSonkal Daebi Makgi
20. #20
    Gunnun SogiDwijibun Sonkut Tulgi(R)
21. #21
    Dung Joomuk Yop Dwi Taerigi(L)
22. #22
    Gunnun SogiSun Sonkut Tulgi(R)
23. #23
    Gunnun SogiNopunde Doo Palmok Makgi(both)
24. #24
    Annun SogiPalmok Kaunde Ap Makgi(R)
25. #25
    Yop Cha Jirugi(R)
26. #26
    Yop Cha Jirugi(L)
27. #27
    Niunja SogiKyocha Sonkal Kaunde Makgi(both)
28. #28
    Gunnun SogiSang Sonbadak Ollyo Makgi(both)
29. #29
    Gunnun SogiPalmok Chookyo Makgi(R)
30. #30
    Gunnun SogiKaunde Jirugi(L)