Hwa-Rang

Quick Facts

About the kata

Hwa-Rang is the eighth Chang-Hon tul; TKD Coaching places it at 2nd kup, red belt. Per the ITF interpretation, given identically by kidokwan.org and dotaekwondo.net, it carries the name of the Hwa-Rang youth group, which arose in the kingdom of Silla at the start of the 7th century. Its 29 movements refer to the 29th Infantry Division, where taekwon-do matured. The tul begins in the Moa Junbi Sogi C stance and opens with a palm block pushing forward. According to kidokwan.org and dotaekwondo.net, movements 18 and 19, a pair of Dollyo Chagi kicks, are performed quickly. TKD Coaching recommends practicing these kicks separately and watching balance, height control and a clean withdrawal of the leg, not just speed. The whole tul, according to the same source, takes about 45 seconds. Hwa-Rang is among the series' oldest tuls: per itftkd.sport it was one of the first five Korean patterns in the 1959 book. Brendan Doogan (kidokwan.org) places it among the "heroic" tuls with a diagram shaped like the capital letter I, which he says may mean "worker" in Chinese; the same diagram is shared by Dan-Gun, Won-Hyo, Joong-Gun, Choong-Moo and Yoo-Sin.

The kata in different styles

Meaning of the name

Per the English Wikipedia, Hwarang (화랑, 花郞) means "blossoming youths." It was an elite group of young men of the Silla kingdom who served as warriors while also being educated in art, culture and Buddhist teaching. The Buddhist monk Won Gwang wrote five precepts for them: loyalty to the ruler, respect for parents, trust among friends, never retreat in battle, and never take a life without just cause. Kim Yu-sin, later a Silla general, was also a Hwarang. Dating varies: the ITF interpretation places the group's origin at the start of the 7th century, the English Wikipedia during King Jinheung's reign in the mid-6th century, while the Samguk Sagi chronicle gives 576 and the Tongguk T'onggam 540. The number 29 refers to the 29th Infantry Division, organized, per the ITF (itfofficial.org), by Choi Hong-hi on Cheju Island, which became the spearhead of taekwon-do in the army; the South African federation SANTF gives 1953. Choi, with the help of Nam Tae-hi, founded the Oh Do Kwan school at that time.

Creator and history

According to itftkd.sport, the first book on taekwon-do, from 1959, contained the first five Korean patterns, then called hyung: Hwa-Rang, Chung-Mu, Ul-Ji, U-Nam and Sam-Il. The ITF (itfofficial.org) describes them as patterns that Choi Hong-hi created with the help of soldiers under his command; the English Wikipedia credits the design of Hwa-Rang, Chung-Mu and Ul-Ji to his collaborator Nam Tae-hi. We have not been able to establish the exact year Hwa-Rang was created; it was already in the book in 1959. In the English-language book of 1965, the number of tuls grew to twenty.

Bunkai – applications

TKD Coaching reads movements 11 and 12 as a defense against an opponent who grabs the wrist and pulls forward. The rear leg steps in, the other hand secures the fist, both arms pull in to the body, releasing the grip, with a simultaneous side kick. For the tul's other movements, we have not found a documented interpretation of applications.

Technique Sequence — ITF Taekwondo

Breakdown source: kildaretaekwondo.com

1. #1
   Sonbadak Mirro Makgi(L)
2. #2
   Annun SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)
3. #3
   Annun SogiKaunde Jirugi(L)
4. #4
   Niunja SogiSang Palmok Makgi
5. #5
   Ollyo Jirugi(L)
6. #6
   Gojung SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)
7. #7
   Soojik SogiSonkal Naeryo Taerigi(R)
8. #8
   Gunnun SogiKaunde Jirugi(L)
9. #9
   Gunnun SogiNajunde Bakat Palmok Makgi(L)
10. #10
    Gunnun SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)
11. #12
    Niunja SogiYop Cha Jirugi(R)
12. #13
    Gunnun SogiKaunde Jirugi(L)
13. #14
    Gunnun SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)
14. #15
    Niunja SogiSonkal Daebi Makgi
15. #16
    Gunnun SogiSun Sonkut Tulgi(R)
16. #17
    Niunja SogiSonkal Daebi Makgi
17. #18
    Dollyo Chagi(R)
    Fast
18. #19
    Niunja SogiDollyo Chagi(L)Sonkal Daebi Makgi
    Fast
19. #20
    Gunnun SogiNajunde Bakat Palmok Makgi(L)
20. #21
    Niunja SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)
21. #22
    Niunja SogiKaunde Jirugi(L)
22. #23
    Niunja SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)
23. #24
    Gunnun SogiKyocha Joomok Najunde Noollo Makgi(both)
24. #25
    Niunja Sogi
25. #26
    Moa SogiAn Palmok Yop Ap Makgi(R)
26. #27
    Moa SogiAn Palmok Yop Ap Makgi(L)
27. #28
    Niunja SogiSonkal Daebi Makgi
28. #29
    Niunja SogiSonkal Daebi Makgi