Keumgang

금강 · Geumgang

Literally: „Diamond“

Also known as: Geumgang

A Kukkiwon master poomsae for 2nd-dan holders. Its floor pattern follows 山 (mountain), it has not a single kick, and the crane-stance block keumgang makgi is practised slowly.

Quick Facts

Martial Arts

Taekwondo WT Taekwondo

Form typePoomsae

SeriesBlack-belt poomsae (Kukkiwon) (2)

OriginSouth Korea

Period of origin20th century

CharacterStance-based, stable

Floor pattern (embusen)山 shape (mountain)

← Previous: Koryo Next: Taebaek →

About the kata

Keumgang is a Kukkiwon master poomsae which both the Taekwondo Compendium (nbtkda.com) and the English club Frontline Martial Arts place at 2nd dan; in the series of master forms it follows Koryo. Phoenix Taekwondo requires it in its curriculum for the 3rd-dan test. The name means diamond and refers to Mount Keumgang, which Kukkiwon calls the source of energy of the Korean peninsula. Frontline Martial Arts and Phoenix Taekwondo both count 27 movements, Phoenix adding 31 techniques; taekwondonation.com states 28 steps. The difference comes from the way of counting. According to the Taekwondo Compendium, the two kihap shouts fall on the first and third stamp with the block santeul makgi in the riding stance juchum seogi. Ørjan Nilsen points out that the poomsae contains not a single kick, which sets it apart in taekwondo as a kicking art. According to the Taekwondo Compendium, the movements should be strong and stable, yet slow. The crane-stance block keumgang makgi lasts about eight seconds, the lower opening block arae hechyeo makgi about five. Elsewhere the tempo determines whether a defence or an attack follows, and the intervals between movements therefore differ.

The kata in different styles

Style	Name in the style	Movements	Kiai
WT Taekwondo	Keumgang	27	2

Meaning of the name

Kukkiwon interprets the name on several layers. According to it, Keumgang means extreme strength and weight: Mount Keumgang as the source of the peninsula's energy, and Hobeop, the protection of Buddhist teaching, which together form the guardians of yin and yang. The name comes from the term Keumgang Yeoksa, the strongest warrior and master of martial arts, and symbolises manliness, strength and indestructibility; the English Wikipedia calls him a warrior named by Buddha. According to Kukkiwon, Keumgang also means light radiating in all directions. In the human body this is a state full of energy, ready to release power through any part of it thanks to the interplay of left and right, upper and lower halves. The poomsae therefore calls for calm, no leaning to one side, and no rashness, fear or hesitation.

Floor pattern (embusen)

The poomsae's floor pattern follows the character 山, mountain. Per Kukkiwon, the middle vertical line represents the body's axis and spine, and the short side lines the power from turning the body off that axis. The practitioner thus learns rotation around the spine and releasing power while the centre stays firm like a great mountain. The Taekwondo Compendium notes the poomsae ends short of the starting point: the first line has four ap gubi stances forward but only three dwit gubi back.

Bunkai – applications

Ørjan Nilsen (blog Traditional Taekwondo Ramblings) reads the opening block as breaking free from a two-arm grab from the front: the block releases the hold, the arm then grabs the opponent and pulls him into a palm strike to the chin. According to him, the same movement also works against a lapel grab, if the block comes before the opponent grips, or against a two-handed push. He interprets the two further palm strikes while stepping forward as follow-up strikes, or as the same movement in another context.

The hardest part

Because all the movements follow on at the same height, the poomsae, according to the Taekwondo Compendium, requires strong leg muscles. The three consecutive palm-heel strikes batangson ap chigi should not be rushed, but forceful and yet brisk, with the arm extended as in a fist strike. In the hakdari seogi stance, the inner edge of the raised foot rests against the inner side of the knee, and the raised thigh is parallel to the ground.

In grading syllabi

Kukkiwon system (poom and dan): 3rd poom
Kukkiwon system (poom and dan): 4th poom
Kukkiwon system (poom and dan): 3rd dan
Kukkiwon system (poom and dan): 4th dan
Kukkiwon system (poom and dan): 5th dan

Common Mistakes

In the three sonnal an makgi blocks, some practitioners skip the starting position that all three should have. In the santeul makgi block, the gaze goes toward the side of the inner block, not straight ahead.

Key Tip

Practise the keumgang makgi block in the hakdari seogi stance slowly, tensing the whole body, especially the lower belly danjeon.

Technique Sequence — WT Taekwondo

Breakdown source: phoenixtaekwondo.net

Further sources on this topic (7)