Po-Eun

Quick Facts

About the kata

Po-Eun is a Chang-Hon tul which, per TKD Coaching, is taught as the second of the three 1st dan tuls and performed at the 2nd dan grading; English Wikipedia lists it as the 11th ITF tul. It has 36 movements (dotaekwondo.net, kidokwan.org, Torbay Taekwondo) and starts in a parallel stance with the sky hand. The whole pattern runs along a single straight line. Most movements, per the dotaekwondo.net breakdown, are performed in annun sogi stance. Movements 6–12 and 24–30 are one continuous movement per dotaekwondo.net, kidokwan.org and Torbay Taekwondo, and TKD Coaching advises not to rush them. Twice, in moa sogi stance, a slow horizontal strike with both elbows, sang palkup tulgi, is performed with the head turning aside; dotaekwondo.net and Torbay Taekwondo number it as movements 15 and 33, kidokwan.org as 14 and 33. For the pushing fist blocks noollo makgi, TKD Coaching says the backs of the forearms cross first, then the block goes down, similarly to a strike. For the wedging block hechyo makgi, the inner forearms should be shoulder-width apart, and during the elbow strike the head turns aside naturally only at the last moment.

The kata in different styles

Meaning of the name

Po-Eun (포은, 圃隱) is the pen name of Chong Mong-Chu, whom the ITF interpretation presents as a loyal subject and famous poet; per the ITF, every Korean knows his line "I would not serve a second lord, even if crucified a hundred times." The character 圃, per kidokwan.org's etymology, means a vegetable garden or orchard, and 隱 means concealment and life in seclusion as a hermit. The tul's diagram, a single horizontal line, represents, per the ITF, his unwavering loyalty to king and country at the end of the Koryo dynasty. Brendan Doogan (kidokwan.org) reads in it the Chinese character for "one": one lord, that is, loyalty.

Creator and history

Chong Mong-Chu, in English Wikipedia Chŏng Mongju (정몽주, 鄭夢周), lived, per it, in 1337–1392 and was a statesman, diplomat, philosopher, poet and calligrapher of the Koryo period. He was assassinated by five men of Yi Pang-wŏn on the Sonjuk bridge in Gaeseong; his poem Dansimga ends with the question of how a heart loyal to its lord could ever fade. The ITF interpretation gives the year 1400 next to his name, which we have not been able to reconcile with his biographical dates. Per English Wikipedia, Kim Bok-man and Woo Jae-lim helped General Choi Hong-hi create fifteen tuls in 1962–1964, when he was ambassador to Malaysia, and Po-Eun is among them.

Technique Sequence — ITF Taekwondo

Breakdown source: dotaekwondo.net

1. #1
   Niunja SogiKaunde Palmok Daebi Makgi
2. #2
   Waebal Sogi
3. #3
   Noollo Chagi(R)
4. #4
   Annun SogiSonkal Yop Taerigi(R)
5. #5
   Annun SogiGiokja Jirugi(L)
6. #6
   Annun SogiAp Joomuk Noollo Makgi(L)An Palmok Yop Ap Makgi(R)
   Continuous
7. #7
   Annun SogiAp Joomuk Noollo Makgi(L)
   Continuous
8. #8
   Annun SogiAn Palmok Kaunde Hechyo Makgi
   Continuous
9. #9
   Annun Sogi
   Continuous
10. #10
    Annun SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)
    Continuous
11. #11
    Annun Sogi
    Continuous
12. #12
    Annun SogiSoopyong Jirugi
    Continuous
13. #13
    Kyocha SogiBakat Palmok Najunde Ap Makgi(L)
14. #14
    Niunja SogiDigutja Japgi Makgi
15. #15
    Moa SogiSang Palkup Tulgi(both)
    Slow
16. #16
    Annun SogiDung Joomuk Yop Dwi Taerigi(R)
17. #17
    Kyocha SogiBakat Palmok Najunde Ap Makgi(L)
18. #18
    Annun SogiSonkal Dung Najunde Daebi Makgi
19. #19
    Niunja SogiKaunde Palmok Daebi Makgi
20. #20
    Waebal Sogi
21. #21
    Noollo Chagi(L)
22. #22
    Annun SogiSonkal Yop Taerigi(L)
23. #23
    Annun SogiGiokja Jirugi(R)
24. #24
    Annun SogiAp Joomuk Noollo Makgi(R)An Palmok Yop Ap Makgi(L)
    Continuous
25. #25
    Annun SogiAp Joomuk Noollo Makgi(L)
    Continuous
26. #26
    Annun SogiAn Palmok Kaunde Hechyo Makgi
    Continuous
27. #27
    Annun Sogi
    Continuous
28. #28
    Annun SogiKaunde Jirugi(L)
    Continuous
29. #29
    Annun Sogi
    Continuous
30. #30
    Annun SogiSoopyong Jirugi
    Continuous
31. #31
    Kyocha SogiBakat Palmok Najunde Ap Makgi(L)
32. #32
    Niunja SogiDigutja Japgi Makgi
33. #33
    Moa SogiSang Palkup Tulgi(both)
    Slow
34. #34
    Annun SogiDung Joomuk Yop Dwi Taerigi(L)
35. #35
    Kyocha SogiBakat Palmok Najunde Ap Makgi(L)
36. #36
    Annun SogiSonkal Dung Najunde Daebi Makgi