Toi-Gye

Quick Facts

About the kata

Toi-Gye is the seventh Chang-Hon tul; itftaekwondo.com sets it at 3rd kup, Torbay Taekwondo and Leicester Taekwon-Do Academy at blue belt with a red stripe. Per the ITF interpretation, Toi-Gye is the pseudonym of 16th-century scholar Yi Hwang, an authority of neo-Confucianism. The 37 movements refer to his birthplace on the 37th parallel, and per the English Wikipedia the diagram represents a "scholar," as with Yul-Gok. The tul begins in the Moa Junbi Sogi B stance. Per kidokwan.org, Torbay Taekwondo and Leicester Taekwon-Do Academy, movements 3, 6 and 12 are slow: two back-fist strikes to the side and rear, Dung Joomuk Yop Dwi Taerigi, and a thrust with both elbows to the sides, Sang Yop Palkup Tulgi. Dotaekwondo.net lists only 3 and 12 as slow. Movements 7-8 flow together, and movement 29 is a jump per kidokwan.org. TKD Coaching's best-known passage is the six consecutive San Makgi blocks in a W shape; the block ends with vertical forearms and elbows slightly below shoulder level. The same source advises keeping stances equal in length so the practitioner returns to the start, and, in the slow movements, watching relaxation and breathing.

The kata in different styles

Meaning of the name

The English Wikipedia translates the pseudonym Toegye (퇴계, 退溪) as "retreating stream." Yi Hwang lived from 1501 to 1570 and was born in Ongye-ri near Andong. In 1560 he founded the Dosan Seodang school, from which his students created the Confucian academy Dosan Seowon in 1574; his portrait appears on the South Korean 1000-won banknote. His best-known work is the Ten Diagrams on Sage Learning (Seonghak Sipdo), written in 1568 for King Seonjo. Brendan Doogan (kidokwan.org) notes that Yul-Gok and Toi-Gye carry the names of two rival scholars from the great 16th-century dispute of Korean Confucianism and neo-Confucianism.

Creator and history

According to the English Wikipedia, Kim Bok-man and Woo Jae-lim helped General Choi Hong-hi create fifteen tuls between 1962 and 1964, when he was Korean ambassador to Malaysia; Toi-Gye is explicitly named among them. TKD Coaching states the same. Alan Joffray, in his 1st dan grading paper (kidokwan.org, 2014), traces how the tul changed across Choi Hong-hi's books: movements 3 and 6 were first a block, then a strike, and finally a strike to the side and rear, and what had been fast became slow. Movement 12 was at first just pulling both fists to the hips; today it is a thrust with both elbows to the sides. Per him, the swinging motion when lifting the leg in movements 13–18 was introduced by Master Eun.

Bunkai – applications

The Tactical Taekwondo blog reads the San Makgi block as a throw: what looks like a kick is actually stepping over or around the opponent's leg, his arm is pulled across one's own front leg, and the hip motion joins hands and feet in the instant the foot touches down. Per the blog, six blocks in a row make sense because the opponent retreats before the first attempt, opening up to the second.

Technique Sequence — ITF Taekwondo

Breakdown source: kildaretaekwondo.com

1. #1
   Niunja SogiKaunde An Palmok Makgi(L)
2. #2
   Gunnun SogiDwijibun Sonkut Tulgi(R)
3. #3
   Moa SogiDung Joomuk Yop Dwi Taerigi(R)
   Slow
4. #4
   Niunja SogiKaunde An Palmok Makgi(R)
5. #5
   Gunnun SogiDwijibun Sonkut Tulgi(L)
6. #6
   Moa SogiDung Joomuk Yop Dwi Taerigi(L)
   Slow
7. #7
   Gunnun SogiKyocha Joomok Najunde Noollo Makgi(both)
   Continuous
8. #8
   Gunnun SogiSang Joomuk Sewo Jirugi(both)
   Continuous
9. #9
   Ap Cha Busigi(R)
10. #10
    Gunnun SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)
11. #11
    Gunnun SogiKaunde Jirugi(L)
12. #12
    Moa SogiSang Yop Palkup Tulgi
    Slow
13. #13
    Annun SogiBakat Palmok San Makgi(R)
14. #14
    Annun SogiBakat Palmok San Makgi(L)
15. #15
    Annun SogiBakat Palmok San Makgi(L)
16. #16
    Annun SogiBakat Palmok San Makgi(R)
17. #17
    Annun SogiBakat Palmok San Makgi(L)
18. #18
    Annun SogiBakat Palmok San Makgi(L)
19. #19
    Niunja SogiDoo Palmok Najunde Mirro Makgi(both)
20. #20
    Gunnun Sogi
21. #21
    Moorup Chagi(R)
22. #22
    Niunja SogiSonkal Daebi Makgi
23. #23
    Yobap Cha Busigi(L)
24. #24
    Gunnun SogiOpun Sonkut Tulgi(L)
25. #25
    Niunja SogiSonkal Daebi Makgi
26. #26
    Yobap Cha Busigi(R)
27. #27
    Gunnun SogiOpun Sonkut Tulgi(R)
28. #28
    Niunja SogiDung Joomuk Yop Dwi Taerigi(L)
29. #29
    Kyocha SogiKyocha Joomok Najunde Noollo Makgi(both)
30. #30
    Gunnun SogiNopunde Doo Palmok Makgi(both)
31. #31
    Niunja SogiSonkal Najunde Daebi Makgi
32. #32
    Gunnun SogiAn Palmok Dollimyo Makgi(R)
33. #33
    Niunja SogiSonkal Najunde Daebi Makgi
34. #34
    Gunnun SogiAn Palmok Dollimyo Makgi(L)
35. #35
    Gunnun SogiAn Palmok Dollimyo Makgi(R)
36. #36
    Gunnun SogiAn Palmok Dollimyo Makgi(L)
37. #37
    Annun SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)