Tong-Il

Quick Facts

About the kata

Tong-Il closes the Chang-Hon series as its twenty-fourth tul and is practised from 6th dan. According to the ITF interpretation, its name expresses the resolve to unify Korea, divided since 1945. The tul's diagram is a single vertical line, which the ITF says symbolises a unified nation. According to the ITF, the tul has 56 movements and starts in a parallel stance with the backs of the hands overlapped. Tempo varies markedly within it: per the breakdown on dotaekwondo.net, movements 11–13 are performed slowly, while the pairs of strikes 5–6, 14–15 and 20–21 follow each other quickly. Tkdcoaching.com states that the whole exercise takes roughly a minute and 35 seconds. Among the techniques, notable ones include inward vertical kicks with the reverse foot edge into one's own palm, W-shaped blocks in Annun Sogi, rear thrusting kicks, and a downward guard with crossed fists in Kyocha Sogi. The tul ends with a side strike in Annun Sogi and a punch in Gunnun Sogi.

The kata in different styles

Meaning of the name

The Korean interpretation in an article on mookas.com reads the tul's diagram (연무선) as the character ㅣ and as 단일민족, one nation; the ITF's English text says "homogeneous race". Tkdcoaching.com adds that the tul's 56 movements also symbolise hope for Korea's reunification.

Creator and history

According to tkdcoaching.com, Tong-Il underwent major changes only after it was published in the 1965 book Taekwon-Do; the site therefore compares the 1965 version with the one published in 1999. Exactly what changed between the two versions we have not been able to document from freely available sources. A small difference also appears in today's breakdowns: dotaekwondo.net ends the tul by drawing the right foot back into the ready stance, malverntaekwondo.co.uk the left.

Technique Sequence — ITF Taekwondo

Breakdown source: dotaekwondo.net

1. #1
   Gunnun SogiSang Joomuk Ap Jirugi(both)
2. #2
   Gunnun SogiSang Sonkal Soopyong Taerigi(both)
3. #3
   Dwitbal SogiPakat Palmok Anuro Makgi(L)
4. #4
   Gunnun SogiSonbadak Najunde Anuro Makgi(R)
5. #5
   Niunja SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)
   Fast
6. #6
   Niunja SogiKaunde Jirugi(L)
   Fast
7. #7
   Niunja SogiSondung Nopunde Bakuro Taerigi(L)
8. #8
   Anuro Nopunde Sewo Chagi(R)
9. #9
   Niunja SogiSondung Nopunde Bakuro Taerigi(R)
10. #10
    Anuro Nopunde Sewo Chagi(L)
11. #11
    Niunja SogiSang Sonbadak Soopyong Makgi(L)
    Slow
12. #12
    Gunnun SogiSonkal Dung Yop Makgi(R)
    Slow
13. #13
    Gunnun SogiSonkal Dung Yop Makgi(L)
    Slow
14. #14
    Gunnun SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)
    Fast
15. #15
    Gunnun SogiKaunde Jirugi(L)
    Fast
16. #16
    Naeryo Chagi(R)
17. #17
    Niunja SogiDung Joomuk Naeryo Taerigi(R)
18. #18
    Bakuro Sewo Chagi(L)
19. #19
    Niunja SogiDung Joomuk Naeryo Taerigi(L)
20. #20
    Gunnun SogiNopunde Ap Joomuk Jirugi(L)
21. #21
    Gunnun SogiNopunde Ap Joomuk Jirugi(R)
22. #22
    Dwitbal SogiSonmok Dung Ollyo Makgi(L)
23. #23
    Dwitbal SogiSonmok Dung Ollyo Makgi(L)
24. #24
    Gunnun SogiSonbadak Noollo Makgi(L)
25. #25
    Gunnun SogiSonbadak Noollo Makgi(R)
26. #26
    Moa Sogi
27. #27
    Gunnun SogiSonkal Baro Chookyo Makgi(L)
28. #28
    Gunnun SogiNopunde Ap Joomuk Jirugi(R)
29. #29
    Niunja SogiDwijibo Jirugi(L)
30. #30
    Gunnun SogiHomi Sonkut Nopunde Tulgi(R)
31. #31
    Gunnun SogiSonkal Baro Chookyo Makgi(R)
32. #32
    Gunnun SogiNopunde Ap Joomuk Jirugi(L)
33. #33
    Niunja SogiDwijibo Jirugi(R)
34. #34
    Gunnun SogiHomi Sonkut Nopunde Tulgi(L)
35. #35
    Niunja SogiSonkal Dung Najunde Daebi Makgi
36. #36
    Niunja SogiSonkal Dung Najunde Daebi Makgi
37. #37
    Gunnun SogiNajunde Bakat Palmok Makgi(R)
38. #38
    Gunnun SogiSang Joomuk Sewo Jirugi(both)
39. #39
    Waebal SogiDung Palmok Ap Taerigi(R)
40. #40
    Dwit Cha Jirugi(R)
41. #41
    Annun SogiBakat Palmok San Makgi(R)
42. #42
    Annun SogiBakat Palmok San Makgi
43. #43
    Annun SogiBakat Palmok San Makgi
44. #44
    Annun SogiBakat Palmok San Makgi
45. #45
    Waebal Sogi
46. #46
    Dwit Cha Jirugi(L)
47. #47
    Kyocha SogiKyocha Joomok Najunde Noollo Makgi(both)
48. #48
    Gunnun SogiMit Joomuk Nopunde Baro Ap Taerigi(L)
49. #49
    Gunnun SogiMit Joomuk Nopunde Baro Ap Taerigi(R)
50. #50
    Gunnun SogiSonbadak Mirro Makgi(L)
51. #51
    Gunnun SogiSonkal Dollimyo Makgi(R)
52. #52
    Gunnun SogiSonbadak Mirro Makgi(R)
53. #53
    Gunnun SogiSonkal Dollimyo Makgi(L)
54. #54
    Moa SogiYop Cha Jirugi(R)Palmok Daebi Makgi(R)Sang Yopdwi Palkup Tulgi(both)
55. #55
    Annun SogiAp Joomuk Yop Jirugi(L)
56. #56
    Gunnun SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)