Ul-Ji

Quick Facts

About the kata

Ul-Ji is an ITF tul for 4th dan with 42 movements; per tkd.cz, it is practised from IV dan up, and has 25 attacks (7 with the leg) and 13 blocks, only one of them with the leg. It starts in a parallel stance with the backs of the hands crossed, the first movement a horizontal double fist strike to the side in Gunnun Sogi. Per dotaekwondo.net's breakdown, which Torbay Taekwondo matches on tempo, movements 2–3 flow together and movement 11 goes fast: after a double elbow strike to the side in Moa Sogi, the practitioner steps across and turns the head, hands staying put. The tul is jump-heavy: movement 17 is an aerial kick with a clockwise turn, 20 a jump into Kyocha Sogi with a back-fist strike, 27 a flying high kick, and 34 a jump holding Niunja Sogi while blocking with the forearm. Then come the turning kick Dollyo Chagi and a reverse thrust kick (35–36), a pair of circular inner-forearm blocks Dollimyo Makgi (39–40), and it ends with two fist strikes in Annun Sogi. Per tkdcoaching.com, the performance takes about 55 seconds.

The kata in different styles

Meaning of the name

The tul is named after General Ul-Ji Moon Dok. The ITF meaning, as given consistently by dotaekwondo.net, Torbay Taekwondo, and tkd.cz, states that in 612 he defended Korea against an almost million-strong Tang army led by Yang Je, and destroyed a large part of the enemy with hit-and-run guerrilla tactics. According to the same meaning, the tul's diagram represents the general's surname, which kidokwan.org writes as 을지 (乙支), and the 42 movements represent the author's age when he composed the tul; dotaekwondo.net names the author as General Choi Hong-hi. The English Wikipedia writes the general's name as Ŭlchi Mundŏk (을지문덕, 乙支文德) and places him in Koguryo of the early 7th century. It describes the 612 campaign as an invasion by the Sui dynasty, personally led by Emperor Yang with more than 1 133 000 soldiers; of a vanguard of more than 305 000 men, only 2 800 returned alive after the Battle of Salsu. It also attributes to him the poem Ŭlchi Mundŏk hansi, one of the oldest surviving works in Korean literature.

Creator and history

According to Chang Hon Origins, Ul-Ji is among the series' oldest tuls. The very first taekwondo demonstration's programme, March 1959, lists three of today's Chang Hon tuls beside several karate katas: Hwa-Rang, Choong-Moo, and Ul-Ji. The first taekwondo book, October 1959, has Ul-Ji with Hwa-Rang, Choong-Moo, U-Nam, and Sam-Il. The same source places Yon-Gae and Moon-Moo among the youngest. Exactly when Choi Hong-hi composed Ul-Ji, we have not been able to establish.

The hardest part

tkdcoaching.com's coach flags several points. In movement 9, a back-fist strike to the side and rear, the arm comes from below; in 15, a high front strike, the body should not first dip in a wave as it rises; movement 19, back to Moa Junbi Sogi B, is normal speed, not slowed. In the wedging block with kick at 30, the body stays half-turned, gaze on the kick; in the pushing block at 32, the hand reaches chest height, knuckles at shoulder height, breathing normal.

Technique Sequence — ITF Taekwondo

Breakdown source: dotaekwondo.net

1. #1
   Gunnun SogiSang Yop Joomuk Soopyong Taerigi(both)
2. #2
   Gunnun SogiKyocha Joomok Najunde Noollo Makgi
   Continuous
3. #3
   Gunnun SogiKyocha Sonkal Chookyo Makgi
   Continuous
4. #4
   Gunnun SogiSonkal Ap Taerigi(R)
5. #5
   Annun SogiSondung Soopyong Taerigi(L)
6. #6
   Bandal Chagi(R)
7. #7
   Annun SogiAp Palkup Taerigi(R)
8. #8
   Annun SogiDwit Palkup Tulgi(L)
9. #9
   Annun SogiDung Joomuk Yop Dwi Taerigi(R)
10. #10
    Moa SogiSang Yop Palkup Tulgi(R)
11. #11
    Moa Sogi
    Fast
12. #12
    Yop Cha Jirugi(R)
13. #13
    Kyocha SogiSang Palkup Tulgi(R)
14. #14
    Annun SogiSoopyong Jirugi(R)
15. #15
    Sonkal Ap Taerigi(R)
16. #16
    Niunja SogiSang Sonkal Makgi(R)
17. #17
    Twio Dolmyo Yop Cha Jirugi(R)
18. #18
    Gunnun SogiDoo Palmok Makgi(R)
19. #19
    Moa Junbi Sogi B
20. #20
    Kyocha SogiDung Joomuk Yop Taerigi(R)
21. #21
    Gunnun SogiPalmok Chookyo Makgi(L)
22. #22
    Ap Cha Busigi(L)
23. #23
    Gunnun SogiNopunde Ap Joomuk Jirugi(R)
24. #24
    Gunnun SogiSun Sonkut Tulgi(R)
25. #25
    Annun SogiDung Joomuk Yop Taerigi(L)
26. #26
    Gunnun Junbi Sogi
27. #27
    Twimyo Nopi Ap Cha Busigi(R)
28. #28
    Gojung SogiKyocha Sonkal Kaunde Makgi
29. #29
    Niunja SogiKyocha Joomok Najunde Noollo Makgi(L)
30. #30
    Yobap Cha Busigi(L)An Palmok Kaunde Hechyo Makgi(L)
31. #31
    Gunnun SogiSang Joomuk Sewo Jirugi(both)
32. #32
    Gojung SogiSonbadak Mirro Makgi(R)
33. #33
    Niunja SogiKaunde Jirugi(L)
34. #34
    Niunja SogiKaunde Palmok Daebi Makgi
35. #35
    Dollyo Chagi(R)
36. #36
    Dwit Cha Jirugi(L)
37. #37
    Niunja SogiKaunde Palmok Daebi Makgi(L)
38. #38
    Niunja SogiSonbadak Ollyo Makgi(R)
39. #39
    Gunnun SogiAn Palmok Dollimyo Makgi(L)
40. #40
    Gunnun SogiAn Palmok Dollimyo Makgi(R)
41. #41
    Annun SogiKaunde Jirugi(L)
42. #42
    Annun SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)