Yul-Gok

Quick Facts

About the kata

Yul-Gok is the pen name of philosopher and teacher Yi I (1536–1584), nicknamed, per the ITF account (dotaekwondo.net), the "Korean Confucius". The English Wikipedia translates the pen name Yulgok (율곡, 栗谷) as "chestnut valley". Per the same account, the 38 movements refer to his birthplace on the 38th parallel, and the diagram represents "a scholar". The tul opens in the riding stance Annun Sogi and closes with two high forearm blocks in the walking stance Gunnun Sogi. TKD Coaching says it newly introduces a connected movement, where two techniques share one sine-wave motion and breath, plus the first technique performed while jumping. Per dotaekwondo.net's numbering, pairs 16–17 and 19–20 run connected, pairs 2–3, 5–6, 9–10 and 13–14 run fast, and the jump comes at movement 36: landing in the crossed stance Kyocha Sogi with a sideways backfist strike. Twice, the side kick Yopcha Jirugi is followed by a front-elbow strike into the other palm. Brendan Doogan (kidokwan.org) notes an extra pair of lines at the base-vertical junction, capturing diagonal movements. TKD Coaching and Torbay Taekwondo both place the tul at 5th kup.

The kata in different styles

Meaning of the name

According to the English Wikipedia, Yi I (이이, 李珥) was born in 1536 in Gangneung, in Gangwon province, and died in 1584. His mother was the painter and calligrapher Shin Saimdang. He proposed strengthening the army against a possible Japanese attack, but the government rejected his proposal. He advocated a practical Neo-Confucianism built on outer experience and learning; his writings include Questions and Answers at the Eastern Lake and The Essentials of the Sages' Learning. His portrait now appears on the South Korean 5,000-won banknote.

Bunkai – applications

The blog Tactical Taekwondo interprets the hooking palm block as a defense against a grab: the twisting motion is meant to release the grip on the arm or wrist. It reads the stance Guburyo Junbi Sogi A as a front-foot attack on the opponent's knee, after which a side kick unbalances the opponent and an elbow strike follows. For the final blocks with both forearms, the author admits he does not see a real application. We have not been able to find another interpretation of this tul's applications in our sources.

Technique Sequence — ITF Taekwondo

Breakdown source: kildaretaekwondo.com

1. #1
   Annun Sogi
2. #2
   Annun SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)
   Fast
3. #3
   Annun SogiKaunde Jirugi(L)
   Fast
4. #4
   Annun Sogi
5. #5
   Annun SogiKaunde Jirugi(L)
   Fast
6. #6
   Annun SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)
   Fast
7. #7
   Gunnun SogiAn Palmok Yop Makgi(R)
8. #8
   Ap Cha Busigi(L)
9. #9
   Gunnun SogiKaunde Jirugi(L)
   Fast
10. #10
    Gunnun SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)
    Fast
11. #11
    Gunnun SogiAn Palmok Yop Makgi(L)
12. #12
    Ap Cha Busigi(R)
13. #13
    Gunnun SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)
    Fast
14. #14
    Gunnun SogiKaunde Jirugi(L)
    Fast
15. #15
    Gunnun SogiSonbadak Golcha Makgi(R)
16. #16
    Gunnun SogiSonbadak Golcha Makgi(L)
17. #17
    Gunnun SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)
18. #18
    Gunnun SogiSonbadak Golcha Makgi(L)
19. #19
    Gunnun SogiSonbadak Golcha Makgi(R)
20. #20
    Gunnun SogiKaunde Jirugi(L)
21. #21
    Gunnun SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)
22. #22
    Guburyo Junbi Sogi A
23. #23
    Yop Cha Jirugi(L)
24. #24
    Gunnun Sogi
25. #25
    Guburyo Junbi Sogi A
26. #26
    Yop Cha Jirugi(R)
27. #27
    Gunnun Sogi
28. #28
    Niunja SogiSang Sonkal Makgi
29. #29
    Gunnun SogiSun Sonkut Tulgi(R)
30. #30
    Niunja SogiSang Sonkal Makgi
31. #31
    Gunnun SogiSun Sonkut Tulgi(L)
32. #32
    Gunnun SogiNopunde Bakat Palmok Yop Makgi(L)
33. #33
    Gunnun SogiKaunde Jirugi(R)
34. #34
    Gunnun SogiNopunde Bakat Palmok Yop Makgi(R)
35. #35
    Gunnun SogiKaunde Jirugi(L)
36. #36
    Kyocha SogiDung Joomuk Yop Taerigi(L)
37. #37
    Gunnun SogiNopunde Doo Palmok Makgi(both)
38. #38
    Gunnun SogiNopunde Doo Palmok Makgi(both)