Pattern Definition & Diagram
(39 Movements). KWANG-GAE is named after the famous Kwang-Gae-Toh-Wang, the 19th King of the Koguryo Dynasty, who regained all the lost territories including the greater part of Manchuria. The diagram represents the expansion and recovery of lost territory. The 39 movements refer to the first two figures of 391 A. D, the year he came to the throne.
Click the “next” and “previous” arrows on the image below to step through this pattern.
Parallel Stance with Heavenly Hand (Hanalson)
Bring the left foot to the right foot, forming a close ready stance B toward D, bringing both hands in a circular motion.
Move the left foot to D, forming a left walking stance toward D while executing an upset punch to D with the right fist. Perform in slow motion.
Move the right foot to D, forming a right walking stance toward D while executing an upset punch to D with the left fist. Perform in slow motion.
Move the left foot to the side front of the right foot, and then move the right foot to D, forming a right walking stance toward D, at the same time executing a high hooking block to D with the right palm. Perform in a double stepping motion.
Move the right foot to C in a sliding motion to form a right L-stance toward D, at the same time executing a low guarding block to D with a knife-hand.
Move the right foot to the side front of the left foot and then move the left foot to D, forming a left walking stance toward D while executing a high hooking block to D with the left palm. Perform in a double stepping motion.
Move the left foot to C in a sliding motion forming a left L-stance toward D while executing a low guarding block to D with a knife-hand.
Move the left foot to D, forming a right rear foot stance toward D while executing a high guarding block to D with a knife-hand.
Move the right foot to D, forming a left rear foot stance toward D while executing a high guarding block to D with a knife-hand.
Move the left foot to the side front of the right foot and then turn counter-clockwise, pivoting with the left foot, to form a left walking stance toward C while executing an upward block to C with the right palm. Perform in a slow motion.
Move the right foot to C, forming a right walking stance toward C while executing an upward block to C with the left palm. Perform in a slow motion.
Execute a low front block with the right knife-hand in a circular motion, hitting the left palm while bringing the left foot to the right foot to form a close stance toward C.
Execute a pressing kick to E with the left foot, keeping the position of the hands as they were in 12.
Execute a middle side piercing kick to E with the left foot, keeping the position of the hands as they were in 13. Perform 13 and 14 in a consecutive kick.
Lower the left foot to E, forming a right L-stance toward E while executing a high inward strike to E with the right knife-hand and bringing the left side fist in front of the right shoulder.
Execute a downward strike to E with the left side fist while forming a close stance toward C, pulling the left foot to the right foot.
Execute a pressing kick to F with the right foot, keeping the position of the hands as they were in 16.
Execute a middle side piercing kick to F with the right foot, keeping the position of the hands as they were in 17. Perform 17 and 18 in a consecutive kick.
Lower the right foot to F, forming a left L-stance toward F while executing a high inward strike to F with the knife-hand and bringing the right side fist in front of the left shoulder.
Execute a downward strike to F with the right side fist while forming a close stance toward C, pulling the right foot to the left foot.
Move the left foot to C, forming a left low stance toward C while executing a pressing block with the right palm. Perform in slow motion.
Move the right foot to C, forming a right low stance toward C while executing a pressing block with the left palm. Perform in a slow motion.
Move the right foot to D in a stamping motion to form a sitting stance toward F while executing a high side strike to D with the right back fist.
Execute a middle block to D with the right double forearm while forming a right walking stance toward D, pivoting with the left foot.
Execute a low block to D with the left forearm while shifting to C, maintaining a right walking stance toward D, keeping the position of the right hand as it was in 24.
Execute a high thrust to D with the right flat fingertip while forming a right low stance toward D, slipping the right foot to D. Perform in slow motion.
Move the left foot on lone CD in a stamping motion to form a sitting stance toward F while executing a high side strike to C with the left back fist.
Execute a middle block to C with the left double forearm while forming a left walking stance toward C, pivoting with the left foot.
Execute a low reverse block to C with the right forearm while shifting to D, maintaining a left walking stance toward C, keeping the position of the left hand as it was in 28.
Execute a high thrust to C with the left flat fingertip while forming a left low stance toward C, slipping the left foot to C.
Move the right foot to C in a stamping motion, forming a right walking stance toward C while executing a high vertical punch to C with a twin fist.
Move the left foot to A in a stamping motion, forming a left walking stance toward A while executing an upset punch to A with a twin fist.
Execute a middle front snap kick to A with the right foot, keeping the position of the hands as they were in 32.
Lower the right foot to the left foot, and then move the left foot to A to form a left L-stance toward B while executing a middle guarding block to B with a knife-hand.
Move the left foot to B, forming a left walking stance toward B while executing a high punch to B with the left fist.
Move the right foot to B in stamping motion, forming a right walking stance toward B while executing an upset punch to B with a twin fist.
Execute a middle front snap kick to B with the left foot, keeping the position of the hands as they were in 36.
Lower the left foot to the right foot, and then move the right foot to B to form a right L-stance toward A at the same time executing a middle guarding block to A with a knife-hand.
Move the right foot to A, forming a right walking stance toward A while executing a high punch to A with the right fist.
Move the LEFT foot back to Parallel Stance with Heavenly Hand (Hanalson)
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41Pattern Videos
Saju Jirugi, Saju Magki and Chon-Ji.
Rare International Tae Kwon-Do (ITF) video produced by General Choi.
You can see Grand Master Park Jung Tae, Grand Master Choi Jung Wha and other masters of the ITF performing tuls and explaining the movements of each Tul.
Kwang-Gae Tul performed by Jaroslaw Suska (5th Degree)
The history of Kwang-Gae
The Life of Kwang-Gae
King Kwang-Gae-Toh-Wang (meaning “broad expander of territory”) was born in 374 AD and ascended to the throne in 391, at the age of just seventeen, to become the 19th king of the Koguryo Dynasty. He ruled over Koguryo at the time in Korea’s history known as The Three Kingdoms, so called because during this time the Korean peninsula was constantly being fought over by the three Koguryo, Silla and Paekche dynasties. He is sometimes referred to as Great King Yeongnak, after the era name selected by him.
He expanded Koguryo’s territories far into the Korean peninsula by advancing southward at the expense of the Paekche dynasty to occupy the north of the Han River, and occupied Manchurian territory to the east of Liaohe. On his death in 413, at just 39 years of age, Koguryo ruled everything between the Sungari and Han Rivers. This gave it control over two thirds of what is now modern Korea as well as a large part of Manchuria. In addition, the chieftains of Silla submitted to the northern kingdom’s authority in 399 to receive protection from Japanese raids. Only Paekche continued to resist Koguryo domination during this period, thereby preventing what would have been the first recognised unification of the Korean peninsula. During his reign, King Kwang-Gae conquered 65 walled cities and some 1,400 villages, in addition to aiding Silla when it was attacked by the Japanese. In 392 he built nine Buddhist temples in Pyongyang. His accomplishments are recorded on a monument which was erected in 414 in southern Manchuria. The first movement in Kwang Gae Tul is stated as :
Bring the left foot to the right foot, forming a close ready stance B toward D, bringing both hands in a circular motion. Some speculate that it might signify the expansion and recovery of lost territory as per the pattern meaning. An interesting story about this movement. It is said to signify the warrior-king standing amidst his army on either side of him, facing an enemy. Surveying the weather conditions, position of the sun etc to determine if they are favourable to his army. He then breaks his hands/arms apart in a circular motion signaling his army to attack from those flanks.
The South Korean Navy has a frigate: The 3,900 ton King Kwang-Gae-to-dae-wang was commissioned last year, and is the first of the KDX-1 class FFGs. It is fitted with 8 Block 1C Harpoons, and RIM-7P Sea Sparrow in Mk 48 VLS. Around the end of 3rd century BC in China, Chin got perished and Han arose. In the chaos during the change, a man Wui-Man, with a group of his people, came over to King Jun, who let him defend the western border of Ko-Cho-Sun. However, Wui-Man later subverted King Jun and made himself a King. King Wu-Guo, a grandson of Wui-Man, cut off direct trade between Han and other countries on the outskirts of Ko-Cho-Sun and made big geographical advantages by transit trade between the two. Han got upset for this and attacked Ko-Cho-Sun. After one year lasted war, Ko- Cho-Sun got perished by Han. However, King Mi-Chun and Kwang-Gae-To, of Koguryo of the Era of Three Kingdoms recovered the lost territories.
