Post 4: Thoughts on Taegeuk Sam Jang (1)

1. Introduction

This Blog is about my journey as Martial Artist. I have proclaimed to talk about Taekwondo forms and their practical applications but up to now I only discussed the general state of Taekwondo. To reiterate. My goal is to discuss possible applications of the WT Kukkiwon Taekwondo forms, maybe rediscover forgotten (practical or not) applications and first and foremost getting more people to discuss forms for their applications and not only for their aesthetics. 

2. The Case with Taegeuk Sam Jang

I have most of the form figured out by now. But today I want to discuss only sequence 6 to 11 as shown in the infographic at the taekwondo wiki here. You can see the isolated moves in the following figure. 

Fig. 1: Sequence 6 to 11 of Taegeuk Sam Jang (here numbered 1-3).

I assume most of the people reading this know of the form and the sequence but if not I will explain it to you while simultaneously explaining my proposal for the application and further the common (dare I say false? because in my opinion there are no 'false' interpretation per se- only  ones which are less likely. I will discuss that in the future but if you can't wait you can read the Karate Nerds article on it) interpretation for its application. 

Every form, poomsae has specific theme, a specific strategy for dealing with a physical altercation. (I will explain in another article the difference between strategy and tactics in a martial context) The theme of Taegeuk Sam Jang is in my opinion controlling the head for striking and takedown. 

Like with most forms/poomsae its applications are catered to close contact fighting and grappling in contrast to most of today's applications where techniques are interpreted as being used from afar. 

Fig 2: Bunkai/ Application of sequence 6-11

1. a) The sequence starts with a right outer knifehand strike to the neck with the left leg forward. The stance is important because it indicates that this happens in close distance e.g between striking and grappling range. If it were a far distance attack like a lot of would be application are suggesting why not maximize the reach by having the other leg forward and fully rotating the hip?
   
   b) The other hand is occupying the centerline by using it as hikite- pulling hand, pulling and twisting the left hand of your partner. Hikite is an important concept in traditional Taekwondo, Karate and any Chinese derived Traditional Martial Art in general ( so I will discuss it for sure in a future article). Occupying the centerline is more important in close combat range because for this distance the reaction time is shorter and you can use any advantage you can get. The target area is fore sure the neck because it is specified in several other sources and not a block or something else (imo).
   
   
2. The sequence continues with the same techniques mirrored on the other side i.e. right Ap Sogi/high forward stance and left outer knifehand strike. This is just for ambidextrous training and further you can learn to combo the knife hand strike into each other. One can also maybe start pulling the head as hikite instead of the partners hand while changing striking hands and you can also play with the idea of using the chamber of the knifehand strike as a block. Those are nice to know and have but in this case not the primary applications.
   
   
3. The next move in the form is a left knifehand block to the left side in a right stance (=right foot in the back). You move from facing your partner from the front to facing them to the left side while pulling them with the right hand that you are still holding as hikite out of balance to your right side, his left side (see fig. 2.1). The knifehand is striking the left neck of your partner but this is not the primary purpose of it, The primary purpose is framing and, maintaining distance and defining the distance and timing for your strikes. It is not a 'stable' position where you can stay indefinitely like some Osae-Komi Waza/pins/hold downs in Judo or BJJ because there is not that much control in this position standing standing because of the 3 dimensional plane in comparison to on the ground where there is only 2 dimensions. You can still use it as a platform to start your attacks. It appears like a cross collar grip or a reverse Russian tie up from Judo and I think it is probable that the old masters, some would have Judo experience, would apply that concept here. A Cross Collar Grip can be seen in figure 3.
   
   

   

   Fig. 3: Cross Collar Grip inJudo as seen shown by Shintaro Higashi.(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMEbfsKI5c0)

   
   
   
   (You often see the knifehand applied as block but what does the other hand the 'passive hand' do. Further with this application if you try this in real life it suggests you moving back to not get hit and then using the knifehand to block but the form clearly shows that you go to the left side for the 'block'.)
    
4. And attacking is exactly what you do. You change into a low forward stance, Ap-Gubi Soigi, transferring your body weight into front direction and doing a forward reverse punch to the face preferably chin or area around it- soft(er) tissue. The low forward stance is especially stable in punching direction. The left hand on the left neck of your partner changes to the right neck and is used again as hikite pulling the head into the strike.
   The form only suggests one strike but it describes the concept of striking so you can strike indefinitely until either your partner is neutralized or the situation changed e.g. your partner moves out of the 'hold'.
   
   
   The other side (9-11) is there to practice both sides equally.

This would be all I want to discuss today. Maybe I'll do a video on this subject describing it further.

3. Conclusion

Of course I know there are actually a dozen of other possibilities how to use those movements. But considering the need for a reasonable and practical application for the forms and the usage for combat and self defence I assume those application the most likely. In a self defence or combat situation one does not exchange strikes from far distance, feeling the partner out with jabs etc., that would be a consensual fight (yes even 'streefighting' is consensual fighting but I will discuss it in a future article) but it is up close and personal!

Of course this all is all only a proposal. If you have any ideas or suggestions be my friend! Tell me! Make an article! Make a video!