Taekwondo Black Belt Form 1 (Koryo) with Instructions & Videos

This page provides instructions & videos for Taekwondo black belt form 1 – Koryo. This is the first black belt form learned by WTF Taekwondo students. According to the World Taekwondo Federation, Koryo poomsae symbolizes “seonbae” which means a learned man. Koryo (Goryeo or Goreyeo) is also the name of an important ancient Korean dynasty. Many “weaponless” Korean martial arts were developed during the Koryo dynasty. For additional form meanings, please visit Black Belt Wiki’s section on Taekwondo Form Meanings.

Written step-by-step instructions for Taekwondo Black Belt Form 1 (Koryo) are located on the bottom of this page. For additional form instructions and videos, visit the main Taekwondo Forms section. Taekwondo students should watch the videos below in order to see how experts perform Koryo. Students should try to mimic the power and precision shown in these Taekwondo form videos.

Wiki – Best Taekwondo Books

Korean Master Demonstrating Taekwondo WTF Black Belt Form 1 – Koryo

Instructional Video for Taekwondo WTF Black Belt Form 1 – Koryo

Koryo Form – Demonstration & Instructional Video

Instructional Video for Koryo Poomsae (Koryo Form)

Written Instructions for Taekwondo WTF Black Belt Form 1 (Koryo)

This material is copyright protected & may not be copied.

From the ready stance (Joon Bi) with your hands by your belt, you open your hands (with the hands facing each other, finger tip to finger tip and palms up) and slowly move them towards your head
When you reach chest level, you should flip them over (slowly) so they rise to form a triangle in front of your face
Once in front of your face, you push the “triangle” out directly away from your face
At the same time, you should slowly rise up on your toes when you start moving your hands and then sink back down to “flat” feet (flat on the ground) when you push the triangle out
If this initial step (with the hands) sounds complicated, please watch the videos above (as this is an easy maneuver).
Turn left 90 degrees into a back stance, left foot forward and execute a double knife hand block
With your right (rear) foot execute a double side kick (low and high) and land forward on this right leg in a front stance
Then execute a knife hand strike (palm down) to the imaginary opponent’s neck with your right hand and then quickly throw a punch with your left hand
Then move into a back stance by moving your forward leg back into position and at the same time, execute an inside block with your right arm
Turn right 180 degrees into a back stance, right foot forward and execute a double knife hand block
With your left (rear) foot execute a double side kick (low and high) and land forward on this left leg in a front stance
Then execute a knife hand strike (palm down) to the imaginary opponent’s neck with your left hand and then quickly throw a punch with your right hand
Then move into a back stance by moving your forward leg back into position and at the same time, execute an inside block with your left arm
Turn left 90 degrees into a front stance (left leg forward) and execute a low knife hand block with your left hand and then throw an arc hand strike to the imaginary opponent’s neck with your right hand
Then do a front kick with your rear (right) leg and go into a front stance, execute a low knife hand block with your right hand and then throw an arc hand strike to the imaginary opponent’s neck with your left hand
Then do another front kick with your rear (left) leg and go into a front stance, execute a low knife hand block with your left hand and then throw an arc hand strike to the imaginary opponent’s neck with your right hand. At the end of this maneuver, yell “Kihap”.
Now, execute a front kick with your rear (right) leg and land in a front stance, grasp your imaginary opponent’s ankle with your right hand and press down on the imaginary opponent’s knee with your left hand
Turn 180 degrees to the left, go into a front stance (right leg forward) and execute a double inner block
Then do a front kick with your rear (left) leg and land in a front stance, grasp your imaginary opponent’s ankle with your left hand and press down on the imaginary opponent’s knee with your right hand
Move your left foot back into a walking stance and execute a double inner block
Turn 90 degrees by stepping back with your right foot into a horse-riding stance and do a single knife hand block with your left hand (right hand on your belt in a fist)
Punch your right hand into the palm of your left hand – keep your left arm extended. You will turn your left hand slightly from the knife hand block position – imagine grasping an opponent with your left hand and holding him while you strike him with a punch from your right hand.
Cross your right foot over your left foot and execute a side kick with your left foot
After “landing” your side kick turn 180 degrees and go into a front stance (right leg forward)
Throw a groin finger strike with left hand while “grasping” your imaginary opponent with your right hand and “pulling” him until your right hand lands on your left shoulder
Then slide your right foot back into a walking stance and execute a low block with your right arm (and bring your left fist to your belt)
Step forward into a walking stance (with your left foot forward) and execute a down palm block with your left hand
Step forward with your right foot into a horse-riding stance and throw an elbow strike (against an opponent on your right side – looks almost like an elbow “poke”) with right fist enclosed by your left hand
Then transition into a single knife hand block with your right hand (left hand on your belt in a fist)
Punch your left hand into the palm of your right hand – keep your right arm extended. You will turn your right hand slightly from the knife hand block position – imagine grasping an opponent with your right hand and holding him while you strike him with a punch from your left hand.
Cross your left foot over your right foot and execute a side kick with your right foot
After “landing” your side kick turn 180 degrees and go into a front stance (left leg forward)
Throw a groin finger strike with right hand while “grasping” your imaginary opponent with your left hand and “pulling” him until your left hand lands on your right shoulder
Then slide your left foot back into a walking stance and execute a low block with your left arm (and bring your right fist to your belt)
Step forward into a walking stance (with your right foot forward) and execute a down palm block with your right hand
Step forward with your left foot into a horse-riding stance and throw an elbow strike (against an opponent on your left – looks almost like an elbow “poke”) with left fist enclosed by your right hand
Move your right foot next to your left so your feet are together and raise both hands above your head with palms open. Bring both hands down in a circular motion with your left fist striking your open right palm at the bottom of this circle. This is a slow technique and should take about 5 seconds (count to 5 in your head)
Turn 180 degrees to the left into a front stance (with left leg forward) and execute a knife hand strike (palm down) with your left hand and then a low knife hand block with the same hand
Step forward with your right foot into a front stance and execute a knife hand strike (palm up) with your right hand and then a low knife hand block with the same hand
Step forward with your left foot into a front stance and execute a knife hand strike (palm up) with your left hand and then a low knife hand block with the same hand
Step forward with your right foot into front stance and execute an arc hand strike to your imaginary opponent’s neck with your right hand and yell “Kihap”
After the Master says “Bah Ro”, you should return by turning to the left 180 degrees and move back into the Ready stance (Joon Bi)
From the ready stance (Joon Bi) with your hands by your belt, you open your hands (with the hands facing each other, finger tip to finger tip and palms up) and slowly move them towards your head
When you reach chest level, you should flip them over (slowly) so they rise to form a triangle in front of your face
Once in front of your face, you push the “triangle” out directly away from your face
At the same time, you should slowly rise up on your toes when you start moving your hands and then sink back down to “flat” feet (flat on the ground) when you push the triangle out.

FYI – To master this Taekwondo form, you must utilize accurate stances.

Taekwondo Forms

Taekwondo Black Belt Form 1

Image provided by Wikimedia Commons

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References

Instructions were provided by TaekwondoAnimals.com and may not be copied without permission from TaekwondoAnimals.com, Taekwondo Forms, Poomse & Poomsae, http://www.taekwondoanimals.com/taekwondo-forms.asp
World Taekwondo Federation, Poomsae, http://www.wtf.org/wtf_eng/site/about_taekwondo/poomsae.html