Introduction
Moon-Moo honors the 30th king of the Silla Dynasty. His body was buried near Daewangam, also known as Great King's Rock. According to his will, his body was placed in the sea so that his soul could forever defend Korea against the Japanese. It is said that the Seokgulam, or Stone Cave, was built to guard his tomb.
The 61 movements in Moon-Moo Tul symbolize the last two figures of 661 A.D., when King Moon-Moo came to the throne. This is a 4th Dan Black Belt pattern requiring advanced kicking control, long movement memory, strong directional awareness, and precise execution of fast motion, continuous motion, connecting motion, and consecutive kicking motion.
Pattern Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Pattern Name | Moon-Moo Tul |
| Rank | 4th Dan Black Belt |
| Movements | 61 |
| Meaning | Named after King Moon-Moo, the 30th king of the Silla Dynasty |
| Symbolism | The 61 movements refer to 661 A.D., the year Moon-Moo came to the throne |
Stances and Leg Techniques
- Bending Ready Stance Type B
- One-Leg Stance
- Sitting Stance
- Sitting Stance with Body Raised Slightly
- X-Stance
- Walking Stance
- L-Stance
- Rear Foot Stance
- Parallel Ready Stance
- Close Stance
- Low Stance
- Open Stance
- Mid Side Pushing Kick (Foot Sword)
- Mid Side Front Snap Kick (Foot)
- High Twisting Kick (Foot)
- High Reverse Turning Kick (Foot)
- High Reverse Hooking Kick (Back of Heel)
- Mid Back Piercing Kick (Foot Sword)
- Mid Side Thrusting Kick (Ball of Foot)
- High Side Piercing Kick (Foot)
Leg Placements and Motions
Leg Placements
- Heel raised outer open stance
- Heel raised parallel stance
- Heel raised approximately 1 foot ahead opposite foot
- Heel raised approximately 1 foot behind opposite foot
- Heel raised close stance
Motions
- Fast Motion
- Continuous Motion
- Connecting Motion
- Consecutive Kicking Motion
Arm Techniques
- High Reverse Hooking Kick Hand Placement
- Low Pressing Block (Palm)
- Low Pressing Block (X-Fist)
- Low Outward Strike (Knife-Hand)
- Mid Downward Block (Palm)
- Mid Upward Block (Palm)
- High Outward Block (Outer Forearm)
- High Rising Block (Knife-Hand)
- High Side Back Strike (Backfist)
- Mid Guarding Block (Forearm)
- Mid Guarding Block (Knife-Hand)
- Low-Mid Circular Block (Palm)
- Low-Mid Circular Block (Inner Forearm)
- Mid Side Strike (Backfist)
- Mid Side Strike (Knife-Hand)
- Mid Horizontal Strike (Backfist)
- Mid Punch (Forefist)
- High Punch (Forefist)
- Mid Block (Knife-Hand)
- Mid Side Thrust (Elbow)
Arm Placements and Body Movements
Arm Placements
- Under fist on opposite shoulder
- Side fist in front of opposite shoulder
- Low fist extended on shoulder line
- Hands stay in previous position
Body Movements
- Jumping Forward
- Jumping Forward 2 Shoulder Widths
- Jumping Forward 1.5 Shoulder Widths
- Jumping Forward 1.5 Shoulder Widths with 360 Degree Turn
- Double Stepping Backward
- Sliding Shifting Backward
- Stepping Backward
- Stepping Forward
- Turning Left 360 Degrees
- Turning Right 360 Degrees
- Turning Left 270 Degrees
- Turning Right 270 Degrees
- Turning Left 180 Degrees
- Turning Right 180 Degrees
- Turning Left 90 Degrees
- Turning Right 90 Degrees
Performance Notes
Moon-Moo Tul is one of the most demanding 4th Dan patterns because it combines long sequencing with explosive jumping, turning, and advanced kicking. Students must control the repeated high reverse hooking kicks, high reverse turning kicks, side pushing kicks, back piercing kicks, and side thrusting kicks without losing posture or direction.
The pattern contains several sections where similar movements repeat with different legs, directions, or hand techniques. These must be studied carefully. The student should not rely only on rhythm or memory; each movement must be understood by stance, tool, direction, motion, and finishing position.
Moon-Moo should be performed with a calm and authoritative black belt attitude. The pattern represents protection, duty, and national spirit. The student should show technical precision, emotional control, and strong intent through all 61 movements.
Movement Sequence
| Move | Body Movement | Direction | Stance / Leg Technique | Technique |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Ready Position | 12:00 D | Parallel Ready Stance | Ready Position |
| 1 | Slowly Turning Left 90 Degrees | 9:00 B | Bending Ready Stance Type A | Preparation for kick |
| 2 | Slowly | Forward | High Side Piercing Kick | High Punch |
| 3 | Consecutive Kicking Motion | Forward | High Side Piercing Kick | High Punch |
| 4 | Turning Right 90 Degrees | 12:00 D | Sitting Stance | Mid Thrust |
| 5 | Slowly Turning Right 270 Degrees | 9:00 B | High Reverse Hooking Kick | Kick Technique |
| 6 | Jumping Forward | Forward | X-Stance | Mid Side Strike |
| 7 | Turning Left 180 Degrees | 3:00 A | Walking Stance | Low Pressing Block |
| 8 | Stepping Forward | Forward | Walking Stance | Mid Upward Block |
| 9 | Slowly Stepping Forward | Forward | One-Leg Stance | High Block and Low Block |
| 10 | Slowly Turning Right 90 Degrees | 12:00 D | Bending Ready Stance Type B | Preparation for kick |
| 11 | Slowly | Forward | High Back Piercing Kick | Kick Technique |
| 12 | Turning Left 180 Degrees | 12:00 D | Walking Stance | Mid Punch |
| 13 | Stepping Backward | Rear | Walking Stance | Mid Punch |
| 14 | Turning Left 180 Degrees | 6:00 C | Bending Ready Stance Type B | Preparation for kick |
| 15 | Slowly | Forward | High Back Piercing Kick | Kick Technique |
| 16 | Turning Right 180 Degrees | 12:00 D | Walking Stance | Mid Punch |
| 17 | Stepping Backward | Rear | Walking Stance | Mid Punch |
| 18 | Turning Left 180 Degrees and Stepping Backward | 6:00 C | Rear Foot Stance | Mid Downward Block |
| 19 | Slipping Pulling Backward | Rear | Rear Foot Stance | Mid Downward Block |
| 20 | Transition | Forward | Mid Side Front Snap Kick | Hands stay in previous position |
| 21 | Stepping Forward | Forward | Sitting Stance | Mid Side Strike |
| 22 | Turning Right 90 Degrees and Sliding Across Right | 3:00 A | Sitting Stance | Low-Mid Scooping Upward Block |
| 23 | Connecting Motion | Forward | Sitting Stance | Mid Punch and Low Block |
| 24 | Turning Left 90 Degrees | 12:00 D | Walking Stance | Mid Guarding Block |
| 25 | Turning Right 180 Degrees and Jumping Forward | 6:00 C | Mid Side Pushing Kick | Kick Technique |
| 26 | Stepping Forward | Forward | Outer Open Stance | High Reverse Turning Kick |
| 27 | Stepping Forward | Forward | Walking Stance | High Block |
| 28 | Stepping Backward | Rear | Rear Foot Stance | Mid Downward Block |
| 29 | Sliding Shifting Backward | Rear | Rear Foot Stance | Mid Downward Block |
| 30 | Transition | Forward | Mid Side Front Snap Kick | Hands stay in previous position |
| 31 | Stepping Forward | Forward | Sitting Stance | Mid Side Strike |
| 32 | Turning Right 90 Degrees and Sliding Across Left | 3:00 A | Sitting Stance | Low-Mid Scooping Upward Block |
| 33 | Connecting Motion | Forward | Sitting Stance | Mid Punch and Low Block |
| 34 | Turning Right 90 Degrees | 6:00 C | Walking Stance | Mid Guarding Block |
| 35 | Jumping Forward 2 Shoulder Widths | 12:00 D | Mid Side Pushing Kick | Kick Technique |
| 36 | Stepping Forward | Forward | Outer Open Stance | High Reverse Turning Kick |
| 37 | Stepping Forward | Forward | Walking Stance | High Block |
| 38 | Stepping Backward | Rear | Walking Stance | High Side Back Strike |
| 39 | Stepping Forward | Forward | Walking Stance | High Twisting Kick |
| 40 | Stepping Forward | Forward | Rear Foot Stance | High Rising Block |
| 41 | Stepping Forward | Forward | Walking Stance | High Reverse Turning Kick |
| 42 | Stepping Forward | Forward | Walking Stance | High Twisting Kick |
| 43 | Stepping Backward | Rear | Walking Stance | High Side Back Strike |
| 44 | Sliding Shifting Backward | Rear | Walking Stance | Low Side Checking Kick |
| 45 | Stepping Forward | Forward | Walking Stance | Low Sweeping Kick |
| 46 | Stepping Forward | Forward | Walking Stance | Low Side Checking Kick |
| 47 | Consecutive Kicking Motion | Forward | Mid Side Thrusting Kick | Kick Technique |
| 48 | Stepping Forward | Forward | Low Stance | Low Side Checking Kick |
| 49 | Stepping Forward | Forward | Walking Stance | Low Sweeping Kick |
| 50 | Consecutive Kicking Motion | Forward | Mid Side Thrusting Kick | Kick Technique |
| 51 | Stepping Forward | Forward | L-Stance | Low Side Checking Kick |
| 52 | Stepping Forward | Forward | Low Stance | Low Sweeping Kick |
| 53 | Consecutive Kicking Motion | Forward | Mid Side Thrusting Kick | Kick Technique |
| 54 | Stepping Forward | Forward | L-Stance | Low Side Checking Kick |
| 55 | Stepping Backward | 6:00 C | Walking Stance | Mid Punch |
| 56 | Turning Left 180 Degrees | Forward | X-Stance | Low Punch |
| 57 | Jumping Forward 2 Shoulder Widths | 12:00 D | X-Stance | Low Punch |
| 58 | Jumping Forward 2 Shoulder Widths and Right 360 Degrees | Forward | X-Stance | High Punch |
| 59 | Stepping Forward | Forward | Walking Stance | High Punch |
| 60 | Double Stepping Backward | Rear | Walking Stance | High Rising Block |
| 61 | Stepping Backward and Return | 12:00 D | Parallel Ready Stance | Return to Ready Position |
Key Learning Objectives
- Perform all 61 movements with advanced 4th Dan control
- Develop strength and accuracy in high reverse turning kicks, high reverse hooking kicks, and side pushing kicks
- Improve stability during jumping, turning, and repeated kicking sequences
- Coordinate palm blocks, circular blocks, upward blocks, side strikes, and backfist techniques
- Understand the symbolic meaning of King Moon-Moo's lifelong protection of Korea
Important Reminder
Moon-Moo Tul contains 61 movements. Students should practise the kicking sections separately before connecting the full sequence. The pattern is long, so technical quality must remain consistent from the first movement to the final return to ready position.