Introduction
Seo-San is the pseudonym of the great monk Choi Hyeong-Eung, who lived from 1520 to 1604 during the Yi Dynasty. The 72 movements refer to his age when he organized a corps of monk soldiers with the assistance of his pupil Sa Myeong-Dang. These monk soldiers helped repel the Japanese pirates who overran most of the Korean peninsula in 1592.
Seo-San Tul is performed by 5th Dan Black Belt students and contains 72 movements. It is a long and technically demanding pattern requiring control of consecutive kicking motion, connecting motion, fast motion, continuous motion, slow motion, complex pivots, jumping forward, sliding, slipping, and repeated changes between walking stance, L-stance, sitting stance, fixed stance, rear foot stance, and X-stance.
Pattern Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Pattern Name | Seo-San Tul |
| Rank | 5th Dan Black Belt |
| Movements | 72 |
| Meaning | Named after Choi Hyeong-Eung, the great monk known as Seo-San |
| Symbolism | The 72 movements refer to his age when he organized the monk soldiers |
Stances and Leg Techniques
- Walking Ready Stance B
- Close Ready Stance Type A
- Parallel Stance
- Bending Ready Stance Type A
- Rear Foot Stance
- X-Stance
- Sitting Stance
- Sitting Stance with Body Raised Slightly
- Fixed Stance
- L-Stance
- Walking Stance
- Low Front Snap Kick (Foot)
- High Side Piercing Kick (Foot)
- Mid Side Piercing Kick (Foot)
- Mid Front Snap Kick (Foot)
- Low Sweeping Kick (Side Sole)
Leg Placements and Motions
Leg Placements
- Heel raised approximately 1 foot ahead opposite foot
- Heel raised approximately 1 foot behind opposite foot
Motions
- Consecutive Kicking Motion
- Connecting Motion
- Fast Motion
- Slow Motion
- Continuous Motion
Arm Techniques
- Mid Outward Block (Inner Forearm)
- Mid Outward Block (Knife-Hand)
- Mid Inward Front Block (Forearm)
- Mid Guarding Block (Knife-Hand)
- Mid Guarding Block (Forearm)
- Mid Punch (Forefist)
- High Punch (Forefist)
- High Rising Block (Forearm)
- High Rising Block (Knife-Hand)
- High Inward Strike (Knife-Hand)
- High Inward Front Block (Forearm)
- High Inward Front Block (Knife-Hand)
- High Outward Block (Knife-Hand)
- Low Guarding Block (Knife-Hand)
- Low Block (Knife-Hand)
- Low Block (Forearm)
- Low-Mid Scooping Upward Block (Palm)
- Low-Mid Circular Block (Inner Forearm)
- Low-Mid Circular Block (Palm)
- Low Punch (Twin Forefist)
- Low Punch (Forefist)
- Low Pressing Block (Palm)
- Mid Upset Punch (Middle-Knuckle Fist)
- Mid Upset Punch (Twin Forefist)
- Mid 9-Shape Block (Forearm)
- High W-Shape Block (Twin Arc-Hand)
- High Vertical Punch (Twin Forefist)
Arm Placements and Body Movements
Arm Placements
- Fist rotated so backfist faces downward
- Palm to opposite forefist
- Backfist under opposite elbow
- Fist under same side armpit
- Hand stays in previous position
- Side fist in front of opposite shoulder
Body Movements
- Jumping Forward 1 Shoulder Width with Left 180 Degree Turn
- Jumping Forward 1 Shoulder Width with Right 180 Degree Turn
- Turning Right 150 Degrees
- Pivot Right 90+45 Degrees
- Pivot Right 60 Degrees
- Pivot Left 60 Degrees
- Pivot Left 90+45 Degrees
- Jumping Forward 2 Shoulder Widths
- Spot Turn Method 1 Right 180 Degrees
- Stepping Across Right
- Sliding Forward 2 Feet
- Sliding Shifting Backward 2 Feet
- Jumping Forward 1.5 Shoulder Widths
- Slipping Pulling Backward
- Slipping Forward
- Turning Left 180 Degrees
- Stepping Backward
- Turning Right 90 Degrees
- Turning Right 180 Degrees
- Turning Left 90 Degrees
- Stepping Forward
Performance Notes
Seo-San Tul requires exceptional concentration because it contains 72 movements with several repeated but slightly different sections. Students should study the movement order carefully and avoid treating repeated slipping, sliding, stepping, and guarding sequences as identical. Each direction, stance, technique, and motion has to be placed accurately.
The kicking sections require advanced control. The high side piercing kick, low front snap kick, mid front snap kick, and low sweeping kick must be chambered and recovered cleanly. The student must maintain balance before and after the kick, especially when the kick is followed by a fast directional change, a sliding action, or a guarding block.
As a 5th Dan Black Belt pattern, Seo-San should show mature authority rather than excessive speed. The student should demonstrate calm breathing, correct sine wave, sharp focus, stable posture, and a clear understanding of the historical meaning behind the pattern.
Movement Sequence
| Move | Body Movement | Direction | Stance / Leg Technique | Technique |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Ready Position | 12:00 D | Close Ready Stance Type A | Ready Position |
| 1 | Sliding Shifting Backward | Rear | Rear Foot Stance | Mid Guarding Block (Forearm) |
| 2 | Slipping Forward | Forward | Walking Stance | Mid Vertical Punch |
| 3 | Stepping Backward and Sliding Shifting Backward | Rear | Rear Foot Stance | Mid Guarding Block (Forearm) |
| 4 | Slipping Forward | Forward | Walking Stance | Mid Vertical Punch |
| 5 | Pivot Right 90+45 Degrees | 7:30 BC | Walking Stance | Mid Punch (Forefist) |
| 6 | Fast Motion Pivot Right 60 Degrees | 10:00 BD | Sitting Stance | High Outward Block (Knife-Hand) |
| 7 | Pivot Right 60 Degrees | 12:00 D | Walking Stance | Mid Punch (Forefist) |
| 8 | Fast Motion Pivot Left 60 Degrees | 10:00 BD | Sitting Stance | High Outward Block (Knife-Hand) |
| 9 | Turning Right 150 Degrees and Stepping Across Right | 3:00 A | Parallel Stance | Mid Horizontal Strike (Twin Knife-Hand) |
| 10 | Turning Right 90 Degrees | 6:00 C | High Side Piercing Kick | Hands stay in previous position |
| 11 | Consecutive Kicking Motion Turning Left 180 Degrees | 12:00 D | High Side Front Turning Kick | Hands stay in previous position |
| 12 | Jumping Forward 1.5 Shoulder Widths | Forward | X-Stance | High Side Strike (Backfist) |
| 13 | Turning Left 90 Degrees | 9:00 B | Parallel Stance | Mid Horizontal Strike (Twin Knife-Hand) |
| 14 | Turning Left 90 Degrees | 6:00 C | High Side Piercing Kick | Hands stay in previous position |
| 15 | Consecutive Kicking Motion Turning Right 180 Degrees | 12:00 D | High Side Front Turning Kick | Hands stay in previous position |
| 16 | Jumping Forward 1.5 Shoulder Widths | Forward | X-Stance | High Side Strike (Backfist) |
| 17 | Turning Right 90 Degrees | 3:00 A | L-Stance | Low Punch (Twin Forefist) |
| 18 | Slipping Forward | Forward | Walking Stance | High Punch (Forefist), fist rotated so backfist faces downward |
| 19 | Transition | Forward | Walking Stance | High Punch (Forefist) |
| 20 | Spot Turn Method 1 Right 180 Degrees | 9:00 B | L-Stance | Low Punch (Twin Forefist) |
| 21 | Slipping Forward | Forward | Walking Stance | High Punch (Forefist), fist rotated so backfist faces downward |
| 22 | Transition | Forward | Walking Stance | High Punch (Forefist) |
| 23 | Stepping Forward and Sliding Forward 2 Feet | Forward | L-Stance | Mid Guarding Block (Knife-Hand) |
| 24 | Slipping Pulling Backward | Rear | Walking Stance | High Strike (Backfist) |
| 25 | Turning Right 180 Degrees and Sliding Forward 2 Feet | 3:00 A | L-Stance | Mid Upset Punch (Middle-Knuckle Fist) |
| 26 | Slipping Pulling Backward | Rear | Walking Stance | High Strike (Backfist) |
| 27 | Turning Right 90 Degrees | 6:00 C | Walking Ready Stance | Ready transition |
| 28 | Jumping Forward 2 Shoulder Widths | Forward | Flying Position | Low Front Snap Kick |
| 29 | Landing | Forward | L-Stance | Mid Guarding Block (Knife-Hand) |
| 30 | Stepping Backward and Sliding Forward 2 Feet | Rear | Walking Stance | Mid Punch (Forefist) |
| 31 | Turning Right 180 Degrees | 12:00 D | Walking Stance | High Inward Front Block (Forearm) |
| 32 | Sliding Forward 2 Feet | Forward | Walking Stance | Mid Punch (Forefist) |
| 33 | Pivot Left 90+45 Degrees | 7:30 BC | Walking Stance | Mid Outward Block (Twin Arc-Hand) |
| 34 | Transition | Forward | Walking Stance | Mid Outward Block (Twin Arc-Hand) |
| 35 | Pivot Right 90+45 Degrees | 12:00 D | Walking Stance | Low-Mid Circular Block |
| 36 | Transition | Forward | Walking Stance | High Punch (Forefist) |
| 37 | Transition | Forward | Low Front Snap Kick | Hands stay in previous position |
| 38 | Stepping Forward | Forward | Walking Stance | Mid Punch (Forefist) |
| 39 | Fast Motion | Forward | Walking Stance | High Rising Block (Knife-Hand) |
| 40 | Pivot Right 90+45 Degrees | 4:30 AC | Walking Stance | Low-Mid Circular Block |
| 41 | Transition | Forward | Walking Stance | High Punch (Forefist) |
| 42 | Transition | Forward | Low Front Snap Kick | Hands stay in previous position |
| 43 | Stepping Forward | Forward | Walking Stance | Mid Punch (Forefist) |
| 44 | Pivot Left 90+45 Degrees | 12:00 D | Walking Stance | Low-Mid Circular Block |
| 45 | Transition | Forward | Walking Stance | High Punch (Forefist) |
| 46 | Stepping Forward | Forward | Low Front Snap Kick | Hands stay in previous position |
| 47 | Fast Motion | Forward | Walking Stance | Mid Punch (Forefist) |
| 48 | Transition | Forward | Walking Stance | Mid Punch (Forefist) |
| 49 | Stepping Forward and Turning Left 180 Degrees | 6:00 C | L-Stance | Low Guarding Block (Knife-Hand) |
| 50 | Sliding Shifting Backward 2 Feet | Rear | L-Stance | Mid Guarding Block (Forearm) |
| 51 | Jumping Forward 1 Shoulder Width with Left 180 Degrees | 12:00 D | L-Stance | Low Guarding Block (Knife-Hand) |
| 52 | Slipping Forward | Forward | Walking Stance | Mid Punch (Forefist) |
| 53 | Continuous Motion | Forward | Walking Stance | Mid Outward Block (Inner Forearm) |
| 54 | Slipping Pulling Backward | Rear | L-Stance | Mid Punch (Forefist) |
| 55 | Stepping Forward | Forward | L-Stance | Low Guarding Block (Knife-Hand) |
| 56 | Turning Right 180 Degrees | 6:00 C | L-Stance | Low Guarding Block (Knife-Hand) |
| 57 | Sliding Shifting Backward 2 Feet | Rear | L-Stance | Mid Guarding Block (Forearm) |
| 58 | Jumping Forward 1 Shoulder Width with Right 180 Degrees | 12:00 D | L-Stance | Low Guarding Block (Knife-Hand) |
| 59 | Slipping Forward | Forward | Walking Stance | Mid Punch (Forefist) |
| 60 | Continuous Motion | Forward | Walking Stance | Mid Outward Block (Inner Forearm) |
| 61 | Stepping Backward and Sliding Shifting Backward 2 Feet | Rear | L-Stance | Low-Mid Scooping Upward Block (Palm) |
| 62 | Sliding Forward 2 Feet | Forward | L-Stance | Mid Punch (Forefist) |
| 63 | Turning Right 180 Degrees | 6:00 C | Bending Ready Stance Type A | Preparation for kick |
| 64 | Stepping Forward | Forward | High Side Piercing Kick | Hands stay in previous position |
| 65 | Stepping Backward | Rear | Walking Stance | Mid Punch (Forefist) |
| 66 | Stepping Backward and Sliding Shifting Backward 2 Feet | Rear | L-Stance | Mid Guarding Block (Knife-Hand) |
| 67 | Sliding Forward 2 Feet | Forward | L-Stance | Low-Mid Scooping Upward Block (Palm) |
| 68 | Turning Right 180 Degrees | 12:00 D | Bending Ready Stance Type A | Preparation for kick |
| 69 | Stepping Forward | Forward | High Side Piercing Kick | Hands stay in previous position |
| 70 | Stepping Forward | Forward | Walking Stance | Mid Punch (Forefist) |
| 71 | Stepping Backward | Rear | L-Stance | Mid Guarding Block (Knife-Hand) |
| 72 | Continuous Motion Slipping Forward and Stepping Backward | 12:00 D | Close Ready Stance Type A | High Punch (Forefist), then return to ready position |
Key Learning Objectives
- Perform all 72 movements with 5th Dan-level composure and precision
- Control long repeated sections without confusing similar movements
- Develop strong transitions between slipping, sliding, pivoting, stepping, and jumping actions
- Coordinate guarding blocks, rising blocks, circular blocks, punches, and advanced kicking sequences
- Understand the historical meaning of Seo-San and the monk soldiers who defended Korea
Important Reminder
Seo-San Tul contains 72 movements. Because of its length and repeated structures, students should study the pattern section by section before attempting the full sequence. The aim is not only to remember the movements, but to perform each one with correct direction, stance, tool, motion, and intent.