Toi-Gye Tul
TOI-GYE TUL (3RD GUP BLUE BELT RED TIP, 37 MOVEMENTS)
Toi-Gye is the pen name of the noted 16th century scholar Yi Hwang, an authority on neo Confucianism. The 37 movements of this pattern refer to his birthplace on the 37° latitude, and the diagram represents the Chinese character for "scholar".
Stances and leg techniques
- X-Stance
- Close Stance
- Close Ready Stance Type B
- Sitting Stance
- L-Stance
- Walking Stance
- Mid Upward (Front Snap) Kick [Knee]
- Low Side Front Snap Kick [Foot]
- Mid Front Snap Kick [Foot]
Leg placements
- Heel Raised ~Close Stance
Motions
- Continuous Motion
- Slow Motion
Arm techniques
- Low Pushing Block [Twin Forearm]
- Mid Side Thrust [Twin Elbow]
- High Side Back Strike [Backfist]
- High W-Shape Block [Twin Outer Forearm]
- High Thrust [Flat Fingertip]
- Low Thrust [Upset Fingertip]
- Low Pressing Block [X-Fist]
- Low Guarding Block [Knife-Hand]
- Low>Mid Circular Block [Inner Forearm]
- High Vertical Punch [Twin Forefist]
- High Block [Twin Forearm]
- Mid Block [Inner Forearm]
- Mid Guarding Block [Knife-Hand]
- Low Block [Forearm]
- Mid Punch [Forefist]
Arm placements
- High Hands extended upward to grab opponent's Head
- Mid Hands pulled down to ~Elbow height
- Arm extended to the side downward
- Side Fist in front of opposite Shoulder
- Hands stay in previous position
Body movements
- Pivot R 90+45°
- Pivot L 90+45°
- Jumping Forward [~1½ SW]
- Turning L 180°
- Slipping Forward
- Turning L 270°
- Turning R 90°
- Stepping Backward
- Turning R 180°
- Turning L 90°
- Stepping Forward
Diagram directions
| Letter | Direction |
|---|---|
| A | 3:00 |
| B | 9:00 |
| C | 6:00 |
| D | 12:00 |
| E | 3:00 Upper Line |
| F | 9:00 Upper Line |
| BD | 10:30 |
| AD | 1:30 |
Movement sequence
| # | Body Movement Motion [Method] | Diagram Direction | Feet In Motion | Leg Section Stance/Leg Technique [Tool; Line] | Arm Section Arm Technique [Tool; Line] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turning L 90° | 9:00; B | L | R L-Stance | L Mid Block [Inner Forearm; Cl] |
| 2 | Slipping Forward | L | L Walking Stance | R Low Thrust [Upset Fingertip; Cl] | |
| 3 | Slowly Turning R 90° | 12:00; D | L>R | Close Stance | R High Side Back Strike [Backfist; Fl] [6:00; C] |
| 4 | Turning R 90° | 3:00; A | R | L L-Stance | R Mid Block [Inner Forearm; Cl] |
| 5 | Slipping Forward | R | R Walking Stance | L Low Thrust [Upset Fingertip; Cl] | |
| 6 | Slowly Turning L 90° | 12:00; D | R>L | Close Stance | L High Side Back Strike [Backfist; Fl] [6:00; C] |
| 7 | Stepping Forward | L | L Walking Stance | Low Pressing Block [X-Fist; Cl] | |
| 8 | Continuous Motion | Rh | High Vertical Punch [Twin Forefist; ~Bl] | ||
| 9 | R | R Mid Front Snap Kick [Foot; ~Cl] | Hands stay in previous position | ||
| 10 | Stepping Forward | R | R Walking Stance | R Mid Punch [Forefist; Cl] | |
| 11 | Lh | L Mid Punch [Forefist; Cl] | |||
| 12 | Slowly Turning L 90° | 9:00; F | L>R | Close Stance | Mid Side Thrust [Twin Elbow; Fl] |
| 13 | Turning L 90° | 6:00; C | R>L | Sitting Stance | R High W-Shape Block [Twin Outer Forearm; Fl] |
| 14 | Turning R 180° | 12:00; D | L>R | Sitting Stance | L High W-Shape Block [Twin Outer Forearm; Fl] |
| 15 | Turning R 180° | 6:00; C | L | Sitting Stance | R High W-Shape Block [Twin Outer Forearm; Fl] |
| 16 | Turning L 180° | 12:00; D | R | Sitting Stance | L High W-Shape Block [Twin Outer Forearm; Fl] |
| 17 | Turning R 180° | 6:00; C | L | Sitting Stance | R High W-Shape Block [Twin Outer Forearm; Fl] |
| 18 | Turning R 180° | 12:00; D | L | Sitting Stance | L High W-Shape Block [Twin Outer Forearm; Fl] |
| 19 | Stepping Forward | R>L | R Heel Raised ~Close Stance | L Low Pushing Block [Twin Forearm; ~Bl] | |
| 20 | Slipping Forward | Rh+L | R L-Stance | High Hands extended upward to grab opponent's Head [Bl] | |
| 21 | R | R Mid Upward Front Snap Kick [Knee; ~Bl] | Mid Hands pulled down to ~Elbow height [Cl] | ||
| 22 | Turning L 180° | 6:00; C | R>L | R Heel Raised ~Close Stance [11:00; ~D] | Mid Guarding Block [Knife-Hand; Cl] |
| 23 | L | L Low Side Front Snap Kick [Foot; ~Sl] | Hands stay in previous position | ||
| 24 | Stepping Forward | L | L Walking Stance | L High Thrust [Flat Fingertip; Cl] | |
| 25 | Stepping Forward | R | R L-Stance | Mid Guarding Block [Knife-Hand; Cl] | |
| 26 | R | R Low Side Front Snap Kick [Foot; ~Sl] | Hands stay in previous position | ||
| 27 | Stepping Forward | R | R Walking Stance | R High Thrust [Flat Fingertip; Cl] | |
| 28 | Stepping Backward | R | R L-Stance | L Low Block [Forearm; Cl] | |
| 29 | Jumping Forward [~1½ SW] | 3:00; A | R>L | R X-Stance | Low Pressing Block [X-Fist; Cl] |
| 30 | Turning L 90° | 6:00; C | Lh+R | R Walking Stance | R High Block [Twin Forearm; Cl] |
| 31 | Turning L 270° | 9:00; B | L>R>L | R L-Stance | Low Guarding Block [Knife-Hand; Cl] |
| 32 | Slipping Forward | Rh+L | L Walking Stance | R Low>Mid Circular Block [Inner Forearm; Cl>~Sl] [10:00; BD] | |
| 33 | Turning R 180° | L>R | L Heel Raised ~Close Stance [11:00; ~D] | Low Guarding Block [Knife-Hand; Cl] | |
| 34 | Stepping Forward | 3:00; A | Lh+R | L L-Stance | L Low>Mid Circular Block [Inner Forearm; Cl>~Sl] [2:00; AD] |
| 35 | Slipping Forward | Lh+R | R Walking Stance | R Low>Mid Circular Block [Inner Forearm; Cl>~Sl] [12:00; D] | |
| 36 | Pivot L 90+45° | 10:30; BD | Rh>Lh | L Walking Stance | L Low>Mid Circular Block [Inner Forearm; Cl>~Sl] [2:00; AD] |
| 37 | Pivot R 90+45° | 3:00; A | Lh>Rh | R Sitting Stance | R Mid Punch [Forefist; Cl] |
| - | Turning R 90° | 12:00; D | R>L | Close Ready Stance Type B |
Pattern meaning
Toi-Gye Tul honors the scholar Yi Hwang, one of Korea's most important neo-Confucian philosophers. The 37 movements symbolize his birthplace on the 37th latitude, while the diagram represents the Chinese character for scholar.
Training note
Toi-Gye Tul develops advanced control of slow motion, continuous motion, circular blocking techniques, fingertip thrusting, and coordinated elbow and hand actions. Students must focus on precise hand positioning, smooth directional transitions, balance during slipping motions, and correct timing during jumping and pivoting sequences. Special attention should be given to the low-to-middle circular blocks and the coordinated grabbing and knee lifting sequence.