Both Keumgang and Taebaek are mountains in Korea (more accurately
Keumgang Mountain is located in the Taebaek mountain range, in North
Korea), but each involve different philosophical meanings and
emphasize different things for the 2nd and 3rd Dan students who should
be learning them.
The 1975 Taekwondo poomsae textbook describes Keumgang as
follows: "The Korean people have named the most beautiful
mountain in the Korean peninsula Kuemgang-san which is located
in the Taebaek range of mountain, call diamond the hardest known
substance, Keumgang-seok. Accordingly, 'Keumgang' in Taekwondo
means movement based on spiritual strength that is as beautiful and
majestic as the Diamond Mountains and hard and adamant as the
diamond."
The new Kukkiwon Textbook describes Keumgang as follows:
"Keumgang (meaning diamond) has the significance of 'hardness'
and 'ponderosity'. The mt. Keumgang on the Korean peninsula,
which is regarded as the center of national spirit, and the 'Keumgang
Yoksa' (Keumgang warrior) as named by Buddha, who represents
a mightest warrior, are the background denominating this poomsae. . .
The movements should be powerful and well-balanced so as to befit
a black belter's dignity."
Keumgang is supposed to be learned at the 2nd Dan level, and the focus
of the 2nd Dan is or should be to make their techniques strong, solid,
and powerful. These are the qualities stressed in the Keumgang
poomsae. It is these qualities that differentiate a 3rd Dan from lower
ranks, and once these qualities are achieved, then the 2nd Dan is
ready for promotion to 3rd Dan.
The Taebaek poomsae focuses on an entirely different lesson. The 1975
Taekwondo poomsae textbook describes Taebaek as follows:
"The mythological story about the founding of Korea says that about
four thousand and three hundred years ago, the legendary Dangoon
founded the nation for the first time in Taebaek, present-day Mount
Baekdoo. Mount Baekdoo is the loftiest and grandest mountain in
Korea. As may be understood, Poomse 'Taebaek' has it basic
principles of movement from the word Taebaek with the meaning of
light and being looked upon as sacred by the Korean people. Mount
Baekdoo is regarded as the symbol of Korea. Therefore, every motion of
Poomse 'Taebaek' should be displayed not only precisely and nimbly but
also with rigor and a determined will."
The new Kukkiwon Textbook describes Taebaek as follows:
"Taebaek is the name of a mountain with the meaning of'bright
mountain', where Tangun, the founder of the nation of Korean people,
reined the country, and the bright mountain symbolizes sacredness of
soul and Tangun's thought of 'hongik ingan' (humanitarian ideal)."
Taebaek's techniques are a close relative of the Palgwe series, most
specifically, Palgwe 4 and 5, so much so that some of us joke that
Taebaek should actually be named "Palgwe 9 Jang". This is again not an
accident, since the focus of the 3rd Dan is or should be going over
his or her basics once again, clarifying and sharpening the movements
while adding speed to them. This goes with the original philosophy of
developing technique or form first (in Koryo and the guep level
poomse), then power (in Keumgang) before speed (in Taebaek). And of
course the way to develop speed is through thorough knowledge and
practice of the basics, which is what Taebaek is all about.
The thing that distinguishes a 4th Dan from a 3rd Dan is or should
be the depth of knowledge with regard to the basics, as well as
speed. When a 3rd Dan has acquired these qualities, then he or she
is ready for 4th Dan promotion.
The nine Kukkiwon yudanja poomsae are divided up into groups of
three. Each group of three is developed around one of the three main
areas of study for a martial artist, which is the body, the mind and
the spirit. Additionally, these three groups can be associated with
Koguryo, Paekjae and Shilla, the original Three Kingdoms.
The first three yudanja poomsae are centered around the body or the
physical development of a student. Similarly, Koguryo (or Koryo) in
North Korea is distinguished by its great natural beauty, abundance
of raw materials for building (i.e., iron ore, etc.) as well as its
location for Korea's greatest mountains. The symbolism of the
mountains in the first three yudanja poomsae has extra meaning in that
it marks the climb of a martial artist's journey up through the
physical levels of his art.
The second group of three is focused on mental development, while
the last three are concerned mainly with spiritual development.
In my opinion, studying the philosophy behind each of the poomsae
gives additional insight into not only the poomsae themselves, but also
into the process of developing through the dan ranks. This is why I am
against the concept of skip dans, because if one does not spend time
at each rank, then the student fails to appreciate the lessons to be
learned the different dan levels.
Failing to see the philosophy behind each of the poomsae also robs
the student and/or the instructor of an opportunity to see what the
pioneers felt was important at each level. The pioneers were wise men
who knew what they were doing, because they themselves went
through the very process that they describe for us in the poomsae. Even
if you do not practice the poomsae themselves, you can still get the
lessons of the poomsae if you focus on the philosophy of each one,
taught at the correct level.
The poomsae are sign posts on your martial arts journey, defining each
step, which I believe is a unique characteristic of the Kukkiwon
poomsae. No other style outlines so clearly through its poomsae, the
path which we are supposed to take.
Keumgang Mountain is located in the Taebaek mountain range, in North
Korea), but each involve different philosophical meanings and
emphasize different things for the 2nd and 3rd Dan students who should
be learning them.
The 1975 Taekwondo poomsae textbook describes Keumgang as
follows: "The Korean people have named the most beautiful
mountain in the Korean peninsula Kuemgang-san which is located
in the Taebaek range of mountain, call diamond the hardest known
substance, Keumgang-seok. Accordingly, 'Keumgang' in Taekwondo
means movement based on spiritual strength that is as beautiful and
majestic as the Diamond Mountains and hard and adamant as the
diamond."
The new Kukkiwon Textbook describes Keumgang as follows:
"Keumgang (meaning diamond) has the significance of 'hardness'
and 'ponderosity'. The mt. Keumgang on the Korean peninsula,
which is regarded as the center of national spirit, and the 'Keumgang
Yoksa' (Keumgang warrior) as named by Buddha, who represents
a mightest warrior, are the background denominating this poomsae. . .
The movements should be powerful and well-balanced so as to befit
a black belter's dignity."
Keumgang is supposed to be learned at the 2nd Dan level, and the focus
of the 2nd Dan is or should be to make their techniques strong, solid,
and powerful. These are the qualities stressed in the Keumgang
poomsae. It is these qualities that differentiate a 3rd Dan from lower
ranks, and once these qualities are achieved, then the 2nd Dan is
ready for promotion to 3rd Dan.
The Taebaek poomsae focuses on an entirely different lesson. The 1975
Taekwondo poomsae textbook describes Taebaek as follows:
"The mythological story about the founding of Korea says that about
four thousand and three hundred years ago, the legendary Dangoon
founded the nation for the first time in Taebaek, present-day Mount
Baekdoo. Mount Baekdoo is the loftiest and grandest mountain in
Korea. As may be understood, Poomse 'Taebaek' has it basic
principles of movement from the word Taebaek with the meaning of
light and being looked upon as sacred by the Korean people. Mount
Baekdoo is regarded as the symbol of Korea. Therefore, every motion of
Poomse 'Taebaek' should be displayed not only precisely and nimbly but
also with rigor and a determined will."
The new Kukkiwon Textbook describes Taebaek as follows:
"Taebaek is the name of a mountain with the meaning of'bright
mountain', where Tangun, the founder of the nation of Korean people,
reined the country, and the bright mountain symbolizes sacredness of
soul and Tangun's thought of 'hongik ingan' (humanitarian ideal)."
Taebaek's techniques are a close relative of the Palgwe series, most
specifically, Palgwe 4 and 5, so much so that some of us joke that
Taebaek should actually be named "Palgwe 9 Jang". This is again not an
accident, since the focus of the 3rd Dan is or should be going over
his or her basics once again, clarifying and sharpening the movements
while adding speed to them. This goes with the original philosophy of
developing technique or form first (in Koryo and the guep level
poomse), then power (in Keumgang) before speed (in Taebaek). And of
course the way to develop speed is through thorough knowledge and
practice of the basics, which is what Taebaek is all about.
The thing that distinguishes a 4th Dan from a 3rd Dan is or should
be the depth of knowledge with regard to the basics, as well as
speed. When a 3rd Dan has acquired these qualities, then he or she
is ready for 4th Dan promotion.
The nine Kukkiwon yudanja poomsae are divided up into groups of
three. Each group of three is developed around one of the three main
areas of study for a martial artist, which is the body, the mind and
the spirit. Additionally, these three groups can be associated with
Koguryo, Paekjae and Shilla, the original Three Kingdoms.
The first three yudanja poomsae are centered around the body or the
physical development of a student. Similarly, Koguryo (or Koryo) in
North Korea is distinguished by its great natural beauty, abundance
of raw materials for building (i.e., iron ore, etc.) as well as its
location for Korea's greatest mountains. The symbolism of the
mountains in the first three yudanja poomsae has extra meaning in that
it marks the climb of a martial artist's journey up through the
physical levels of his art.
The second group of three is focused on mental development, while
the last three are concerned mainly with spiritual development.
In my opinion, studying the philosophy behind each of the poomsae
gives additional insight into not only the poomsae themselves, but also
into the process of developing through the dan ranks. This is why I am
against the concept of skip dans, because if one does not spend time
at each rank, then the student fails to appreciate the lessons to be
learned the different dan levels.
Failing to see the philosophy behind each of the poomsae also robs
the student and/or the instructor of an opportunity to see what the
pioneers felt was important at each level. The pioneers were wise men
who knew what they were doing, because they themselves went
through the very process that they describe for us in the poomsae. Even
if you do not practice the poomsae themselves, you can still get the
lessons of the poomsae if you focus on the philosophy of each one,
taught at the correct level.
The poomsae are sign posts on your martial arts journey, defining each
step, which I believe is a unique characteristic of the Kukkiwon
poomsae. No other style outlines so clearly through its poomsae, the
path which we are supposed to take.
