Ilgiyae Ch.6-10

Forms of Motion

In technique the Samjae of Haneul, Tang and Saram appear as the forms of Won(○), Bang(□) and Gak(△) respectively.

“The three of Won(○), Bang(□), Gak(△) are the root of all kinds of forms.”¹⁾ Therefore each of Won(○), Bang(□) and Gak(△) represents form as what it shows. You should embody such forms of Won, Bang and Gak in your motion that you can perform the techniques as you intend in motions of Taekwondo. “These are called 'three subtleties'. An enlightened man responds to the forms of three extremities(Samjae) with them. The round outside with empty inside symbolizes the highness of Heaven; the even surface with straight line symbolizes the flatness of Earth; and the odd up with even down symbolizes the figure of Man."²⁾

Therefore you should throw or fell down your opponent with the movement of Won. The principle of leverage is an application of the movement of Won. That is, if you pull his upper body tripping him by the leg his whole body will make circular movement to tumble down. On the other hand, when he pushes your upper body you can resist it supporting one of your legs stretched back dependently on the form of Bang, and then he will be exhausted. This is the form of how you protect yourself. Thirdly, in order to control over him you should concentrate your mind, thus your motion. This is the form of Gak.

Let me consider each by each.

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<footnotes>

1) 「셋을 모은 글(會三經)」, 8. 三會: ○□△三者, 萬象之源.
2) 「셋을 모은 글[會三經]」, 2 세 밝은 이[三哲]: 是名三妙. 哲人, 以之, 乃應三極之象, 外圈內空, 象天穹也, 面正徑直, 象地平也, 上奇下 , 象人形也.