Koryo poomsae step by step: the first black belt form

Koryo (고려, also written Goryeo) is the first of the Kukkiwon’s black belt forms, or yudanja poomsae. Students usually learn it after earning their first black belt, and it is the required form for the 2nd dan or 2nd poom test. After eight Taegeuk forms, it feels different straight away: it begins with a slow, breathing ready stance, uses a new floor pattern, and introduces techniques like the double side kick, the arc-hand strike and the knee break.

The meaning of Koryo

The form is named after the Goryeo dynasty, which ruled Korea from 918 to 1392 and gave the country its English name. Goryeo is remembered for resisting the Mongol invasions, and the form is meant to carry that spirit of perseverance and conviction. Its floor pattern takes the shape of the character 士 (sa), which stands for a seonbae or seonbi, a learned person of strong principles. The idea is that a black belt should combine skill with character.

The ready stance: tongmilgi junbi

Koryo begins with tongmilgi junbi (통밀기준비), the pushing-hands ready stance. From parallel stance, open the hands with the fingertips facing each other, palms up, and raise them slowly to chest height. Turn the palms over and bring the hands up to form a triangle in front of the face, then push it gently forward at mouth height. The movement is slow, about the length of a deep breath in and out, and sets the calm tone for the rest of the form.

Floor pattern

Step by step

Line 1, left then right

1. Turn 90 degrees to the left into a back stance (dwitkubi), left foot forward, with a double knife-hand block (sonnal makgi).
2. Pivot on the left foot and perform a double side kick (yeop chagi) with the right leg, first low at knee height, then high to the head, re-chambering fully between them. Land in a right front stance (apkubi) with an outward knife-hand strike (sonnal bakkat chigi) to the neck.
3. Without stepping, punch to the middle with the left hand.
4. Slide the right foot back into a back stance and perform a right middle block (momtong an makgi).
5. Turn 180 degrees to the right into a back stance, right foot forward, with a double knife-hand block.
6. Double side kick with the left leg, low then high, landing in a left front stance with a left outward knife-hand strike.
7. Without stepping, punch with the right hand.
8. Slide the left foot back into a back stance with a left middle block.

Up the center

9. Turn to face forward in a left front stance and perform a left low knife-hand block, then an arc-hand strike (ageumson kaljaebi) to the throat with the right hand, the hand open in a U-shape between thumb and fingers.
10. Right front kick, land in a right front stance, low knife-hand block with the right hand, and a left arc-hand strike.
11. Left front kick, land in a left front stance, left low knife-hand block, and a right arc-hand strike with a gihap.
12. Right front kick, land in a right front stance, and perform a knee break (mureup kkeokgi): one hand scoops under the opponent’s leg while the other presses down on the knee.

Coming back down the center

13. Turn 180 degrees into a right front stance and perform a middle opening block (momtong hecheo makgi) with the inner forearms.
14. Left front kick, land in a left front stance, and perform a knee break on the other side.
15. Slide the left foot back into a walking stance with a middle opening block.

Line 2, to the right

16. Step into a horse-riding stance (juchum seogi), look left, and perform a single knife-hand block with the left hand.
17. Without stepping, punch the right fist into the left palm (pyojeok jireugi, target punch).
18. Cross the right foot in front of the left, perform a left side kick, then pivot and land in a right front stance with a low fingertip thrust, the other hand pulled back to the opposite shoulder.
19. Slide back into a walking stance with a right low block.
20. Step forward into a left walking stance with a left palm-heel pressing block, then step into a horse-riding stance with a right elbow strike pushed by the open left hand.

Line 2, to the left

21. Without stepping, perform a single knife-hand block with the right hand.
22. Punch the left fist into the right palm.
23. Cross the left foot in front, right side kick, then pivot and land in a left front stance with a low fingertip thrust.
24. Slide back into a walking stance with a left low block.
25. Step into a right walking stance with a right palm-heel pressing block, then into a horse-riding stance with a left elbow strike pushed by the right hand.

Down the center to finish

26. Bring the feet together, raise both open hands above the head, and slowly circle them down, closing the left hand into a fist that strikes into the right palm low in front of the body (mejumeok pyojeok chigi). This takes about eight seconds.
27. Turn 180 degrees into a left front stance with an outward knife-hand strike, then a low knife-hand block with the same hand.
28. Step forward into a right front stance with an inward knife-hand strike (sonnal an chigi) to the neck, then a right low knife-hand block.
29. Step forward into a left front stance with a left inward knife-hand strike, then a left low knife-hand block.
30. Step forward into a right front stance with a right arc-hand strike and a gihap.

On baro, turn back to the front and finish in the pushing-hands ready stance.

What is new for black belts

Koryo asks for more precision than any Taegeuk form. The double side kick in steps 2 and 6 is the standout technique: two separate kicks with the same leg, without putting the foot down, the first low and the second high. Fully re-chamber the knee between them so they look like two distinct kicks, not one bouncing leg.

The arc-hand strike is new, too. The hand is open, with the thumb spread wide and the fingers together, forming the shape of the curve between thumb and index finger, and it strikes the throat. And the form has two slow movements, the opening ready stance and the hammer-fist target strike in step 26, which test breathing and control.

Common mistakes

Examiners often see a double side kick where the second kick is lower than the first or the supporting foot doesn’t pivot. In the horse-riding stance sections, students frequently let the stance shrink. Keep the feet about two shoulder-widths apart with the knees pushed out. On the low fingertip thrust after the side kick, many students forget to pull the other hand to the opposite shoulder, which is an essential part of the movement.

Practicing Koryo

Learn Koryo in four parts: the first line with its double side kicks, the walk up the center, the horse-stance section, and the final strikes down the center. Spend extra time on balance, because Koryo has more kicks from one leg than any form before it. Practice the slow movements with a steady count. Many black belts find that Koryo is the form that makes them feel like a black belt for the first time, so take your time with it.