Taegeuk 7 (Taegeuk Chil Jang): the seventh color belt form, every move step by step

Taegeuk Chil Jang (태극 7장) is the form for 2nd geup, typically learned at red belt as students begin to look toward black belt. It is the longest form so far, with 25 movements, and it introduces a whole new set of tools: the tiger stance, palm-heel blocks, the scissors block, a knee strike with a hop into cross stance, and a horse-riding stance finish.

Meaning: Gan, the mountain

Chil Jang represents Gan (☶), a solid line above two broken lines, the trigram for a mountain. A mountain doesn’t move, and the form teaches the discipline of knowing when to move and when to stand firm. Many of its stances are low and rooted, and transitions should be decisive, without hesitation or wobble.

Floor pattern

Step by step

Line 1

1. Turn 90 degrees to the left into a left tiger stance (beom seogi), and perform a right palm-heel middle block (batangson momtong an makgi), the heel of the open right hand sweeping in across the body.
2. Right front kick (ap chagi), return the foot to the same tiger stance, and perform a left middle block (momtong an makgi).
3. Turn 180 degrees to the right into a right tiger stance with a left palm-heel middle block.
4. Left front kick, return to the tiger stance, and perform a right middle block.

Up the center

5. Turn 90 degrees to the left to face forward in a back stance (dwitkubi) with the left foot forward, and perform a double knife-hand low block (sonnal arae makgi).
6. Step forward into a back stance with the right foot forward and a double knife-hand low block to the right.

Line 2

7. Turn 90 degrees to the left into a left tiger stance with a right palm-heel block supported by the left fist under the right elbow.
8. Keeping the left fist under the right elbow, strike forward with a right backfist (deungjumeok ap chigi) to the face.
9. Pivot 180 degrees into a right tiger stance with a left supported palm-heel block.
10. Strike with a left backfist, the right fist supporting under the left elbow.

Up the center to line 3

11. Turn to face forward and bring the left foot beside the right in a closed stance (moa seogi). Wrap the left hand over the right fist at the belt (bojumeok, covered fist) and raise both hands slowly to the height of your chin, about five seconds, then push them slightly forward.
12. Step forward into a left front stance (apkubi) and perform a double scissors block (gawi makgi): one arm blocks low while the other blocks outward at the middle, then the arms switch.
13. Step forward into a right front stance and perform another pair of scissors blocks, starting with the opposite arm low.

Line 3

14. Swing the left foot around and turn 270 degrees to the left so you face right, in a left front stance, and perform a middle-height opening block (momtong hecheo makgi), both forearms spreading outward.
15. Reach forward as if grabbing an opponent’s head, pull the hands down, and drive the right knee (mureup chigi) upward. Then hop forward onto the right foot into a cross stance, left foot tucked behind, with a double uppercut punch.
16. Slide the left foot back into a right front stance with a low cross block (arae otgeoreo makgi), the wrists crossed.
17. Turn 180 degrees to the right into a right front stance with a middle opening block.
18. Left knee strike, then hop forward into a cross stance with a double uppercut.
19. Slide the right foot back into a left front stance with a low cross block.

Back down the center

20. Turn 90 degrees to the left to face the start in a left walking stance and strike outward with a left backfist to the temple (deungjumeok bakkat chigi).
21. Open the left hand as a target and perform a right crescent kick (pyojeok chagi) into it, then land in a horse-riding stance (juchum seogi) facing sideways and strike the right elbow into the left palm.
22. Step the left foot forward into a right walking stance and strike outward with a right backfist.
23. Left crescent kick into the right palm, landing in horse-riding stance, with a left elbow strike into the right palm.
24. Without stepping, perform a single knife-hand middle block (hansonnal momtong yeop makgi) to the left side.
25. Step forward with the right foot, pivoting into a horse-riding stance facing the other way, and punch sideways with the right fist (momtong yeop jireugi), with a gihap.

On baro, turn to face forward and return to the ready stance.

Technique notes

The tiger stance is short and narrow, with almost all the weight on the back leg. The front foot rests lightly on the ball of the foot, about one foot-length ahead. Keep the hips low and level when you kick from it and return to it; a common sign of a weak tiger stance is a body that bobs up and down.

The covered fist in step 11 is a slow, meditative movement. Breathe out steadily as the hands rise. The scissors blocks that follow should be crisp and clearly different: each arm finishes in a definite low block or outside block, with the arms switching roles on the second block of each pair.

The knee strike and hop are a favorite of examiners. Pull the imaginary opponent’s head down hard as the knee comes up, then hop forward a short distance and land in a tight cross stance with both uppercuts finishing at the same height.

Common mistakes

Students often confuse the palm-heel block with a regular middle block; the hand is open, and the striking surface is the heel of the palm. In the scissors blocks, many students end up with both arms at the same height. In the final horse-riding stances, the most common faults are feet that are too narrow and knees that collapse inward. Push the knees out over the toes, and keep the back straight.

Practice tips

Practice the tiger stance in front of a mirror first, and kick from it slowly until you can return to exactly the same position. Then drill the scissors blocks with a count, saying “low, middle; low, middle” to keep them clean. The last section, from step 20 to 25, flows best when practiced as one continuous combination. Once Chil Jang is solid, the final color-belt form is Taegeuk Pal Jang.