The shared language of the training hall
An instructor could arrive in another country and hear familiar names for stances, strikes and blocks. Patterns and Korean commands helped students understand one another even without a shared spoken language. At seminars, masters compared performance, explained developments and passed their knowledge on.
Choi developed this teaching foundation with his instructors over decades. It survived the organisational divisions: schools in different federations retained much of their shared technique, terminology and educational principles.
Chang Hon and the 24 patterns
Chang Hon was Choi’s pen name and gave its name to his technical system. A pattern, or tul, is a set sequence of movements representing actions against imaginary opponents. Practising it develops balance, coordination, precision and rhythm, bringing individual techniques together into a complete exercise.
The established programme contains 24 patterns. Choi connected this number with the 24 hours of a day and the brevity of a human life. The names and explanations introduce students to Korean history, independence and the hope for unity. Tong-Il is dedicated to Korea’s reunification, one of the founder’s deepest personal hopes.
Generations of instructors worked on the patterns. They demonstrated movements, checked sequences, refined details and taught others. Their work made the programme a shared inheritance for a large international community.
Books and the development of technique
Manuals helped students learn between seminars. The first book of 1959 was followed by the English-language edition of 1965 and a substantial textbook in 1972. Choi completed work on the fifteen-volume encyclopedia in 1983; the 1985 edition and later reprints brought it to instructors internationally. A condensed single-volume version appeared in 1988.
The programme developed alongside the books. Ko-Dang was replaced by Juche, and greater emphasis was placed on the body movement known as sine wave. Schools responded differently to later changes, retaining differences in their programmes, rhythm and explanations of movement.
A book allowed students to study a technique; working with a teacher helped them understand how it felt in practice. Choi’s publishing and teaching remained closely connected. The biographical chapter on his books and patterns explores that work.
Principles that reach beyond the hall
Courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit are the five tenets of Taekwon-Do. Choi connected them with Do, the “way”. Skill was to be reflected in how people treated others, took responsibility for their strength and continued working on themselves.
For a teacher, this means care for students and honesty in what is expected of them; for an athlete, respect for an opponent and responsibility towards the team. These principles help our community connect generations and work together after organisational disagreements.
Different ITF branches continue teaching this inheritance and holding their own world championships. Shared origins connect their students, while membership of a particular federation determines the international calendar, competition rules and grading arrangements.