Kee Cho Hyungs

The name of these Hyungs and creator is Grandmaster Hwang Kee, the founder of Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do. The Kee Cho Hyungs were created in 1947 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. [THIS ISN’T ACCURATE.] Each of the three Kee Cho Hyung: II Bu, Ee Bu and San Bu have 20 movements each.

Pyung Ahn Hyungs (The Turtle)

They were originally called “Jae-Nam” and created by Okinawan Master Mr. Idos (Anko Itosu). In the Hwa Nam area of China, approximately 1870, Mr. Idos reorganized the Jae-Nam form into closely resembling the present Pyung Ahn Hyung. [THIS ISN’T EXACTLY ACCURATE.] When one begins to master the Pyung Ahn Hyungs, they will develop a feeling of “Pyung” meaning peace and confidence, balance and calmness with one’s self and nature. “Ahn” meaning safe, confident and comfortable. In Chinese, “Pyung Ahn” translates to “safe from danger.” These are feelings a person will develop in the mind and body regardless of any situation.

Bassai (The Snake and breaking Through the Fortress)

The hyung that presupposes the spirit and strength necessary to break into an enemy’s stronghold. It is full of vitality. It is a hyung of the usage of opposites: composure and agility, strength and change, fast and slow, light and heavy. Applications of strength. The hyung originally came from the So Rim Sa Kwon Bup style.

Naihachi Hyungs (Iron Horse)

“I gather within me all forces of earth. I look up and ask the heavens for perfection of self. I instill its force and energy into my body.” The origin of the three Naihachi Hyungs is unknown. It is a fact that they were practiced as one Kata around 1825. Because of its length and degree of difficulty, the Kata is now divided into three sections for teaching purposes. The form was developed as a defense against four to eight opponents, with the performer pinned against a wall defending to the right, the left, the front, but never from the rear. [THIS ISN’T ACCURATE.]

Sip Soo (Ten Hands)

The hyung enables one to perform the actions of five men. It enables a person to deal with weapon attacks especially stick attacks. Blocking strongly, crucial roles of the hips. Concentration of power must be understood in this hyung. In the hyung, twisting the body, over turning the opponent by force will be mastered.

Chin Do (Crane on a Rock)

To pounce on an enemy. In this position one should have the feeling of overpowering the enemy’s movements. The hyung is for mastering balance while standing on one leg and using counter attacks.

Kung Sang Koon (The Eagle and Looking at the Sky)

The name came from a member of a Ming Dynasty and an expert in Chinese boxing. The hyung was formed to learn to dispose of a variety of attacks made by a number of opponents coming from four to right directions. The form executes fast and slow techniques with dynamics of strength showing extension and contraction of the body. The hyung will demand changes of direction, jumping and going into a low ground position.

Wang Shu (Flying Swallow)

By using the high and low flight of the swallow, the upper level rising strikes and with its jumping and striking movement, while grasping the opponent and pulling him in, gives the hyung its characteristics. The hyung represents the light, easy, keen and quick-witted movements of the “flying swallow”.

Jion (The Goat)

From the Jion Temple, this hyung is the feeling of perfect harmony like the Buddha’s and in its calm movements, a strong spirit. The hyung is appropriate for mastering rotational movements and shifting directions. The hyung is most effective for mastering fast and slow tempos with fundamentals of simultaneous arm and leg movements executed while changing directions.

Ro Hai (The Crane)

This hyung signifies a crane standing on a rock. Karate men around Tomari village have inherited the present hyung of Ro Hai. The most characteristic technique of the hyung is a one-foot standing stance with the other foot drawn to deliver a kick and to shift the body from an attack. The one leg stance symbolizes a crane standing on the rock. The hyung has approximately forty-two movements.

SaShian (Half Moon)

The hyung characteristics are hand and foot movements coordinated with breathing and sliding of the feet in arc shaped movements. The foot movements are used for getting inside the opponent’s legs; attacking and destroying his balance. The foot sliding movements are most effective for close in attacks.

Sa Ship O Bo

This hyung was based on 13 Se, which are basic foundations of all movements. Thirteen Se Meaning eight directions (plaque): north, south, east, west, northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest; five movements (heng): forward, backward, up, down and turn. There are 45 movements in this hyung, excluding preparation steps. The essential elements of this hyung are slow movements, coordination, balance and accuracy. This hyung is to be practiced by only very high degrees of black belts.

Oh Ship Sa Bo

The meaning of the hyung Oh Ship Sa Bo is Fifty-Four. The hyung has 77 movements but consists of many identical movements. The key element of this form is super speed. This hyung uses knife-hand and super hard attacks. The reason for this is that this hyung adopted cock-fighting methods with praying mantis fighting methods. The form is represented by the tiger because of its super-hard thrust, but whose movement resembles those of a drunken man. The hyung is only for fourth Dan masters or above because of its super speed movements. If one does not master the basic forms when practicing this one, then they could destroy the beauty of the form because of its super speed.

So Lim Jang Gun (Small Forest Far Away)

This hyung has 85 movements and is the supreme (model) hyung of the south style. There are two typical styles in the old days: the north style and the south style. The north style being Jang Sam Bong style and the south being So Lim style.

Tae Kuk Kwon

This hyung has about 400 steps and 88 basic movements in it. This hyung is the corner stone for all hyungs. It means total harmony, truth and the universe. It is the supreme hyung of the north style. Today’s hyung, Tae Kuk Kwon came from this. This hyung is to be taught to and practiced by only the highest of black belts.