Through practising Taekwondo Poomsae, we can apply the technics of hand and foot and the changes of stance learned from the basic technics adaptably to an actual fighting. It also provides us with the effection improving flexibility of body and being skilled in strength control, balance control, breath control, eye control and concentration of spirit, as well as cultivating martial art spirit through its mental discipline.

A taekwondo 'Poomsae' comprises various stance, each with its peculiar nature but each blending into the other. A 'poomsae' consists of about two dozen stances interconnected. Blocking, punching, striking, thrusting and kicking are among Taekwondo Poomsae, and these are properly carried out with hands, fists and feet to the vital sport of the body or target at which they aimed, and the stances accordingly chnge forward stance, back stance, cat stance and horseriding stance, etc. as the situation requires. Most typical 'Poomsae' are Palgwe I-VIII, Taeguk I-VIII, koryo, Kumgang, Taeback, Pyongwon, Shipjin, Jitae, Chunkwon, Hansoo and Ilyeo,

Meaning of each Poomsae:

TAEGUK : This represents the most profound oriental philosophy from which philosophical views on the world, cosmos and life are derived. The Taeguk Poomsae consists of different movements in sequence. The vital points of this Poomsae are to make exact the speed of breath and action and move the body weight properly while executing speedy actions. Thus we can fully realize the main thought of Taeguk.

PALGWE : Supplementary Training.

The thought of Plagwe, another concept of the ancient Oriental Philosophy, implies symbolically all the phenomena of man and universe.

KORYO : Koryo is the name of an ancient dynasty in the Korean peninsula. Teh Enlish name of "Korea" originated from the name of this "Koryo" dynasty with which was famed for the valiant spirit of its people which tey defeated the Mongolian aggression. Koryo Poomsae is based on spirit of / sonbae(Sonbi) which was inherited from Koruryo to Balhae and to Koryo. Songae means strong martial art and honest spirit of scholars.

KUMGANG : The word "Kumgang" has originally the meaning of being too strong to be broken. Also in Buddhism, what can break off every agony of mind with combination of wisdom and virtue is called "Kumgang". The Poomsae "Kumgang"is named after Mount Kumgang, symbol of solidity. "kumgan"is also anlogous of "diamond".

TAEBACK : "Taeback" is the ancient name of Mount Paekdu where the legendary Tangun founded a nation for the first time in the Korean peninsula 4,329 years ago on Tangun calendar (1996 A.D.=4329 Tangun year). Poomsae "Taeback" takes its principles of movement from the word "Taeback" which means being looked up to as sacred.

PYONGWON : "Pyongwon" is meant by 'vast plain'. The plain is a source of sustaining the human life and, on the other hand, a great open plain stretching out endlessly gives us a feeling of majesty that is different from what we feel with a mountain or the sea. An application of the providence of the plain which is blessed with abundance and grace as well as boundless vastness into the practice of Taekwondo is Poomse Pyongwon (plain).

SHIPJIN : Shipjin has the meaning of 'decimal system' which stands for a symbolical figure of 10 meaning endless development and growth in a systematic order. In Poomse shipjin, stability is sought in every chnage of movements.

JITAE : According to the oriental belief, all living things come from and return to the earth(Jitae is derived from the meaning of the earth). Teh earth is indeed the orining and terminal of life. Living things as well as all the natural phenomena of the earth Poomsae "Jitae" is the movement which supplies these features of the earth.

CHUNKWON : Chunkown" signifies the sky. From ancient times the orientals have always believed and worshipped the sky as ruler of the universe and human beings. Teh infinitely vast sky may be a mysterious and profound world of imagination in the eyes of finite human beings. Poomsae Chunkwon is composed of the motions which are full of piery and vitality.

HANSOO : Poomsae "hansoo" derived from the word 'water' is typical with its fluidity and adaptability as manifested in the nature of water.

ILYEO : "Ilyeo" signifies oneness.

In buddhism the state of spiritual cultivation is said to be "Ilyeo"(oneness), in which body and mind, I(subject) and you(object), spirit and substance are unified into oneness. Teh ultimate ideal of Taekwondo lies in this state of Ilyeo. The final goal Taekwondo pursues is indeed a discipline in which we concentrate attention pursues is indeed a discipline in which we concentrate attention on every movement, shaking off all worldly thoughts and obsessions.