ITF Taekwondo Pattern 5 (Yul-Gok) – Instructions & Videos

This page provides details for ITF Taekwondo Pattern Yul-Gok. This is the fifth pattern taught to ITF Taekwondo students. This is a lower-level Taekwondo pattern that teaches basic kicks, strikes and stances. Written step-by-step instructions and videos for this Taekwondo pattern are located below.

Yul-Gok is the pseudonym for the great philosopher and scholar Yi l (1536-1584). He is nicknamed the “Confucius of Korea”. The 38 movements of this pattern refer to his birthplace on the 38th latitude. For the meaning of other ITF Taekwondo patterns, please visit our Meaning of ITF Patterns section.

For additional ITF pattern information (i.e. Do-San), visit Black Belt Wiki’s main ITF Taekwondo Patterns section. If you are looking for WTF forms (i.e. Taegeuk Il-Jang), please go to the main Taekwondo Forms section.

Demonstration Video of ITF Taekwondo Pattern 5 (Yul-Gok)

ITF Taekwondo Pattern 5 (Yul-Gok)

Written Instructions for ITF Taekwondo Pattern 5 (Yul-Gok)

There are 38 movements in this ITF pattern. In order to perform Yul-Gok accurately, you will need to work on your Taekwondo stances.

Students start at C facing towards D (see position diagram below) and are in the parallel ready stance.

  1. Move left foot towards B forming a sitting stance while extending the left fist horizontally
  2. Middle punch towards D with the right fist while maintaining the sitting stance
  3. Middle punch towards D with the left fist while maintaining the sitting stance – Perform right & left punches in a rapid sequence.
  4. Bring left foot to the right foot and then move the right foot towards A forming a sitting stance towards D while extending the right fist horizontally
  5. Middle punch towards D with the left fist while maintaining a sitting stance towards D
  6. Middle punch towards D with the right fist while maintaining a sitting stance towards D – Perform left & right punches in a rapid sequence.
  7. Move the right foot towards AD forming a right walking stance towards AD while executing a middle side block towards AD with the right inner forearm
  8. Low front snap kick towards AD with the left foot – Keep hands the same as they were in step 7.
  9. Lower the left foot to AD forming a left walking stance towards AD while executing a middle punch to AD with the left fist
  10. Middle punch to AD with the right fist while maintaining a left walking stance toward AD – Perform left & right punches in a rapid sequence.
  11. Move the left foot to BD forming a left walking stance toward BD at the same time executing a middle side block to BD with the left inner forearm
  12. Low front snap kick to BD with the right foot – Keep hands the same as they were in step 11.
  13. Lower the right foot to BD forming a right walking stance toward BD while executing a middle punch to BD with the right fist
  14. Middle punch to BD with the left fist while maintaining a right walking stance toward BD – Perform right & left punches in a rapid sequence.
  15. Middle hooking block to D with the right palm while forming a right walking stance toward D, pivoting with the left foot
  16. Middle hooking block to D with the left palm while maintaining a right walking stance toward D
  17. Middle punch to D with the right fist while maintaining a right walking stance toward D – Connect steps 16 and 17 as one motion.
  18. Move the left foot towards D forming a left walking stance toward D while executing a middle hooking block towards D with the left palm
  19. Middle hooking block to D with the right palm while maintaining a left walking stance toward D
  20. Middle punch to D with the left fist while maintaining a left walking stance toward D – Connect steps 19 and 20 as one motion.
  21. Move the right foot to D forming a right walking stance toward D at the same time executing a middle punch to D with the right fist
  22. Turn face towards D forming a right bending ready stance A toward D
  23. Middle side piercing kick towards D with the left foot
  24. Lower the left foot to D forming a left walking stance toward D while striking the left palm with the right front elbow
  25. Turn face towards C forming a left bending ready stance A toward C
  26. Middle side piercing kick towards C with the right foot
  27. Lower the right foot towards C forming a right walking stance toward C while striking the right palm with the left front elbow
  28. Move the left foot towards E forming a right L-stance toward E while executing a twin knife-hand block
  29. Move the right foot towards E forming a right walking stance toward E while executing a middle thrust to E with the right straight finger tip
  30. Move the right foot towards F turning clockwise to form a left L-stance toward F while executing a twin knife-hand block
  31. Move the left foot towards F forming a left walking stance toward F while executing a middle thrust to F with the left straight finger tip
  32. Move the left foot towards C forming a left walking stance toward C while executing a high side block to C with the left outer forearm
  33. Middle punch towards C with the right fist while maintaining a left walking stance toward C
  34. Move the right foot to C forming a right walking stance toward C while executing a high side block to C with the right outer forearm
  35. Middle punch towards C with the left fist while maintaining a right walking stance toward C
  36. Jump towards C forming a left X-stance towards B while executing a high side strike to C with the left back fist
  37. Move the right foot to A forming a right walking stance towards A at the same time executing a high block with the right double forearm
  38. Bring the right foot to the left foot and then move the left foot towards B forming a left walking stance while executing a high block with the left double forearm

Final step – Bring the left foot back and return to the ready position.

Reference Sources

  1. ITF pattern instructions were kindly provided by TKDrevision.com, http://www.tkdrevision.com/