Tae Kwon Do >> Forms >> Pyong Ahn I
Pyong ahn I is taught at green belt, the third level in our school. It is the first form where you really have to start using your body (e.g., high-rising knife-hand block), and the first form where you vary your speed to generate power (e.g., the hammer fist at the beginning of the form).
The Shotokan Karate page has a very nice a graphic how the form is performed. I have yet to find a video of the form that displays it with the technique as taught by my teacher. I'll keep looking or perhaps make one myself, but I found a video of the form that at least gives the idea. I am sure that he is performing it quite fine for his school, but I have a hard time watching it without cringing at all the things my teacher would correct. Perhaps one day, I'll update this page with those "corrections" to illustrate the differences. Not today.
As with all of the information in these pages, do not use this information as an authoritative source. Please consult with a tae kwon do instructor for performing these and any of the techniques discussed.
Mnemonics
For each of the forms, I have development some mnemonics to help me remember its special characteristics. This one is a high rise with a hammer and knifes.The form travels the shape of the capital letter "I." It starts like Taeguk I. The second low punch is interrupted by a fast, hammer fist. The third down block is followed by a high-rising knife-hand block, followed by a series of high-rising blocks. The back end of the form is just like Taeguk II until after the second Qi-ap (yell). It ends with a series of knife-hand blocks.
Steps to the Form
All steps are given with "North" as the initial facing forward direction. This directionality is maintained throughout all of the steps irrespective of the current "forward" direction. The general Movements (TBD) page contains additional information for performing the steps.Ready
- West, front stance, down block
- Step, front stance, low punch
- East, front stance, down block
- Sliding step with back foot, hammer fist
- Sliding step is short and quick from your back foot
- Make sure to twist the upper body when doing the hammer fist
- Think: pulling your hand from someone grabbing it
- Step, front stance, low punch
- North, front stance, down block
- High-rising knife-hand block
- No step on this move
- Make in two-distinct moves
- Twist upper body clearly so that left hand comes under right fist
- Block just above and in front of forehead so you can see arm in peripheral vision, about 45°
- Step, front stance, high-rising block
- Step, front stance, high-rising block
- Step, front stance, high-rising block – Qi-ap!
- East, front stance, down block
- Step, front stance, low punch
- West, front stance, down block
- Step, front stance, low punch
- South, front stance, low punch
- Step, front stance, high punch
- Step, front stance, high punch
- Step, front stance, high punch – Qi-ap!
- West, back stance, knife-hand block
- Northwest, back stance, knife-hand block
- East, back stance, knife-hand block
- Northeast, back stance, knife-hand block
Remember
- The blocking hand always comes up first, under the other hand when preparing for the block.
- When stepping there should be no up-and-down movement; the shoulders should stay in a single plane.
- Front stances (also called walking stance) should have the feet facing forward on two planes about hip width apart. When stepping in walking stance, the feet should stay on two planes without coming in to meet.
- When turning at the top and bottom of the form (i.e., the top and bottom of the "I"), you turn "looking at the back foot" (i.e., you make a 270° turn).
- When preparing for the knife-hand blocks, the back hand comes to the waist (just a little bit back), palm down; the front hand comes to the ear (maybe just a little bit back).
- When moving forward with knife-hand blocks, you need to make sure you twist the upper body in order to generate power through the shoulders on the move.
updated 21 April 2013
Tae Kwon Do >> Forms >> Pyong Ahn I
