Taegeuk Il Jang in sections

Setup

1. Give each student a clear lane and a start spot marked with a cone or tape, all facing the front. Stagger the rows so everyone can see the sabeom.
2. Show the floor pattern before any technique: Taegeuk Il Jang travels along three lines across the mat, joined by a line up the middle, and finishes back on the start spot.
3. Split the form into the sections your club already uses, for example the first line, the middle line, the far line and the return. Young beginners may learn one section per class.
4. ITF clubs can adapt this to their first tul. Which form is needed for each grading varies, so check your federation's grading syllabus.

How it runs

1. The sabeom performs the section once at full speed, then once slowly while the class watches.
2. The class follows the sabeom through the section, holding each finished stance until the sabeom has checked it.
3. Students perform the section alone on the sabeom's count, then once more with no count, at their own steady pace.
4. Link sections: section one, then one and two together, then one to three, building towards the whole form.
5. Finish by running everything the class knows from charyeot, kyeongye, junbi and sijak through to baro (return) at the end.
6. Pairs: one student performs while the partner watches for one thing only, such as 'did the stance land at the same moment as the block or punch?', then they swap.

Coaching points

• Eyes first: turn the head so the eyes reach the new direction before the body turns.
• Stance and technique finish together, then a small, still pause before the next move.
• This form uses both short walking stances and long front stances; the difference in length should be easy to see.
• Kihap where the form calls for it: short, loud and from the stomach.
• Check the finish. Ending well away from the start spot means some stances were the wrong length.

Common mistakes

• Turning the wrong way at the start of a line. Use a landmark such as a window or the flags to anchor directions.
• The block or punch finishing well before or after the stance lands.
• Stances getting shorter and higher as the form goes on.
• Rushing to the end instead of finishing each move.