Forms comparisons: My school's, and two manuals...

[bushido_man96]

Ok, here's the deal. I learned my new form last night, called Se-Jong hyung. Since it was my first night doing it, I got through it, and got it memorized for the most part in my head. Then, what I usually do, is look up the form in some of my books at home, and go through it until I have it down.

I did this last night, and looked first in Master Hee Il Cho's book The Complete Tae Kwon Do Hyung, volume 2. There were some little variations from the way my school does the form, like target areas and stances, but that has been the norm. However, at one point I noticed some serious directional deviations:

My school: after move 7 (reinforced backfist strike), we turn 180 degrees to move 8 (right punch), then to move 9, we turn 180 degrees to a sitting stance, double forearm guarding blocks (we just call it fighting stance). Then step forward to move 10 with right leg to spear hand.

Cho's manual: after move 7 (reinforced backfist strike), Cho turns 180 degrees to move 8 (right punch), to move 9 (fighting stance), he only turns 90 degrees. Then, for move 10, the right foot adjusts to step into the spear hand strike, facing the same direction.

Choi's Encyclopedia: Choi's is even more different. After move 7 (reinforced backfist) he steps 90 degrees to the right to move 8 (right punch). Then, Choi turns 180 degrees to the left to move 9 (fighting stance in back stance, left foot forward), then step forward with the right foot to move 10 (spear hand). In all cases, the spear hand strike ends up facing in the same direction, and in the same stance.

The bold face is what is different than the way our school does it. I was wondering if anyone else has some variations like this in their forms that they notice. It seems strange that there is so much variation, especially between Cho and Choi, when Master Cho is a first generation black belt of General Choi. And my school is quite a bit different, too.

Another thing I noticed: in our school, Se-Jong comes before Yoo-Sin. Cho puts Yoo-Sin first, and Gen. Choi's manual says that Se-Jong is to be practiced by the 5th degree and higher ranks.

There are some other little differences that I can point out, too, but this is the major one. What are your comments?

[HKD_Florida]

Many instructors simply have their own preferences. It's not really a big deal. So, in essence, they are all "correct" depending on your point of view.

Jeff

[bushido_man96]

I agree with you. I am not arguing correctness, per se. I am just noting the differences, and wondering why they get changed like they do. I understand it has to do with interpretations.

The GM of my school is big into using the whole body in a technique, using good twisting motions to generate power. With that in mind, I can see why his version of the form flows the way that it does.

I just found the variations striking enough that I thought they would generate some good discussions. By the way, welcome to KarateForums!

[tufrthanu]

You know bushido it really does depend on who's teaching it. Choi even changed some stuff in his own forms. His original book has the forms done karate style. Now they are done with the sine wave. My original tkd school taught some korean forms and some shotokan forms none of which matched perfectly to the originals. The school I'm at now teaches the original version of Chung Bong 6 when almost all of the other schools in the area teach a modified version.

[bushido_man96]

Yeah, I agree. I would just like to see or hear an explanation as to why the changes take place. Does anyone else have some technical differences in their forms that they would like to add?