Patterns>Chang-hon pattern set>Choong-jang

↩ Back

Choong-jang

Intro

Choong-jang was the pseudonym given to the great General Kim Duk Ryang, born in 1567.

Pattern history

Kim Duk Ryang was a Commander of the Royal Troops during the Yi Dynasty the 15th-century. In 1592, when the Japanese invaded Korea, led by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and the Imjin Wars began, he was promoted to General.

The invading Japanese were armed with around 300,000 imported muskets and faced Korean forces mostly armed with swords, bows, arrows, and spears in guerrilla groups. On land the Korean forces struggled, while at sea the naval forces of Admiral Yi Sun-Sin were victorious.

In 1594, General Kim Duk Ryang was commissioned as the commander in chief, in charge of the Honam District. He and another commander, General Ja Woo Kwak, attacked and destroyed various Japanese camps were able to repel the Japanese forces from the province. The Japanese soldiers were so afraid of General Kim Duk Ryang, that they nicknamed him General Ho-Ik (tiger wing) because of his bravery.

Bitter rivalries at court also impacted Kim Duk Ryang's life. In 1595, he was arrested in connection with the killing of a slave girl but was released by the Kings order, possibly due to his success on the battlefield. In 1596, because of his involvement in the rebellion of Mong Hak Lee, he was poisoned and died: however, his name was later cleared of any dishonor by the King.

Pattern movements

Number of Movements: 51

The pattern ends with a left-hand attack that signifies that he died in prison at the age of 27 on a false charge before he reached full maturity, which meant he was unable to demonstrate his full capability.

Diagram of movements

Pattern performance

There are numerous videos and explanations of the pattern movements available on the internet that show how to perform the pattern in the way preferred by your instructor, school, or organization. The following is an example of the ITF way to perform the pattern.

↩ Back