Chul-Gi

This Traditional Taekwondo form is also used in Shotokan Karate. There may be differences between the Taekwondo version and the Karate version of this form.

Chul-Gi (also called Chulgi or Naihanchi Cho-Dan) is the name of one of the oldest "taekwondo" forms (having originated from karate, before the formal establishment of what is now called taekwondo); nowadays it is rarely practiced in taekwondo, though sometimes it is still seen in ITF-style andTraditional Taekwondo schools. Many of the founders of the Nine Kwans studied Shotokan karate, and as a consequence many of the earliest taekwondo forms (such as Chul-Gi) are based on karate forms. 

Shotokan Karate is a derivative of Okinawan shurite, and the basis of shurite is form called Naihanchi; more specifically this form is the first in a series of three Naihanchi forms: Naihanchi Cho-Dan. Or to put it another way, there are three Naihanchi forms, of which Chu-Gi is one:

  • Naihanchi Cho-Dan - also known simply as Chul-Gi, the form described here
  • Naihanchi Ee-Dan - sometimes also called Chulgi Ee-Dan
  • Naihanchi Sam-Dan - sometimes also called Chulgi Sam-Dan

When the name "Chul-Gi" alone is used (without a number such as Cho, Ee, or Sam) then the term Chul-Gi usually refers just to the form shown here. Some believe that these three forms were originally a single form with more than 100 steps, but that the single form was eventually divided into these three smaller pieces.

Gichin Funakoshi renamed this form Tekki when he brought Karate to Japan. In Korean, Tekki is known as Chulgi. Chulgi is a very old form thought to be Chinese in origin and possibly brought to Okinawa by the legendary Bushi Nabe Matsumura. Others say that it was practiced in Okinawa even before Matsumura was born. In either case, Chulgi was practiced from Matsumura's lifetime (1860-1930) onwards.

Chul-Gi literally means Iron Horse and stresses techniques performed in a Horse-Riding Stance.

 

Video

 

Diagram

This diagram is copyright John B. Correljé and is used with permission. Terms and conditions are available at http://sites.google.com/site/tangsoodochonkyong

Nai-Hanji-Cho.jpg


Note that the numbering scheme used for the steps in this diagram is not the same as the numbering scheme used for the written instructions below.

Written Instructions

The Beginning

  • 1. Begin in a ready stance that's a bit like an Overlapped Hands ready stance, but with two exceptions: (1) the feet are shoulder-width apart, just like a conventional Ready Stance; and (2), the left open-hand is covering the right-fist.
  • 2. Bring the left foot to the right foot into a Closed Stance (i.e., legs together). Twist the torso to the right (so that your torso and head are facing the Ra direction) while crossing the left hand over the right fist down at the right waist. (This is a bit like a Large Hinge Block to the right waist, but with an open hand on the right fist.)
  • 3. Without moving the feet, twist the torso to the left. By the time the torso is facing straight forward again (Ga), you should be in a position a bit like a Covered Fist Posture, with your two hands in front of your chest, the left open-hand still covering the right fist. Without pausing, keep twisting the torso to the left (until your torso and head are facing the Da direction) and bring the covered-hands back down again to about belt level.
  • 4. Step to the right: Cross the left foot in front of the right foot, so that it's to the right of the right foot. Then turn your torso and head so that you're facing the Ra direction again, and perform a Right Axe Kick to the right side (where the leg is chambered and then strikes inside-to-outside).

First time through...

  • 5a. Step down with the right foot into a Horse-Riding Stance. Your legs should be facing in the Ga direction, but your torso and head should be turned to the right, so that they're facing in the Ra direction. Right Outward Backfist Strike to the temple, at a target on your right side.
  • 5b. Without stepping, Left Elbow Target Strike into the right palm, again to a target on your right side.
  • 6a. Without stepping, without pausing, Left Low Block.
  • 6b. Without stepping, without pausing, with your head facing left, Left Rear Elbow Strike while simultaneously Right Turning Punch. Kihap.
  • 7. Step to the left: Cross the right foot in front of the left foot, so that it's to the left of the left foot. Then turn your torso and head so that you're facing the Da direction. Left Axe Kick to the left side (where the leg is chambered and then strikes inside-to-outside).
  • 8a. Step down with the left foot into Horse-riding Stance. Your torso and head should be facing the Ga direction. Chamber the right fist to the left armpit, then Right Backfist Strike.
  • 8b. Without stepping, without pausing, Right Low Block. Simultaneously, Left Rear Backfist Strike to an opponent behind you, as if hitting them in the face with your left backfist.
  • 9. Without stepping, Left Uppercut.
  • 10. Bring the left foot to the right knee, then put the left foot back down into Horse-Riding Stance. Left Augmented Outward Block (aka, Assisted Trunk Block) to the left side.
  • 11. Bring the right foot to the left knee, then put the right foot back down into Horse-Riding Stance. Again with the left hand, perform a Left Middle Block to the right side.
  • 12. Without stepping, Simultaneous Punch to the left side.
  • 13a. Without stepping, Large Hinge Block to the right side.

13b-20 is very nearly a mirror-image of 5-12

  • 13b. Without stepping, Left Outward Backfist Strike to the left side.
  • 13c. Without stepping, with the torso still turned to the left, Right Elbow Target Strike into the left palm.
  • 14a. Without stepping, Right Low Block.
  • 14b. Without stepping, without pausing, with your head facing right, Right Rear Elbow Strike while simultaneously Left Turning Punch. Kihap.
  • 15. Step to the right: Cross the left foot in front of the right foot and perform a Right Low Side Kick. (This kick breaks the "mirror-image" aspect of the form. Previously this was an Axe Kick.)
  • 16a. Step down with the right foot into Horse-Riding Stance. Chamber the left fist to the right armpit, then Left Backfist Strike.
  • 16b. Without stepping, without pausing, Left Low Block. Simultaneously, Right Rear Backfist Strike to an opponent behind you, as if hitting them in the face with your right backfist.
  • 17. Without stepping, Right Uppercut.
  • 18. Bring the right foot to the left knee, then put the right foot back down into Horse-Riding Stance. Right Augmented Outward Block (aka, Assisted Trunk Block) to the right side.
  • 19. Bring the left foot to the right knee, then put the left foot back down into Horse-Riding Stance. Again with the right hand, perform a Right Middle Block to the right side.
  • 20. Without stepping, Simultaneous Punch to the right side. Kihap.

Conclusion

  • 21. Bring the right foot to the left foot into Closed Stance facing the Ga direction. Large Hinge Block to the right side.
  • 22. Slide the left foot to the right to return to the Ready Stance from Step 1.