Taekwondo · first black-belt poomsae
Poomsae Koryo: meaning, history and sequence 고려 · 高麗
After the eight Taegeuk, the black belt opens a new chapter, and that chapter starts with the name of a kingdom. Koryo — the Goryeo dynasty that gave Korea its name in the West — is the form where taekwondo stops being only a set of basics and starts asking for a character.
| Name | Koryo / Goryeo 高麗, the Korean dynasty of 918–1392 |
|---|---|
| Level | First black-belt (yudanja) poomsae; commonly the test form for 2nd dan |
| Movements | 30 counts (about 50 techniques) |
| Floor line | 士 (seonbi, the scholar-gentleman) |
| Ready stance | Tongmilgi junbi — hands together in front of the lower abdomen |
A thousand years ago, a kingdom in the north of the peninsula resisted invaders for decades. Its scholars held swords; its soldiers read books.
The new black belt stands with hands joined in front of the belly. Not a fist yet: a breath, gathered low.
Two side kicks, low then middle, in one breath. The form draws the character 士 on the floor — the sign of the learned warrior.
Illustrative scene, not a historical record.
History
- 918–1392 · GoryeoThe Goryeo dynasty unified the Korean peninsula and resisted repeated invasions, including the Mongols. The word “Korea” comes from its name. [1]
- Before 1972 · an older KoryoIn the Palgwae era of the Korea Taekwondo Association, a different form already carried the name Koryo. It was replaced when the current poomsae system was set; the old version is now rarely seen. [2]
- 1970s · today’s KoryoThe current Koryo was created with the Taegeuk series as the first of the black-belt forms (Koryo, Keumgang, Taebaek, Pyongwon, Sipjin, Jitae, Cheonkwon, Hansu, Ilyeo). Kukkiwon, founded in 1972, keeps the official description. [3][4][2]
- Today · competitionKoryo is one of the recognised poomsae in World Taekwondo poomsae championships and a fixed part of dan grading around the world. [2][5]
The sequence, step by step
A summary in our own words to help you follow and remember the form. It does not replace a teacher, and details differ between associations. [6][7][8]
- Step 1/5
Ready · tongmilgi junbi
Open stance, hands rising and then pushed together slowly in front of the lower abdomen, as if holding a mountain. This new ready stance tells you at once: this is not a Taegeuk.
- Step 2/5
1–8 · the start line
To the left and then to the right: back stance with a double knife-hand block, the double side kick (low, then middle, without putting the foot down), a knife-hand strike in walking-forward stance, a reverse punch and a middle block. Balance on one leg is the first test.
- Step 3/5
9–15 · up the centre and back
Forward along the vertical stroke: low knife-hand block with an arc-hand (khaljaebi) to the throat, three front-kick advances with the knee break (mureup kkeokki) and a kihap on 11. Turn back and repeat with a wedging block (hecho makki), front kick and knee break.
- Step 4/5
16–23 · the second horizontal
In horse-riding stance (juchum-seogi): knife-hand block, target punch into your own open hand (pyojeok jireugi), a cross-step side kick, then a low spear-hand, low block, pressing palm block and side elbow strike. The same work is mirrored on the other side.
- Step 5/5
24–30 · home
Back on the start line: the knee break again, then outside and inside knife-hand strikes alternating with low knife-hand blocks while stepping. The last count is an arc-hand strike with kihap on 30. Return slowly to tongmilgi junbi.
Key stances
Meaning
Kukkiwon explains Koryo through the seonbae (선배): a person who joins a strong martial spirit with an upright, learned mind — an ideal it traces from Goguryeo through Balhae to Goryeo. Ko 高 means high; ryeo 麗 is read as beauty, union or brightness.
The floor line is 士, the character for the seonbi, the scholar who is also a warrior. The form is meant to build on the eight forces of the Taegeuk by uniting body (jeong), energy (ki) and mind (shin).
Variations between styles
| Style / body | What changes |
|---|---|
| Kukkiwon / World Taekwondo | The reference version described on this page, used for dan tests and poomsae competition. |
| Old Koryo (Palgwae era) | A different, earlier form with the same name. Some older schools still keep it. |
| ITF Ko-Dang / Juche | Not the same form: the ITF tul system has its own patterns and does not include this Koryo. |
Principles and applications
The double side kick teaches you to stop an advance low and finish high before the opponent resets. The knee break and the arc-hand show a close-range answer: control the leg or the throat after a block, not only strike.
Technically, Koryo is where precision starts to count: judges look at the height of the side kicks, a clean horse stance and the change of rhythm between slow, pressed techniques and fast ones.
Common mistakes
- Putting the foot down between the two side kicks.
- Ready stance done quickly, without the slow press.
- Horse stance too high or knees falling inwards.
- Arc-hand aimed at the chest instead of the throat line.
Sources
Content written by Wabukan from the sources below (checked on 2026-10-30). External links are references only.
- Wikipedia — Goryeo — en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia — Taekwondo forms (poomsae) — en.wikipedia.org
- Kukkiwon — Poomsae (official list) — kukkiwon.or.kr
- Wikipedia — Kukkiwon — en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia — Taekwondo (equipment and competition) — en.wikipedia.org
- Kukkiwon — Koryo (official poomsae description) — kukkiwon.or.kr
- OCM Taekwondo — Poomsae Koryo: line and movement table (PDF) — ocm-taekwondo.fr
- Phoenix Taekwondo — Poomsae Koryo — phoenixtaekwondo.net
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Updated: 2026-10-30