73: Why did poomsae Ilyeo change?

Time for some more pattern revision nerdiness. Let's talk about the highest kukki-taekwondo poomsae, Ilyeo.

 

You see, I own a copy of this 1975 book.

 

 

 

 

It contains instructions for the 8 Taeguek and 9 Yujanda (black belt) poomsae. A while back I noticed a curious difference in the written instructions for Ilyeo: the form is symmetric. The movements are performed on both sides, except for a change in the direction of one kick which I'll be focusing on.

This makes sense as all the other Yujanda poomsae are symmetric. It's a fairly short form with few unique movements. Why not practice them on both sides? 

 

Anyway, the portion where you leapt into the "crane back stance" looked like this in 1975 Ilyeo.

 

First half (left) vs second half (right) of the 1975 poomsae

 

 

In both cases, the spearhand was performed on the same side as the lifted leg. The first time, you kick to the front. The second time, you kick to your right.

 

In modern Ilyeo it looks like this 

 

First half (left) vs second half (right). Source video

 

I apologize if it's hard to see. You appear at first to be repeating the first half of the poomsae. But when you leap into the crane back stance the second time, although the left leg is still raised, the hands are switched. You perform the spearhand with your right hand, whereas before you did it with your left hand. Then you kick to your left.

 

This change makes the whole poomsae more repetitive. In 1975 Ilyeo, you performed the back stance diamond block twice in R. back stance and twice in L. back stance. You performed the high X-fist block twice in R. back stance and twice in L. back stance.

 

In modern Ilyeo, you perform the diamond block four times in R. back stance. 

 

So if you're wondering why Ilyeo is so darn repetitive, it was originally symmetric.

 

So why did they change it? My theory is it had to do with the floor pattern.

 

 

The KTA wanted the floor pattern for each poomsae to have a symbolic meaning.  So for Ilyeo, you turn 90-degrees during the second kick so that you follow this floor pattern.

The problem is this turn doesn't match the underlying application.

Leg reaping application of the back crane stance. Left spearhand knocks opponent to the floor. Source: moncoachjudo

We may utilize the crane back stance with the left spearhand as a throw. If this throw fails, then we end up just pushing the opponent forward, hence why it makes sense to kick to the front while still controlling the opponent's left arm.

 

This problem of matching a symbolic floor pattern caused issues in multiple KTA poomsae, not just Ilyeo. But it seems somebody at the KTA cared about the floor pattern, but also cared about fixing this particular application issue. So they made a change: mirror the hand movements but not the stance. When you do this, the application changes.

In-context application for the right spearhand thrust. Image source: Gun Carrier

A different application for the spearhand is to hammerlock the opponent's arm. Use the supporting hand to pull in their triceps while you force their forearm back with the spearing arm.  

Not only does the application for the spearhand change, the application for the stance changes as well. You leap forward to get left of your opponent. The leg lift is used to just lift your rear leg out of the way, as well as set up the kick.

From here it makes sense to kick to your left, because that's where your opponent's legs are.