48. Hwa-Rang back stance punches

The three back stance punches in Hwa-Rang are an odd feature. The set appears in no Pinan/Heian kata. If they were intended to be used as punches, then a front stance would be more powerful. It's noteworthy that Hwa-Rang is an asymmetric pattern, meaning that presumably all three punches are necessary.

Hwa-Rang was made in the mid 1950s when the nascent Ch'ang Hon Taekwon-Do still used Shotokan karate chambers [1]. This means the low block was performed with the blocking tool traveling outside the reaction arm. One application of this chamber is a parry-pass to get outside the opponent's left arm.

Low parry pass. Image source: Traditional Taekwondo Ramblings

We also move to a 90-degree angle from our opponent, represented by the 90-degree turn in the pattern.

From here, the "punch" could be simply a strike to the rib cage or side of the face. But we could also use it to grab the back of the opponent's shirt as you pull their arm with your reaction hand. We will be forcing this arm behind the opponent's back.

Step forward and pull in the back of the opponent's shirt (to prevent them from turning around) while forcing their arm behind them (the second "punch"). Why do this as a back hand punch? We are keeping the opponent's body close to ours (pulling them towards our front hip) for better control.

For the third and final punch we create a rear wrist lock. Grab the opponent's wrist with your right fist. Step forward and compress their backhand towards their head (the third and final "punch"), while maintaining control of their elbow with your left fist.

Some examples of a rear gooseneck lock, two pulled from the Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do. Source for left image: Sabeel Combatives

This lock is not very powerful, so we switch into the X-fist pressing block. One application of this technique is a "double wrist lock" or "kimura". Slip your left arm over and under the opponent's left arm and grab your own right wrist. Turn counter-clockwise and force the opponent downwards with the X-fist pressing block. This technique is powerful and can damage the opponent's shoulder.

Example of a double wrist lock, which may be used to drive the opponent to the ground. Source: Sidewinder Jiu Jitsu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 [1] You may find evidence of this in Gen Choi's 1959 book Taekwon-Do Teaching Manual

47. Kwang-Gae opening

The opening of Kwang-Gae is similar to the opening of the kata Kushanku. But when we circle our arms low, in Kwang-Gae we perform closed ready stance B, whereas in Kushanku the hands come down in front of the groin.

One of the applications for closed ready stance B is a headlock. So if we use the heaven hand to block a right haymaker, we may then strike the opponent's neck (the splitting hands) and then try to wrap our right arm around the opponent's head, placing them into a headlock as shown in the combined gif below.

You can perform this with or without overhooking the opponent's right arm.

We then apply a guillotine choke. Grab and pull in the opponent's shirt with the pulling hand while squeezing their neck against your right side with the upset punch. This is why the upset punch is performed in slow motion, to indicate either that the technique is difficult or an unusual application, not that you would perform it in slow motion against a live opponent! Usually for a guillotine choke your hands remain clasped (see the example below) so I assume the pulling hand is performing some assisting function such as pulling in the opponent's front shirt to keep them lowered.

MMA teacher miming the guillotine choke (left) as a close uppercut motion. The guillotine choke may also be done while overhooking the opponent's right arm (right). Source: HowCast

Given the follow-up movements provided by the pattern (e.g. the next set with the palm hooking block may be used as a reverse head throw), I suspect we are intended to overhook the right arm so that we still have control if the opponent backs out of the headlock.

But Does It Work?

Although this technique is taught in some self-defense and karate circles, I've read criticisms from wrestlers that no one will just let you lower their head like that. A guillotine choke is usually applied against an attempted tackle, because the opponent's head is already lowered.

This makes the technique somewhat opportunistic. If striking the opponent's neck with the splitting hands causes the opponent to lower their head, then a guillotine choke is appropriate. If they do not lower their head, then the pattern provides other options (additional strikes to the neck, a knee to the groin, etc). Additionally, the pulling hand and the drop into front stance may used simultaneously to pull down the opponent's front shirt, lowering their torso.

46. Taegeuk 5 supported elbow strike

The first six Taeguek poomsae are fairly simple compared to the ITF color belt forms, but one set from Taeguek Oh Jang (5) caught my eye.

Performance by HorizonSuccess Coach

The technique on the right is a high elbow strike with a supporting palm placed on the right fist. This is unusual since the left hand appears to be doing nothing: it does not add power to the strike and cannot be used to pull the opponent. The strike is performed after a three-quarter back turn into a single knifehand block.

Instead of a strike, you may apply the technique as a wrist lock, demonstrated by Orjan Nilsen below

Source: Traditional Taekwondo Ramblings

While this a fine technique, there a few issues I have with it: there is no step to grab the opponent's wrist (as opposed to the set in Koryo where the "downward palm block" may be used to grab the wrist), the elbow "strike" should be lower so as to place pressure on the opponent's arm, and this doesn't explain the previous movement, the turn into the single knifehand block.

So if it's something other than a strike or a lock, what is it?

I believe the secret comes from the three-quarter back turn. We may use this to get behind the opponent. First, let's interpret the preceding backfist strike as us being outside the opponent's left arm, striking their neck or temple. After you strike, slide your left hand under the opponent's arm while your right fist comes back and grabs the opponent's arm (knifehand block chamber). As you turn, keep ahold of their left arm with your right fist and use the knifehand "block" to push out their rear shoulder. Performed quickly, this will place you behind the opponent.

From here we could strike the back of their head (as in many patterns). But we could also use a restraining hold. As you step forward, underhook the opponent's right arm with your right arm (the high elbow "strike"). Reach and grasp your hands together behind the opponent. This completes the hold.

Source: George Vranos

So the "elbow strike" may be applied as an underhook from behind.

For a similar example, see Iain Abernethy's application of the elbow strike from Seienchin below. In this case he does not have an overhook with the other arm. Instead, he turns this into a stranglehold, using the hikite to pull the opponent's collar.

9-25-2023 I just wanted to add a link to Master ByungSeok Lee's video on this technique. He presents a few more application ideas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J12Je4a8EJg 

In the interest of completion, it was pointed out to me that the movement could also be a strangle from behind. I recently found some images which show this application, posted below.

Bottom images source: SenseiIylli