This is just a short post about the 1965 version of Tong-Il. Most of the original 20 patterns had minor changes between the 1965 and modern versions. But Tong-Il underwent more substantial revision. Jukka Ahola has uploaded a performance of the original version here
For comparison, here is the revised, modern version
A lot is still the same, but the changes include:
- Both the opening and ending set are altered
- A single-mountain block precedes the inward-crescent kick in the 1965 version, whereas an outward backhand precedes the crescent kick (striking the palm) in the 1982 version
- There are no outward-crescent kicks. Front kicks are used instead.
- Instead of "angled fingertip strikes", crescent punches are used in the 1965 version
It seems these changes were in part to add new techniques, and in part to make the pattern a little more challenging to perform. The original ending is perhaps too similar to Gae-Baek's ending, so it was changed to include two separate finishing techniques.
Do you believe the older version is more suited and geared toward practical combat, seeing as they were introduced first to Korean soldiers who were facing the possibility of being sent off to the Vietnam war? The second version might be tweaked to make it more challenging as at that time there were no longer any practical military reason «holding it back»?
ReplyDeleteI don't believe there is a substantial difference in practicality between the two, but the 1965 version may be more "straightforward". Utilizing front kicks to the opponent's knee instead of outward crescent kicks to their head, for example. However, the reason you take two steps backwards in opening of the 1982 version (as opposed to one step in the 1965 version) is to make the release more effective.
DeleteI do think I prefer the crescent punches in the 1965 version. A crescent punch to the jaw creates an easier knockout. Whereas the "angled fingertip strike" is likely meant to be applied as a combination palm-strike and eye-poke.
Thanks for the answer :-) I am wondering if you see a similar trend as I do that the longer away we get from the 1959, 1965, 1966 versions the more flashier and aesthetically driven the changes become? Juche is much more athletically demanding than Ko-Dang and then there’s the whole sine wave thing. Also the original position they replaced with bending ready stance a in the 1970s are some examples as I see them.
DeleteJuche is certainly meant to be more challenging to perform. But I have argued in the past that it still has applications. The flying two-direction kick, for example, is almost certainly based on a movement from Kenwa Mabuni's 1938 book, but it's meant to be applied on the ground instead of in the air, which is why the kick ends landing into a twin palm rising block. You are supposed to be lifting the opponent's leg while standing up.
Deletehttps://footfist-way.blogspot.com/2018/05/18-juche-two-direction-kick.html
We run into the same problem with Moon-Moo -- also not one of the original 20 patterns -- which is obviously meant to pretty and challenging to perform, but still has "applications".