Pattern History - Tong-Il Tul
Tong-ll is the 6th degree black belt form used in ITF-style taekwondo, the last of the ITF forms. Tong Il denotes the resolution of the unification of Korea that has been divided since 1945. The word Tong-Il in Korean literally translates as "unification". Movement 38 of this Tul symbolically represents the smashing or breaking of the 38th Parallel dividing the two Korea's.
After Japan occupied Korea in 1910, the country remained part of the Japanese Empire until 1945. Following Japan's surrender at the end of World War II, Korea was liberated from the Japanese. As it was liberated by both Soviet and US forces, the responsibility for overseeing the rebuilding and rehabilitation of Korea was divided between the two sides, and the country was divided along the 38th parallel. The USSR occupied Korea north of this line, the USA occupied the south. Under the auspices of the UN, a democratic government established the Republic of Korea (South Korea) in 1948, with its capital in Seoul.
The Soviets established the communist Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) with its capital in Pyongyang. The peninsula remains divided in this way to this day. Korea has not been truly free since Japan started to encroach in 1876, and has been divided since 1945, not just in terms of being two separate states - the ideologies and politics of the two countries are also vastly different. It was the dream of our Founder, General Choi Hong Hi, to see a unified Korea.
After Japan occupied Korea in 1910, the country remained part of the Japanese Empire until 1945. Following Japan's surrender at the end of World War II, Korea was liberated from the Japanese. As it was liberated by both Soviet and US forces, the responsibility for overseeing the rebuilding and rehabilitation of Korea was divided between the two sides, and the country was divided along the 38th parallel. The USSR occupied Korea north of this line, the USA occupied the south. Under the auspices of the UN, a democratic government established the Republic of Korea (South Korea) in 1948, with its capital in Seoul.
The Soviets established the communist Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) with its capital in Pyongyang. The peninsula remains divided in this way to this day. Korea has not been truly free since Japan started to encroach in 1876, and has been divided since 1945, not just in terms of being two separate states - the ideologies and politics of the two countries are also vastly different. It was the dream of our Founder, General Choi Hong Hi, to see a unified Korea.
Above: The two Korea's today. On the left, the North Korean Flag viewed across the DMZ. On the right, the South Korean Flag positioned near the closest South Korean Village to the border.
Above: General Choi Hong Hi symbolically smashing the 38th Parallel (Pattern Tong-Il Tul : Movement 38). It was the Founder's dream, that one day, Korea might be whole again.
