Dan-Gun
DAN-GUN is named after the holy Dan-Gun, the legendary founder of Korea in the year
of 2,333 B.C.E.
Download Instructions in PDF format
Ready Position - Parallel Ready Stance, facing North
- Move the left foot to B forming a right L-stance toward B, at the same time executing
a middle guarding block to B with a knife-hand.
- Move the right foot to B forming a right walking stance toward B while executing
a high punch to B with the right fist.
- Move the right foot to A turning clockwise to form a left L-stance toward A, at
the same time executing a middle guarding block to A with a knife-hand.
- Move the left foot to A forming a left walking stance toward A while executing a
high punch to A with the left fist.
- Move the left foot to D forming a left walking stance toward D while executing a
low block to D with the left forearm.
- Move the right foot to D forming a right walking stance toward D while executing
a high punch to D with the right fist.
- Move the left foot to D forming a left walking stance toward D while executing a
high punch to D with the left fist.
- Move the right foot to D forming a right walking stance toward D while executing
a high punch to D with the right fist.
Ki-Hap
- Move the left foot to E, turning counter clockwise to form a right L-stance toward
E while executing a twin forearm block to E.
- Move the right foot to E forming a right walking stance toward E while executing
a high punch to E with the right fist.
- Move the right foot to F turning clockwise to form a left L-stance toward F while
executing a twin forearm block to F.
- Move the left foot to F forming a left walking stance toward F while executing a
high punch to F with the left fist.
- Move the left foot to C forming a left walking stance toward C while executing a
low block to C with the left forearm.
- Execute a rising block with the left forearm, maintaining the left walking stance
toward C. Perform 13 and 14 in a continuous motion.
- Move the right foot to C forming a right walking stance toward C, at the same time
executing a rising block with the right forearm.
- Move the left foot to C forming a left walking stance toward C, at the same time
executing a rising block with the left forearm.
- Move the right foot to C forming a right walking stance toward C, at the same time
executing a rising block with the right forearm.
Ki-Hap
- Move the left foot to B turning counter clockwise to form a right L-stance toward
B while executing a middle outward strike to B with the left knife-hand.
- Move the right foot to B forming a right walking stance toward B while executing
a high punch to B with the right fist.
- Move the right foot to A turning clockwise to form a left L-stance toward A while
executing a middle outward strike to A with the right knife-hand.
- Move the left foot to A forming a left walking stance toward A while executing a
high punch to A with the left fist.
END: Bring the left foot back to a ready posture.
Other Reources
Official ITF video for Dan-Gun Tul
General Choi instructing Dan-Gun Tul
The History Behind "Dan-Gun"
This pattern was named after the legendary holy Dan Gun, who is said to have founded
Korea in 2333 B.C.E. As a spiritual figure, Dan-Gun is still worshipped today as
the first ancestor of the Korean people, and remains in the people’s minds the firm
spiritual root of the Korean nation.
The legend of Dan-Gun takes place in the time when heaven and earth were one and
when animals could speak like humans. The God Hwanin sent his son Hwang-Ung to the
East to build a new country.
One day a tiger and a bear appeared in front of Hwang-Ung and asked that they be
made into human form. After great thought Hwang-Ung informed the animals that their
wish could be granted, but it would be difficult and take much patience. The animals
agreed that they would do whatever it took to become human.
Hwang-Ung gave the tiger and the bear 20 garlic cloves and some mugworts. They were
told to eat them, stay in a cave and pray earnestly for 100 days.
After 20 days the tiger became hungry and could no longer continue, so he left the
cave in search of food. But when the 100 days were almost at an end, the bear began
to lose its fur and its rear feet began to change, until at the end of the 100th
day the bear had fully transformed into a beautiful woman. She became known as Ung-Yo,
which means "the girl incarnated from a bear".
Hwang-Ung then married Ung-Yo, and she gave birth to a son, who was named Dan-Gun.
This child gave rise to the first Korean Dynasty.
Dan Gun is said to have lived with his wife, Pi So-Ap, and their sons, at the fortress
of Sam- Nang on Chung-Dung Island. According to the legend, after reigning for 1,211
years, Dan-Gun assumed a spirit form and disappeared from the earth.
The date October 3rd is celebrated in Korea as a national holiday, commemorating
the founding father, Dan Gun.