Dan Gun

This pattern was named after the legendary holy Dan Gun, who is said to have founded Korea in 2334 BC.
Movements – 21
Ready Posture – PARALLEL READY STANCE

The illustrations for this pattern assume that the student is standing on the X and facing D.

1 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
2 Move the right foot to B forming a right walking stance toward B while executing a high punch to B with the right fist
3 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
4 Move the left foot to A forming a left walking stance toward A while executing a high punch to A with the left fist
5 Move the left foot to D forming a left walking stance toward D while executing a low block to D with the left forearm
6 Move the right foot to D forming a right walking stance toward D while executing a high punch to D with the right fist
7 Move the left foot to D forming a left walking stance toward D while executing a high punch to D with the left fist
8 Move the right foot to D forming a right walking stance toward D while executing a high punch to D with the right fist
9 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
10 Move the right foot to E forming a right walking stance toward E while executing a high punch to E with the right fist
11 Move the right foot to F turning clockwise to form a left L-stance toward F while executing a twin forearm block to F
12 Move the left foot to F forming a left walking stance toward F while executing a high punch to F with the left fist
13 Move the left foot to C forming a left walking stance toward C while executing a low block to C with the left forearm
14 Execute a rising block with the left forearm, maintaining the left walking stance toward C Perform 13 and 14 in a continuous motion
15 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
16 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
17 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
18 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
19 Move the right foot to B forming a right walking stance toward B while executing a high punch to B with the right fist
20 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
21 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

THE KOREAN:
Narani chunbi sogi
Orun niunja sogi, kaunde sonkal daebi makgi.
Orun gunnun sogi, nopunde baro jirugi.
Wen niunja sogi, kaunde sonkal daebi makgi.
Wen gunnun sogi, nopunde baro jirugi.
Wen gunnun sogi, najunde bakat palmok makgi.
Orun gunnun sogi, nopunde baro jirugi.
Wen gunnun sogi, nopunde baro jirugi.
Orun gunnun sogi, nopunde baro jirugi.
Orun niunja sogi, sang palmok makgi.
Orun gunnun sogi, nopunde baro jirugi.
Wen niunja sogi, sang palmok makgi.
Wen gunnun sogi, nopunde baro jirugi.
Wen gunnun sogi, najunde bakat palmok makgi.
Wen gunnun sogi, chookyo makgi.
Orun gunnun sogi, chookyo makgi.
Wen gunnun sogi, chookyo makgi.
Orun gunnun sogi, chookyo makgi.
Orun niunja sogi, kaunde bakero sonkal taerigi.
Orun gunnun sogi, nopunde baro jirugi.
Wen niunja sogi, kaunde bakero sonkal taerigi.
Wen gunnun sogi, nopunde baro jirugi.
END: Bring the left foot back to a ready posture.

EXTENDED HISTORY:
Korea’s legend is about their descent from Dan Gun.
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 (Hwang-Ung settled in what is now called North Korea, at the highest point on the peninsula), this was approximately 2333 B.C.
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 built the first altar on Kang-Wha Island in 2265 B.C. This altar today is atop the island’s highest peak, Muni-San, and is known as Dan-Gun’s Altar.
Dan-Gun lived with his wife, Pi So-Ap, and his sons, who are said to have built the fortress of Sam- Nang at Chung-Dung Island.
In 1122 the uncle of the Shang King of China, Ki-Ja, escaped the overthrow Shang Dynasty and migrated to Korea with 5000 followers.
According to the legend, after reigning for 1,211 years, Dan-Gun fled from the Ki-Ja forces to the town of Mun-Wha , resumed his spirit form, and disappeared from the earth.
The shrine to the “Trinity” in Mun-Wha today contains his 410-foot circumference “grave.” The Ki-Ja assumed the rule of Korea from 1122 B.C. to 193 B.C.
October 3rd is celebrated in Korea as a national holiday, commemorating the founding father, Dan Gun. 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.