Toi-Gye
37 moves
Toi-Gye is the pen name of the scholar Yi Hwang, a neo-Confucian scholar in the 16th century. The 37 movements refer to his birthplace on the 37th latitude.
The most challenging part of this form for most students is the series of distinctive mountain blocks that are performed halfway through. They must be executed in a deep riding stance with a solid foundation.
Start with feet together and hands clasped in front, left hand over right fist and knuckles facing out as if holding a sword and shield.
Step the left foot out into a left back stance facing West. Left hand inside block.
Slide the left foot to the side into a left front stance facing West. Pull the left hand sharply to the shoulder while executing an inverted low finger thrust with the right hand.
Pull the left foot back next to the right foot to stand upright facing North. Low block with the left hand and backwards backfist strike with the right hand (perform this slowly). Kihap.
Step the right foot out into a right back stance facing East. Right hand inside block.
Slide the right foot to the side into a right front stance facing East. Pull the right hand sharply to the shoulder while executing an inverted low finger thrust with the left hand.
Pull the right foot back next to the left foot to stand upright facing North. Low block with the right hand and backwards backfist strike with the left hand (perform this slowly).
Step forward with the left foot into a left front stance facing North. Low X-block.
Maintaining the same stance, double face punch.
Keeping the hands where they are, right leg front kick.
Land forward into a right front stance. Right (front) hand middle punch.
Maintaining the same stance, left (back) hand middle punch.
Bring the left foot to the right foot to stand upright facing West. Double elbow strike backwards. Kihap.
Step with the right foot forward and in a stomping motion into a riding stance facing South, rotating counter clockwise while doing so. Mountain block with both hands upright.
Pick up the left foot and step to the West, rotating clockwise and stomping into a riding stance facing North. Mountain block.
Pick up the left foot again and step to the east, rotating clockwise and stomping into a riding stance facing South. Mountain block.
Pick up the right foot and step to the West, rotating counterclockwise and stomping into a riding stance facing North. Mountain block.
Pick up the left foot again and step to the West, rotating clockwise and stomping into a riding stance facing South. Mountain block.
Pick up the left foot again and step to the West, rotating clockwise and stomping into a riding stance facing North. Mountain block.
Bring the right foot to the left foot, then step with the left foot into a left back stance facing north. Low section twin knifehand guarding block.
Thrust both hands forward as if to grab the opponent's head or neck while sliding the left foot to the side to form a left front stance facing North.
Sharply pull both hands downwards while executing a knee strike with the right leg.
Lower the right foot to the left foot, then step with the left foot South into a left back stance facing South. Middle twin knifehand guarding block.
Low (knee-level) front kick with the left leg.
Put the left foot back down into a left front stance facing South. Slow unsupported high spear finger with the left foot.
Step forward into into a right back stance facing South. Middle twin knifehand guarding block.
Low (knee-level) front kick with the right leg.
Put the right foot back down into a right front stance facing South. Slow unsupported high spear finger with the right foot.
Step backwards into a left back stance facing South. Low block with the left (back) hand and backwards backfist with the right (back) hand.
Jump forward (South) into a twist stance with the right foot flat and the left foot on the toes just behind it. Low X-block directly downward. Kihap.
Pick up the right foot and step into a right front stance facing South. Double front block.
Pick up the left foot and swing counterclockwise into a left back stance facing West. Low section twin knifehand guarding block.
Shift the left foot to the side into a left front stance facing West. Slow scooping inside block with the right hand out to 45º.
Bring the left foot in to the right foot, then step out with the right foot into a right back stance facing East. Low section twin knifehand guarding block.
Shift the right foot to the side into a right front stance facing East. Slow scooping inside block with the left hand out to 45º.
Shift and rotate the feet without otherwise moving them into a left front stance facing Northwest. Slow scooping inside block with the right hand out to 45º (the block will effectively be in the same direction as in #34).
Shift and rotate the feet without otherwise moving them into a right front stance facing East. Slow scooping inside block with the left hand out to 45º (again, this block will effectively be in the same direction as in #34 and #35).
Pick up the right foot and then step into a riding stance facing North. Right middle punch. Kihap.