Your question is a little unclear...

Are you talking about the section where you thrust in sodosae (basically in the middle of the form, after the left-hand only cut and clear)?

If so, as I know it you will be in sodosae for the thrust (facing to the left of your orignal starting position) and then reverse direction into gachi-baegi. (leaving you facing to the right of your starting position.)

Thanks Anthony, That does help . I will try to be clearer in the future.


Joe Kupina

It can be really complicated to describe motion!

I write up all of the forms as I learn them for my own use. This serves two purposes: the very act of writing them down helps me to memorize the form more quickly, and I can refer back to the notes later on if I find I've forgotten some subtle point.

For directions, I always refer to directions I'm moving or facing by using the compass points 0, 90, 180 and 270 degrees. For example, I might write

4. Turn counter clockwise to face 180° while stepping back with left foot as ...

I only use the terms left and right as relative to the direction I'm currently facing. For example:

13. Left foot steps to left in a ...

I also use the clockwise and counter clockwise directions. For example:

15. Left foot steps forward, then turn clockwise and step back with right foot to face 270° ...

Tony

It's also helpful to use North, South, East, and West in your descriptions. Assume all forms start facing North in choonbijaseh.

then you can say something like:

"turn right 90 deg, step with right foot to East, and make a left 45 deg cut." - or however you might describe it.

it makes descriptions more clear.

I've worked with systems that use north, south, etc. For example, the american taekwondo association (ATA) uses compass directions in its form descriptions. Of course, as you say, the starting direction becomes extremely important. You suggest north as a starting direction. The ATA uses East as its starting direction, which I personally find somewhat non-intuitive. It works, though.

Just like different people learn in different ways, I've found that no one direction system is going to work for everyone. Being of an engineering bent, absolute numbers resonate best for me.

Tony

When we go into Bok-Ho-Se in this form, do we go backwards or to the left (backwards meaning we face forward with the sword pointed forward and our stretched leg facing forward), left having all these pointing to the right?

Haidong,
Dean.

I was taught to go into bok-ho-se by stepping out with my left foot and bringing my right foot in as I emerge from the position. It's my understanding that I'm receiving an attack from in front of me and that my sword should be pointed to my right, forward, and slightly downward. As I rise out of bok-ho-se I push my opponent's sword upwards (to open my opponent's torso to attack) and bring my sword down to my left side to follow through with an upward cut from left to right to my opponent's midsection while stepping forward with my right foot into natural stance.

Are there any other variation's of the interpretation out there?

With the exception of the upwards push when rising from bok-ho-se we practise it the same way.

Having a push does seem to be a logical move to preceed the upper cut.