The set of patterns taught to coloured belt (kup grade) students varies between styles of Taekwondo, and which governing body the club falls under. As Spinning Kick focuses on World Taekwondo style training this page will cover the Taegeuk series of patterns.

As a word, Taegeuk refers to the unity of opposites, such as yin and yang. Taegeuk is also the name of the red and blue circle in the middle of the South Korean flag. The Palgwae series of patterns were originally used by World Taekwondo, but the Taegeuk series was developed to better represent input from the schools of Taekwondo that joined the Korea Taekwondo Association in the late 1960’s.

Before 1971, Kukkiwon style Taekwondo had 8 coloured belt patterns called the Palgwae forms. Pal means 8 in Korean and Gwae means trigram so Palgwae refers to the eight trigrams that are associated with the I Ching Hexagrams. The I ching hexagrams were found in the Book of Changes, an ancient divination text based on 64 hexagrams.

Each I Ching hexagram is made up of two trigrams, and each trigram is made up of three solid or broken lines. There are eight trigrams, and each is associated with a separate meaning. Four of these trigrams also appear on the South Korean Flag and the eight trigrams are said to represent the eight fundamental principles of reality.

After 1971 the Palgwae forms were replaced with the current Taegeuk forms. Although they still hold the same principles and symbolism as the original Palgwae forms, they have been changed to prepare students for sparring in the sport style of Taekwondo. Some clubs may choose to teach the Palgwe forms as well as the Taegeuk forms.