Movements - 39
Ready Posture - PARALLEL STANCE WITH A HEAVEN HAND
Pattern Meaning

KWANG-GAE is named after the famous Kwang-Gae-Toh-Wang,
the 19th King of the Koguryo Dynasty, who regained all the lost
territories including the greater part of Manchuria. The diagram
represents the expansion and recovery of lost territory. The 39
movements refer to the first two figures of 391 A. D, the year he
came to the throne.
KWANG-GAE
I
The Life of Kwang-Gae
King Kwang-Gae-Toh-Wang (meaning "broad expander of territory") was born in 374 AD and
ascended to the throne in 391, at the age of just seventeen, to become the 19th king of the
Koguryo Dynasty. He ruled over Koguryo at the time in Korea's history known as The Three
Kingdoms, so called because during this time the Korean peninsula was constantly being fought
over by the three Koguryo, Silla and Paekche dynasties. He is sometimes referred to as Great
King Yeongnak, after the era name selected by him.

He expanded Koguryo’s territories far into the Korean peninsula by advancing southward at the
expense of the Paekche dynasty to occupy the north of the Han River, and occupied Manchurian
territory to the east of Liaohe. On his death in 413, at just 39 years of age, Koguryo ruled
everything between the Sungari and Han Rivers. This gave it control over two thirds of what is
now modern Korea as well as a large part of Manchuria. In addition, the chieftains of Silla
submitted to the northern kingdom's authority in 399 to receive protection from Japanese raids.
Only Paekche continued to resist Koguryo domination during this period, thereby preventing what
would have been the first recognised unification of the Korean peninsula.
During his reign, King Kwang-Gae conquered 65 walled cities and some 1,400 villages, in addition
to aiding Silla when it was attacked by the Japanese. In 392 he built nine Buddhist temples in
Pyongyang. His accomplishments are recorded on a monument which was erected in 414 in
southern Manchuria.
The first movement in Kwang Gae Tul is stated as :
Bring the left foot to the right foot, forming a close ready stance B toward D, bringing both hands
in a circular motion.
Some speculate that it might signify the expansion and recovery of lost territory as per the
pattern meaning.
An interesting story about this movement.
It is said to signify the warrior-king standing amidst his army on either side of him, facing an
enemy. Surveying the weather conditions, position of the sun etc to determine if they are
favourable to his army. He then breaks his hands/arms apart in a circular motion signaling his
army to attack from those flanks.
The South Korean Navy has a frigate:
The 3,900 ton King Kwang-Gae-to-dae-wang was commissioned last year, and is the first of the
KDX-1 class FFGs. It is fitted with 8 Block 1C Harpoons, and RIM-7P Sea Sparrow in Mk 48 VLS.
Around the end of 3rd century BC in China, Chin got perished and Han arose. In the chaos during
the change, a man Wui-Man, with a group of his people, came over to King Jun, who let him
defend the western border of Ko-Cho-Sun. However, Wui-Man later subverted King Jun and made
himself a King. King Wu-Guo, a grandson of Wui-Man, cut off direct trade between Han and other
countries on the outskirts of Ko-Cho-Sun and made big geographical advantages by transit trade
between the two. Han got upset for this and attacked Ko-Cho-Sun. After one year lasted war, Ko-
Cho-Sun got perished by Han. However, King Mi-Chun and Kwang-Gae-To, of Koguryo of the Era
of Three Kingdoms recovered the lost territories.
Ready Posture -
PARALLEL
STANCE WITH A
HEAVEN HAND
 1.Bring the left foot
to the right foot,
forming a close
ready stance B
toward D, bringing
both hands in a
circular motion.
 2.Move the left foot
to D, forming a left
walking stance
toward D while
executing an upset
punch to D with the
right fist. Perform in
slow motion.
3.Move the right
foot to D, forming a
right walking stance
toward D while
executing an upset
punch to D with the
left fist. Perform in
slow motion.
 4.Move the left foot
to the side front of
the right foot, and
then move the right
foot to D, forming a
right walking stance
toward D, at the
same time
executing a high
hooking block to D
with the right palm.
Perform in a double
stepping motion.
 5.Move the right
foot to C in a sliding
motion to form a
right L-stance
toward D, at the
same time
executing a low
guarding block to D
with a knife-hand.
6.Move the right
foot to the side front
of the left foot and
then move the left
foot to D, forming a
left walking stance
toward D while
executing a high
hooking block to D
with the left palm.
Perform in a double
stepping motion.
 7.Move the left foot
to C in a sliding
motion forming a
left L-stance toward
D while executing a
low guarding block
to D with a
knife-hand.
 8.Move the left foot
to D, forming a right
rear foot stance
toward D while
executing a high
guarding block to D
with a knife-hand.
9.Move the right
foot to D, forming a
left rear foot stance
toward D while
executing a high
guarding block to D
with a knife-hand.
 10.Move the left
foot to the side front
of the right foot and
then turn
counter-clockwise,
pivoting with the left
foot, to form a left
walking stance
toward C while
executing an
upward block to C
with the right palm.
Perform in a slow
motion.
 11. Move the right
foot to C, forming a
right walking stance
toward C while
executing an
upward block to C
with the left palm.
Perform in a slow
motion.
12. Execute a low
front block with the
right knife-hand in a
circular motion,
hitting the left palm
while bringing the
left foot to the right
foot to form a close
stance toward C.
 13. Execute a
pressing kick to E
with the left foot,
keeping the position
of the hands as they
were in 12.
 14. Execute a
middle side piercing
kick to E with the left
foot, keeping the
position of the
hands as they were
in 13. Perform 13
and 14 in a
consecutive kick.
15. Lower the left
foot to E, forming a
right L-stance
toward E while
executing a high
inward strike to E
with the right
knife-hand and
bringing the left side
fist in front of the
right shoulder.
 16. Execute a
downward strike to E
with the left side fist
while forming a
close stance toward
C, pulling the left
foot to the right foot.
 17. Execute a
pressing kick to F
with the right foot,
keeping the position
of the hands as they
were in 16.
18. Execute a
middle side piercing
kick to F with the
right foot, keeping
the position of the
hands as they were
in 17. Perform 17
and 18 in a
consecutive kick.
 19. Lower the right
foot to F, forming a
left L-stance toward
F while executing a
high inward strike to
F with the
knife-hand and
bringing the right
side fist in front of
the left shoulder.
 20. Execute a
downward strike to F
with the right side
fist while forming a
close stance toward
C, pulling the right
foot to the left foot.
21. Move the left
foot to C, forming a
left low stance
toward C while
executing a pressing
block with the right
palm. Perform in
slow motion.
 22. Move the right
foot to C, forming a
right low stance
toward C while
executing a pressing
block with the left
palm. Perform in a
slow motion.
 23. Move the right
foot to D in a
stamping motion to
form a sitting stance
toward F while
executing a high
side strike to D with
the right back fist.
24. Execute a
middle block to D
with the right double
forearm while
forming a right
walking stance
toward D, pivoting
with the left foot.
 25. Execute a low
block to D with the
left forearm while
shifting to C,
maintaining a right
walking stance
toward D, keeping
the position of the
right hand as it was
in 24.
 26. Execute a high
thrust to D with the
right flat fingertip
while forming a right
low stance toward D,
slipping the right
foot to D. Perform in
slow motion.
27. Move the left
foot on lone CD in a
stamping motion to
form a sitting stance
toward F while
executing a high
side strike to C with
the left back fist.
 28. Execute a
middle block to C
with the left double
forearm while
forming a left
walking stance
toward C, pivoting
with the left foot.
 29. Execute a low
reverse block to C
with the right
forearm while
shifting to D,
maintaining a left
walking stance
toward C, keeping
the position of the
left hand as it was in
28.
30. Execute a high
thrust to C with the
left flat fingertip
while forming a left
low stance toward C,
slipping the left foot
to C.
 31. Move the right
foot to C in a
stamping motion,
forming a right
walking stance
toward C while
executing a high
vertical punch to C
with a twin fist.
 32. Move the left
foot to A in a
stamping motion,
forming a left
walking stance
toward A while
executing an upset
punch to A with a
twin fist.
33. Execute a
middle front snap
kick to A with the
right foot, keeping
the position of the
hands as they were
in 32.
 34. Lower the right
foot to the left foot,
and then move the
left foot to A to form
a left L-stance
toward B while
executing a middle
guarding block to B
with a knife-hand.
 35. Move the left
foot to B, forming a
left walking stance
toward B while
executing a high
punch to B with the
left fist.
36. Move the right
foot to B in
stamping motion,
forming a right
walking stance
toward B while
executing an upset
punch to B with a
twin fist.
 37. Execute a
middle front snap
kick to B with the left
foot, keeping the
position of the
hands as they were
in 36.
 38. Lower the left
foot to the right foot,
and then move the
right foot to B to
form a right L-stance
toward A at the
same time
executing a middle
guarding block to A
with a knife-hand.
39. Move the right
foot to A, forming a
right walking stance
toward A while
executing a high
punch to A with the
right fist.
 END: Bring the left
foot back to a ready
posture.
  
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