– Ko-Dang name –

This exercise form from the older generation has 39 movements.

Official name
Ko-Dang is the pseudonym of the patriot Cho Man Sik, who dedicated his life to the independence and development of his people.

The 39 movements of this form of exercise refer to his captivity and to his birthplace at the 39th parallel.

Additional
After World War II, the Japanese occupation of Korea came to an end. Various groups then fought internally for power, with or without support from the existing superpowers. The division of Korea into north and south is attributed to this. Ko-Dang was one of the leaders of the independence movement in the north, supported by Russia, but he lost that support because he was too much a ‘man of the people’. He was imprisoned and eventually executed.

Learning
In the list of Hyungs (as the first generation of practice forms was called), this was a practice form for the 2nd Dan. It is a relatively simple form, in which many ‘old’ Karate aspects can still be found. Several techniques from this form have been incorporated into Juche Tul.