How to perform Do-San in ITF Taekwondo (VIDEO)

Do-San is the third pattern taught to ITF Taekwondo students (after Dan-Gun).

It's a beginner Taekwondo pattern that teaches basic kicks, strikes, and stances. It is named after Ahn Chang-ho, a Korean independence activist and one of the early leaders of the Korean-American immigrant community in the United States.

There are 24 movements in this ITF pattern. In order to perform Do-San accurately, you will need to work on your Taekwondo stances.

Students start at C facing towards D (see position diagram below) and in a parallel ready stance.

Turn left 90 degrees, move the left foot towards B (see position diagram below), forming a left walking stance while executing a high side block with the left outer forearm

Middle punch to B with the right fist while maintaining a left walking stance toward B

Move the left foot on line AB, and then turn clockwise to form a right walking stance toward A while executing a high side block to A with the right outer forearm

Middle punch to A with the left fist while maintaining a right walking stance toward A

Move the left foot to D, forming a right L-stance toward D while executing a middle guarding block to D with a knife-hand

Move the right foot to D forming a right walking stance toward D while executing a middle thrust to D with the right straight fingertip

Twist the right knife-hand together with the body counter clockwise until its palm faces downward and then move the left foot to D, turning counter clockwise to form a left walking stance toward D while executing a high side strike to D with the left back fist

Move the right foot to D forming a right walking stance toward D while executing a high side strike to D with the right back fist

Move the left foot to E, turning counter clockwise to form a left walking stance toward E while executing a high side block to E with the left outer forearm

Middle punch to E with the right fist while maintaining a left walking stance toward E

Move the left foot on line EF, and then turn clockwise to form a right walking stance toward F while executing a high side block to F with the right outer forearm

Middle punch to F with the left fist while maintaining a right walking stance toward F

Move the left foot to CE forming a left walking stance toward CE, at the same time executing a high wedging block to CE with the outer forearm

Middle front snap kick to CE with the right foot, keeping the position of the hands as they were in 13

Lower the right foot to CE forming a right walking stance toward CE while executing a middle punch to CE with the right fist

Middle punch to CE with the left fist while maintaining a right walking stance toward CE. Perform 15 and 16 in a fast motion

Move the right foot to CF forming a right walking stance toward CF while executing a high wedging block to CF with the outer forearm

Middle front snap kick to CF with the left foot, keeping the position of the hands as they were in 17

Lower the left foot to CF forming a left walking stance toward CF while executing a middle punch to CF with the left fist

Middle punch to CF with the right fist while maintaining a left walking stance toward CF. Perform 19 and 20 in a fast motion

Move the left foot to C forming a left walking stance toward C, at the same time executing a rising block with the left forearm

Move the right foot to C forming a right walking stance toward C while executing a rising block with the right forearm

Move the left foot to B, turning counter clockwise to form a sitting stance toward D while executing a middle side strike to B with the left knife-hand

Bring the left foot to the right foot and then move the right foot to A forming a sitting stance toward D while executing a middle side strike to A with the right knife-hand