The Kicho Hyung (Basic Forms) were introduced by Grandmaster Hwang Kee, the founder of the Moo Duk Kwan, shortly after he opened his first school in 1945. These three forms—Il Bu, E Bu, and Sam Bu—act as the essential “alphabet” of Tang Soo Do, designed to teach beginners the core mechanics of stances, hip rotation, and the signature capital “I” floor pattern. While Hwang Kee drew significant inspiration from the Taikyoku forms of Shotokan Karate (which he encountered during his time in Manchuria), he infused them with the Korean philosophy of Um-Yang (balance) and the specific tension-and-relaxation principles unique to his style. They may seem simple, but these forms represent the first time a student learns to “flow,” turning raw movements into a cohesive discipline.

While Kicho Sa Bu and Kicho O Bu (Basic Forms 4 and 5) share the same “Kicho” name, they were not part of Grandmaster Hwang Kee’s original Moo Duk Kwan curriculum. Instead, they were developed later by modern organizations—most notably the World Tang Soo Do Association (WTSDA)—to bridge the technical gap between the beginner Kicho series and the more advanced Pyung Ahn forms. These two forms introduce higher-level mechanics that the first three lack: Sa Bu focuses heavily on the mastery of the Front Kick (Ahp Pado Chagi) and the Cat Stance (Hu Kul Ja Seh), while O’ Bu incorporates more complex combinations and reinforced blocks. By adding these “extensions,” instructors ensure that students develop lateral power and better balance before they are asked to perform the intricate, multi-directional movements found in the classical “Peaceful Confidence” series.

In Tang Soo Do, the Pyung Ahn (평안) hyung—known as the “Peace and Confidence” or “Calm and Safe” forms—are a series of five patterns foundational to the art.
They were originally adapted from the Okinawan Pinan series, created by Master Itosu Anko in the early 1900s. While they represent a progression of technical skill, their deeper symbolism is rooted in the imagery of a turtle, representing longevity, steadiness, and the peaceful mind of a warrior.

In Tang Soo Do (and its sister art, Soo Bahk Do), the Chil Sung series is a set of seven forms (hyungs) created by the founder of the Moo Duk Kwan, Grandmaster Hwang Kee, in 1952. While many Tang Soo Do forms (like the Pyung Ahn series) have roots in Okinawan Karate, the Chil Sung forms were specifically designed by Hwang Kee to incorporate more traditional Korean and Chinese influences, focusing on a “middle way” style.