55 Movements
NAM-TAE tul signifies and symbolizes much of the history and struggles in Korea’s past. Name Tae tulles uses the date April 11, 1955, the date Taekwon-Do became the official martial art of Korea, as a significance in the pattern. This pattern consists of 4 ki-haps, representing the fourth month, 11 kicks representing the 11th day and 55 movements representing the year 1955.
Colonel Nam Tae Hi was a practitioner of martial arts his whole life and most notably while serving with the 29th infantry. In 1954, Colonel Nam Tae Hi participated in a military demonstration of martial arts for President Rhee of South Korea and broke 13 roof tiles with a downward punch; President Rhee was reportedly so impressed that he subsequently ordered all Korean military personnel to undergo training in the martial art (then not yet known as Taekwon-Do_ becoming a mandatory part of training for the military.
The pattern ends with a strong right downward punch to signify Colonel Nam Tae Hi’s 13 tile breaking punch.
