Tang Soo Do Karate Bassi - Form of the Rock

Chumbae stance.

Attention:

a) extend both arms and clasp the right fist with the left hand.Wrap the fingers of the left hand around the closed fist of the right hand; the first knuckle and nail of the thumb of the left hand are placed inside the grip of the right fist. Simultaneously,

b) the left knee raises with the foot flexed (front kick position). Clasped hands pull back to the right shoulder with the elbows at shoulder level. Eyes are forward. Show balance (foot raised) for a count of 2. Hands and foot slowly descend (on a count of 4): hands descend in front of the lower abdomen, with knees and elbows slightly bent; the foot descends so both feet touch (—toes and heels together).

c) Knees straighten and arms extend; the head level raises slightly.

1) a) Hands remain clasped while raising on the balls of the feet.

b) Keeping eyes forward, pivot 1/4 turn to the left.

c) Keeping the right hip and shoulder forward, lunge forward with the right foot. The left foot tucks behind the right ankle as both hands rotate for a right back fist strike (focused toward the nose) coupled with a left spear hand (focused at eye level). Note: Hands remain touching at all times in move # 1.

2) Look 1/2 turn to the left.

a) The left foot steps (1/2 turn) to a front stance while simultaneously executing a left outside block.

b) Remaining in a front stance, the right hand refolds and executes a right outside block.

3) Look 1/2 turn to the right. Fold for a left inside block.

a) The right foot steps (1/2 turn) to a front stance while simultaneously executing a left inside block.

b) Remaining in this stance, refold with the right hand and execute an outside block.

4) Look 1/4 turn to the right.

a) The right arm blocks down past the knee as the right knee raises to the chest (simulating the break of an arm hold).

b) Keeping the knee raised, fold for a right inside block.

c) The right foot steps 1/4turntothe right into a front stance while simultaneously executing a right inside block.

d) Refold and execute a left outside block.

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5) Look 1/4 turn to the left. Simulataneously:

a) extend the left hand (in knife hand position, palm down, as in a reaching motion) and extend the left foot (on the ball of the foot), in preparation for a straddle leg stance.

Then,

b) the left hand pulls (on a slow count of 4) across to the front of the solar plexus as both feet pivot forward, knees bent, to a straddle leg stance. (The right fist remains on the hip).

6) a) Remaining in a straddle leg stance, strike with a left spear hand (to the eyes of the opponent).

b) Then right punch to the solar plexus while the left fist pulls to the hip. Fold for a right outside block. Pivot to a left 45 degree angle front stance and simultaneously execute a right outside block.

c) Pivot back to a straddle leg stance.

d) Left punch to the solar plexus while the right fist pulls to the hip. Fold for a left outside block.

e) Pivot to a right 45 degree angle front stance and simultaneously execute a left outside block. Eyes remain forward.

7) a) Fold for a right reinforced center chop as the left leg pulls to a cat stance. Eyes remain forward but the left knee faces left.

b) The right foot steps forward to a back stance as you chop.

8) Pivot and fold for a left reinforced center chop. The left foot steps forward to a back stance; simultaneously center chop.

9) Pivot and fold for a right reinforced center chop. The right foot steps forward to a back stance; simultaneously center chop.

10) Pivot on the ball of the left foot and simultaneously fold the left hand to the ear (knife hand fold) while the right hand extends (knife hand, palm down).

a) Simulating the breaking of an arm hold, the right foot pulls to a back stance while the left hand scrapes against the right arm (with tension),

b) snapping into left center chop position (back stance, left leg forward).

11) a) The right foot slides behind the left foot as the palm of the left hand slaps the back of the right hand, with the right elbow up (nearly in a vertical position) and the left elbow down. (—This move simulates a block against a chair or a bulky object).

Simultaneously,

b) *Ke-I as the right leg side kicks knee level (—instructors, however, like to see this at solar plexus level or higher!) and the right arm strikes with a bottom fist to the opponent’s temple. Simultaneously: look to the left, recoil the kick, and

c) fold for a left reinforced center chop. The right foot steps back.

d) Deliver a reinforced center chop as the left leg ends forward in a back stance.

12) Fold for a right reinforced center chop. Step forward into a back stance (right leg forward) a)d chop.

13) a) Simultaneously, the right foot pulls back to the left foot as the body bends down and the inner blade of the fists come together at shin level. Simulating the break of a bear hug, the knuckles roll together, upwards like a gear.

b) With tension, raise and snap the fists outward over the head, palms forward (similar to knife hand positions).

14) a) The right knee raises (toes back, as in a front kick) and

b) stomps forward into a front stance. From the raised arm positions, both arms snap into parallel inside strikes at the ribs of the opponent. (Wrists snap as in an inside block, forearms perpendicular to the body, locking out with the front stance).

15) a) Jumping off both feet and traveling forward the distance of one step (at maximum height, with feet remaining in the same position), the hands complete 3 moves: right center punch, left reverse punch, and

b) right center punch, locking out the last punch as the right foot lands forward / *Ke-I

16) LooklI2 turn to the left.

a) The left leg moves 1/2 turn into a back stance position: the right fist raises overhead in an outside block position while the left hand delivers a low block in a knife hand position.

b) Pivot into a left front stance, thrust a right spear hand to the groin (palm up), and simultaneously fold the left hand to the ear, knife hand position. Close the fist of the right hand, twist the palm downward, and pull back (with tension),

c) overhead to a back fist strike while the left hand strikes downward, similar to a low block strike.

17) a) As the left foot pulls back to the right foot, the right hand (from the back fist position) drops to chin level and turns outward.

b) As the feet come together, the right fist thrusts upward, knuckles turned away from the I body, and returns to back fist position (simulating an uppercut motion to the jaw of the opponent).

18) The left foot steps forward and turns out to a 90 degree angle (while standing on the ball of the right foot), as the left hand (in a spear hand position, supporting the inside of the right elbow bend) provides the support for a right reinforced inside block.

19) a) Hands remain in the reinforced inside block position as the right (rear) foot strikes with an inside crescent kick (focused at head level) and recoils.

b) Hands fold for a right bottom fist.

c) The right foot steps to a straddle leg stance while the right hand delivers a bottom fist, groin level.

20) Look 112 turn to the left.

a) Hands fold in a right bottom fist position. However,

b) the right hand pulls back to the hip while the left hand whips into knife hand position (simulating a grab behind the head).

21) a) Eyes remain focused on the knife hand and the right fist remains on the hip while the right leg strikes with an inside crescent kick to the palm of the (left) knife hand and recoils.

b) The right foot steps forward (toward the knife hand) into a straddle leg stance while the right forearm strikes the left knife hand at the elbow. The right hand is in a fist at the inside of the left arm. Both elbows are held at shoulder level, with palms facing the body.

22) Looking down,

a) the right fist strikes downward in a bottom fist, encircles the left arm, and

b) again strikes downward (thus completing double strikes)

23) a) Look 1/4 turn to the right. Fists fold to the left hip: the left fist is on the bottom, palm up; the right fist in on the top, palm down.

b) The right foot steps forward to a front stance and the hands double strike: the right fist extends, groin level and palm up; the left fist focuses to the face, palm down. (Arms are centered vertically in front of the body).

24) a) The right foot pulls back to the left foot as the fists fold to the left hip: the left fist in on the bottom, palm up; the right fist is on the top, palm down.

b) Hands switch and rotate slowly to the right hip: the right fist is on the bottom, palm up; the left fist is on the top, palm down.

25) a) The right foot steps forward slightly ( right heel to the toes of the left foot) and turns out to a 45 degree angle. The left leg strikes with an inside crescent kick. Simultaneously,

b) step down to a left front stance and double hand strike: the left fist extends, groin level and palm up; the right fist focuses to the face, palm down. (Arms are centered vertically in front of the body).

26) a) The left foot pulls back to the right foot as fists fold to the right hip: the right fist is on the bottom, palm up; the left fist is on the top, palm down.

b) Hands switch and rotate slowly to the left hip: the left fist is on the bottom, palm up; the right fist is on the top, palm down.

27) a) The left foot steps forward slightly (left heel to the toes of the right foot) and turns out to a 45 degree angle The right leg strikes with an inside crescent kick. Simultaneously,

b) step down to a right front stance and double hand strike: the right fist extends, groin level and palm up; the left fist focuses to the face, palm down. (Arms are centered vertically in front of the body).

28) Look 1/2 turn over the left shoulder. The left foot steps behind the right foot (90 degrees) so feet are parallel. Pivoting on the balls of the feet, the right fist swings under the left arm in a passing outside block fold, continuing downward to a low back fist strike which is centered between the legs as both knees bend low, and the left fist pulls back to the hip. Both feet are at a left 45 degree angle: the left knee is bent forward, and the right knee is bent

downward on the ball of the right foot. (Weight is distributed evenly between both feet). Eyes focus downward for the right back knuckle strike.

29) Raise and pivot the body 90 degrees (on the balls of the feet) to a right 45 degree angle. The left fist swings under the right arm in a passing outside block fold, continuing downward to a low back fist strike centered between the legs as both knees bend low, and the right fist pulls back to the hip. Both feet are at a right 45 degree angle: the right knee is bent forward, and the left knee is bent downward on the ball of the left foot. (Weight is distributed evenly

between both feet). Eyes focus downward for the left back knuckle strike.

30) a) Look up and forward. The left leg pulls to a cat stance. Eyes remain forward, but the left knee faces left. Fold for a right reinforced center chop.

b) The right foot steps forward to a back stance while, simultaneously, the right arm strikes with a reinforced center chop.

31) Look 1/4 turn to the right. Fold for a right reinforced center chop. The right foot steps to the right 1/4 turn while, simultaneously, the right arm strikes with a reinforced center chop.

32) Look 1/4 turn to the left.

a) Fold for a left reinforced center chop as the right foot crosses in front of the left foot and turns outward 90 degrees

b) The left foot steps forward to a back stance while, simultaneously, the left arm strikes with a reinforced center chop.

Wait for the perow command.

Come to attentlon*

a) extend both arms and clasp the right fist with the left hand; the first knuckle and nail of the thumb of the left hand are placed inside the grip of the right fist. Simultaneously,

b) the left knee raises with the foot flexed (in front kick position). The clasped hands pull back to the right shoulder, with the elbows at shoulder level. Eyes are forward. Demonstrate balance (knee raised) for a count of 2. Hands and feet slowly descend (for a count of 4).

c) Hands descend in front of the lower abdomen, with the knees and elbow slightly bent. The foot descends so that both feet touch (toes and heels together). Knees straighten and arms extend; the head level raises slightly.

The left leg steps out to Chumbae stance.

* Following are the proper hand positions for coming to attention in Bassai:

RULES AND HELPFUL HINTS

• Bassai should take approximately 70 seconds to perform (including the

coming to attention at both the beginning and end of the form).

• Extra attention should be given to the folds and blocks at the beginning of

the form (prior to the chops down the center); each should be distinct and detailed.

• The first demonstration of a triple punch is performed here, and the jump/triple punch should be practiced repeatedly for correct timing.

• Don’t confuse Bassai with Pyong-An Oh Dan; some moves are similar, and

students commonly err by mixing the forms!

• Again: demonstrate details!

This form simulates a defender who is fighting against 7 attackers.