공상군

Kong Sang Koon

Viewing the sky

Where it usually sits

Black belt study

Floor pattern

Long form, many directions

In the set

Form 14 of 14

Kong Sang Koon (Kusanku in Okinawa, Kanku in Shotokan) is the long night-fighting form. The opening — hands rising as if to look at the moon — is the picture everyone remembers. After that it is a large form: low sweeps, jumps in some versions, and a tour of almost every tool the student has learned. It is a review of the art, not a beginner kata with extra steps.

Steps

One common Moo Duk Kwan reading, counted from the first technique. Ready stance comes before step 1. If your instructor splits or joins a count, use theirs. The shape of the form, not all 60-plus counts. Do not add a jump your instructor never showed you.

1. 1Both palms rise together in front of the face, as if looking past them at the sky.
2. 2The hands separate and press down to the sides.
3. 3Turn to the left angle. Low block or knife hand in front stance, then the reverse punch.
4. 4The same phrase to the right angle.
5. 5Back to the center line. Knife hands or middle punches travel down the floor.
6. 6Front kick, then the landing hand technique. Kihap on the strike that finishes this run.
7. 7Turn to the rear. Reinforced or low X block, then a strike.
8. 8Side or back kick on the angle. The kicking foot comes back to the same base.
9. 9Drop for a sweep or a low knife hand, then stand back up into the next technique.
10. 10Where a school jumps: chamber, leave the floor, and land in a cross or horse stance with a reinforced block. Where it does not, this is a fast step.
11. 11Spear hand or knife hand along the last angle.
12. 12Turn back onto the start line and return to ready.

What to watch for

• Managing a long form without rushing the opening
• Dropping the level for sweeps and rising again
• Keeping one story from the first look at the sky to the last bow

YouTube examples

Performances differ by organization. Use them to remember the shape, then match your instructor’s version.