Songahm Star

The "Songahm Star" was created in 1983 to symbolize Taekwondo philosophy. The colors displayed reflect Songahm's original belt colors. Additional belts were added to increase a student's sense of accomplishment.

This star is the pattern formed on the ground if all 18 poome-sae (forms) were performed from a center point. Each line radiating from the center is 9 feet long. The total distance from the east point to the west point is 18 feet, representing the number of forms in the Songahm system.

In a perfect Songahm star, the distance from the center point of the star to the east point is nine feet. The total distance from the east point to the west point equals eighteen feet, representing the number of forms in the Songahm system. All forms performed on the star traditionally begin facing the east in respect to Taekwondo's motherland.

In philosophy pertaining to life, the father of Songahm Taekwondo, Grand Master H.U. Lee, describes the Songahm Star created by the form as being an example of a day in the life of a person.

"Life has a center point. Everything on earth has a center point. This is where we obtain our balance. The center point of the human being is the heart, physically, emotionally and spiritually. The completed forms form a star with a center point and eight outer points, which create a circle if connected. This is the circle of life.

"Each day we live completes a circle: we rise in the morning from our place of rest; then, we go through the day accomplishing our goals and overcoming obstacles that life puts in our way; and, when evening comes, we return to our place of rest. We constantly try to improve this circle. We got to work or we go to school. Why? Because this is the way we complete the best circle. We try to have the best life. Study gives us knowledge that we can apply to make a living. The job is the resource we use to make that living. Diligent study and a good job results in a good pattern or 'poome-sae' in our life.

"Not only is the circle seen in day to day activity, but also in our entire life itself. We come from the dust of the earth and our bodies return to the dust of the earth. During the span between birth and death, we move throughout life setting and accomplishing goals. This is the reason all forms begin and end at the same spot," says Grand Master.

He continued, "As we complete each form, we must imagine ourselves as drawing a circle freehand. No one can draw it perfectly the first time, We just try to close the circle and then we adjust and refine it to make it perfect. It is the same way we must face life. We're not going to make it perfect. However, we can strive to correct the flaws as we move along. We must complete the circle, the 'Winner's Circle'."

If a student is not aware of the place to begin or end the form, nor has a plan of action to get through the process, how can the student achieve the desired result? The same is true for success in life. Here are Grand Master Lee's words concerning this philosophy: "If a person does not know where to begin or end in life (setting goals), then that person will become confused when given a choice between two paths."