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Some common errors in pattern performance:

• Foot placement on stances

• Lack of facial intensity

• Large movements are altered to small ones

• Deep stances gradually change to higher ones

• Timing is stylized too much which does not prove the physical conditioning of the performer

• Short movements are exaggerated as large ones to impress an audience rather than to demonstrate the correct technique

• "Pushing off" from the feet rather than initiating movements properly through the hip

• The body does not move as a unit; arms and legs seem disconnected

• Hand/foot timing (when moving, hand technique should finishing just as stepping foot touches the floor)

Foot Stomp

Unless a pattern movement includes a stomp on the opponent's foot or leg, stomping the feet during pattern movements is useless and is usually detrimental to getting a high score. Some people may think it sounds cool and may increase their scores, but it does not. Some may think it increases power, but it does not. Baseball players do not stomp as they swing the bat, golfers do no stomp as they drive, and boxers do not stomp as they punch.

When teaching beginners, to emphasize making good hand and foot timing, my instructor stomps the stepping foot to illustrate how the foot and hand should reach the end of their movements at the same time. The problem is that sometimes the students think that the stomp is a part of the movement, so they start stomping all the time. It is always more difficult to get students to stop doing something than it is to get them to start doing something, so sometimes this stomping habit is hard to break.

When moving in a pattern or in the street, the feet should silently sweep over the floor. In the street, they are clearing a path though street trash seeking firm ground.

Perform in honor of the namesake

According to General Choi, each pattern should be performed to reflect the personality and spiritual character of the person or thing the pattern was named after. However, the point of a martial art is combat, and the point of a pattern is to increase combat skills. Therefore, to seems that you should not worry about imitating the personality and spiritual character of a dead warrior (especially when the pattern is probably one of those "borrowed" from Shotokan karate by Choi and has no connection to the namesake other than the name); instead, you should perform a pattern as though you were in mortal combat with multiple attackers. If perform as a warrior, you will be honoring all warriors.

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