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Not only do the patterns provide techniques, they also include the principles upon which the techniques were developed. It is important to understand why techniques work and their underlying principles, we must get beyond the mere memorization of movements. Principles are far more important than techniques. Principles may be applied in many ways, while techniques are very specific and limited. By concentrating on the principles and the various ways in which they may be applied, a single pattern may become an inexhaustible repository of martial knowledge. Understand the principles and you will be able to adapt any technique to be of use in any situation. In his eighteenth principle of karate, Gichin Funakoshi write, "no two fights will ever be the same, but the principles upon which the kata rests never vary." Choki Motobu (one of Okinawa's most feared fighters) once said, "One must learn how to apply the principles of the kata and how to bend with the winds of adversity."

If you only practice patterns for rank advancement or to compete, you are missing the wealth of knowledge they may provide. Through the practice of patterns, we learn from past masters and perhaps gain a little of their understanding  of the martial arts.

Violence

Patterns are a way for students to perfect the physical movements required for the application of Taekwondo in response to violence. Students learn the precise muscular movements, timing, rhythm, and breathing required to perform techniques properly in accordance with traditional teachings. This exact transfer of data from the teacher to the student allows Taekwondo to pass from generation to generation with little deviation from the original teachings.

Through the practice of patterns, students learn to perform techniques precisely within their own physical dimensions. Then, through performing one-step sparring sequences, they learn to extend those techniques beyond their own dimensions, toward an opponent. Finally, through free-sparring, students learn to apply the techniques in actual combat with an opponent.

Beginning students may quickly learn to perform certain movements and feel confident while performing them. However, most of the time, these beginning movements lack stability, speed, and power and thus are ineffective and inefficient in their application. By practicing patterns, students learn the intricacies of their movements and learn to fine-tune their movements to gain more stability, speed, and power.

When firing a hand gun, the slightest imperfection in technique may result in the bullet missing the target by inches. Likewise, the slightest imperfection in technique when executing a kick may result in the kick missing its intended target or striking the target with insufficient power. Through constant practice, precise movements become instinctive and techniques consistently strike their intended targets with sufficient power.

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