Your journey through the Taekwondo Belts begins at 10th Kup, or white belt and as a commitment to training is displayed, you will be able to progress to higher rankings at our regularly held gradings.
For more information on each of the grading levels, please select from the tabs below:
(please note that this is the Adult Syllabus. Click here for the Junior Syllabus)
Yellow Tags – 9th Kup
Background:
- The meaning of ‘Taekwondo’
- Understanding which weapons are used when striking, blocking and kicking.
Sparring:
- One to one
- Fighting Stance
Minimum time:
- 2 months
Practical requirements:
| 10 x Horse Riding | Middle section punch |
| 4 x Front | High section block |
| 4 x Front | Middle inward section block |
| 4 x Front | Low section block |
| 4 x Walking | Front kick |
| 4 x Walking | 45 turning kick |
| 4 x Walking | Front raising kick |
Yellow Belt – 8th Kup
Background:
- Understand the meaning of the colour yellow.
- Description of weapons used when blocking, striking and kicking.
Sparring:
- One to One
- One Step
- Sparring – (no contact)
Minimum time:
- 3 months
Practical requirements:
| 5 x Horse Riding | Middle section double punch |
| 4 x Front | High section block, reverse punch |
| 4 x Front | Middle section block, reverse punch |
| 4 x Front | Low section block, reverse punch |
| 4 x Walking | Front kick |
| 4 x Walking | Turning kick |
| 4 x Walking | Push kick |
| 4 x Walking | Front raising kick |
Green Tags – 7th Kup
Background:
- Understanding which weapons are used when blocking, striking and kicking
- Meaning of Taegeuk Il Jang
Patterns:
- Taegeuk Il Jang
Sparring:
- One Step
- One to One
- Sparring – (light contact)
Minimum time:
- 3 months
Practical requirements:
| 4 x Back Stance | Knife hand block |
| 4 x Back Stance | Knife hand strike |
| 4 x Front Stance | Side back fist strike |
| 4 x Front Stance | Front back fist strike |
| 4 x Fighting Stance | Chop kick |
| 4 x Fighting Stance | Turning kick |
| 4 x Fighting Stance | Side kick |
| 4 x Fighting Stance | Back kick |
Green Belt – 6th Kup
Background:
- Understand the meaning of the colour green
- Understanding the weapons used in Taekwondo
- The meaning of Taegeuk Ee Jang
Patterns:
- Taegeuk Ee Jang
- Taegeuk Il Jang
- One Step
- One to One
- Sparring (light contact)
Minimum time:
- 3 months
Practical requirements:
| 4 x Front | Outer forearm block |
| 4 x Front | Inner forearm block |
| 4 x Back | Inward knife block |
| 4 x Back | Inward knife hand strike |
| 4 x Fighting | Side kick |
| 4 x Fighting | Back kick |
| 4 x Fighting | Skip in side kick |
| 4 x Fighting | Skip in turning kick |
Blue Tags – 5th Kup
Background:
- Korean names of kicks
- Meaning of Taegeuk Sam Jang
Patterns:
- Taegeuk Sam Jang
- Taegeuk Ee Jang
- One Step – (include locks and takedowns)
- One to One
- Sparring (light contact)
Minimum time:
- 3 months
Practical requirements:
| 4 x Fighting | Back kick |
| 4 x Fighting | Spin kick |
| 4 x Fighting | Reverse turning kick |
Blue Belt – 4th Kup
Background:
- Understanding the meaning of the colour blue
- The meaning of Taegeuk Sah Jang
- Korean names of blocks
Patterns:
- Taegeuk Sah Jang
- Taegeuk Sam Jang
Sparring:
- One Step – (include locks and takedowns)
- One to One
- Sparring (light contact)
Self Defence
- Basic release and counter
Minimum time:
- 3 months
Practical requirements:
| Combination kicking – Examiners choice |
Red Tags – 3rd Kup
Background:
- Meaning of Taegeuk Oh Jang
Patterns:
- Taegeuk Oh Jang
- Students choice
Sparring:
- One step – (include locks and takedowns)
- One to One – (including jumping techniques)
- Sparring (light contact)
Self Defence
- Basic release and counter – 2 scenarios
Minimum time:
- 3 months
Practical requirements:
| Combination kicking – Examiners choice |
Red Belt – 2nd Kup
Background:
- Understand the meaning of the colour red
- Meaning of Taegeuk Ryuk Jang
- Korean name of stances, commands and Taekwondo terminology
Patterns:
- Taegeuk Ryuk Jang
- Students choice
Sparring:
- One Step – (include locks, takedowns, hand only and foot only techniques)
- One to One
- Sparring (light contact)
Self Defence
- Basic release and counter – 3 scenarios
Breaking
- Side Kick – (one inch)
Minimum time:
- 6 months
Practical requirements:
| Combination strikes, blocks and kicks | |
| Examiners choice |
Black Tags – 1st Kup
Background:
- Students will receive a short written test (if aged 16 and above) or verbal test (if aged 15 and below) on the following subjects:
- The Tenets of Taekwondo
- The meaning of the belt colours
- The meaning of the Taegeuks
- Korean Taekwondo terminology
- Counting in Korean
Patterns:
- Taegeuk Chil Jang
- Students choice
Sparring:
- One to One – (stationary)
- One to One – (moving around)
- One Step – (include locks, takedowns, hand only and foot only techniques)
- Two on One – (defend against two attacking students)
- Sparring – (Semi contact – students must wear body protectors and show point scoring techniques)
Self Defence
- Basic release and counter – 5 scenarios
Breaking
- Side Kick
Minimum time:
- 6 months
Black Belt – 1st Dan
Background:
At this stage students will be tested on poomsae, self defence, breaking and sparring, all four stages will be tested equally. Students must demonstrate all the stages of the syllabus and the additional pattern Pal Jang. There is a minimum of six months required between black tags and back belt and candidates must be nominated by their instructor.
Patterns:
- Taegeuk Pal Jang