Taekwondo 태권도Taekwondo Preschool
Promotion from one geup to the next can proceed rapidly in some schools, since schools often allow geup promotions every two, three, or four months. Students of geup rank learn the most basic techniques first, and then move on to more advanced techniques as they approach first dan. Many of the older and more traditional schools often take longer to allow students to test for higher ranks than newer, more contemporary schools, as they may not have the required testing intervals. View Taekwondo belt levels »
Promotion Tests | Black Belt ( 단 dan )
Black Belt Level Information
Meaning: "Opposite of white, therefore signifying maturity and proficiency in taekwondo; also indicates the wearer's imperviousness to darkness and fear"
Style: World Taekwondo (WT) 
Ranking: Dan Levels
Difficulty Level: Advanced
To advance from one rank to the next, students typically complete promotion tests in which they demonstrate their proficiency in the various aspects of the art before their teacher or a panel of judges. Promotion tests vary from school to school, but may include such elements as the execution of patterns, which combine various techniques in specific sequences; the breaking of boards to demonstrate the ability to use techniques with both power and control; sparring and self-defense to demonstrate the practical application and control of techniques; physical fitness usually with push-ups and sit-ups; and answering questions on terminology, concepts, and history to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the art. For higher dan tests, students are sometimes required to take a written test or submit a research paper in addition to taking the practical test.
Promotion from one dan to the next can take years. The general rule is that a black belt may advance from one rank to the next only after the number of years equivalent to the current rank. For example, a newly promoted third-degree black belt may not be allowed to advance to fourth-degree until three years have passed. Some organizations also have age requirements related to dan promotions, and may grant younger students poom 품 (junior black belt) ranks rather than dan ranks until they reach a certain age.
Difficulty of Promotion Test
Taekwondo students of geup ranking learn the most basic techniques first, and then move on to more advanced and difficult techniques as they approach 1st Dan Black Belt. The more difficult the techniques, the more practice may be needed for the purpose of improving or mastering it, as in the phrase 'practice makes perfect'. Every technique must display the requisite speed, balance, power and firmness to be realistically used as an attack or defense move.
* Please see a certified Master Instructor ( 사범님 sabeomnim ) for training. Proper guidance and instructions are needed to ensure safe training.
Taekwondo Promotion Tests | Black Belt ( 단 dan )
Black Belt ( 단 dan ) Level Requirements
Style: World Taekwondo (WT)
( Techniques vary between schools )
Blocks ( 막기 makgi )
- Diamond Block ( 금강막기 keumgang-makgi )
- Bull Horn Blocking ( 황소막기 hwangso-makgi )
- Wide Open Mountain Blocking ( 산틀막기 santeul-makgi )
- Inner Wrist Supporting Side Block ( 안팔목 거들어 옆막기 anpalmok-kodureo-yeop-makgi )
- Inner Wrist Supporting Outward Block ( 안팔목 거들어 바깥막기 anpalmok-kodureo-bakkat-makgi )
- Bent Wrist Outward Block ( 굽힌손목 바깥막기 gupinsonmok-bakkat-makgi )
- Ridgehand Outward Block ( 손날등 바깥막기 sonnal-deung-bakkat-makgi )
- Ridgehand Side Block ( 손날등 옆막기 sonnal-deung-yeop-makgi )
- Ridgehand Double Block ( 손날등 헤쳐막기 sonnal-deung-hecho-makgi )
- Ridgehand Supported Downward Block ( 손날등 거들어 내려막기 sonnal-deung-kodureo-naeryeo-makgi )
- Keumgang (Downward Side) Block ( 금강 (내려 옆)막기 keumgang (naeryeo-yeop) makgi )
- Keumgang Outward Block ( 금강 바깥막기 keumgang-bakkat-makgi )
- Hand Blade Diamond (Downward Side) Block ( 손날 금강 (내려 옆)막기 sonnal-keumgang (naeryeo-yeop) makgi )
- Hand Blade Diamond Outward Block ( 손날 금강 바깥막기 sonnal-keumgang-bakkat-makgi )
- Kicking Block ( 차막기 cha-makgi )
- Outward Kicking Block ( 바깥 차막기 bakkat-cha-makgi )
- Inward Kicking Block ( 안 차막기 an-cha-makgi )
- Front Kicking Block ( 앞 차막기 ap-cha-makgi )
- Side Kicking Block ( 옆 차막기 yeop-cha-makgi )
- Palm Assisting Outer Block ( 손바닥 거들어 바깥막기 sonbadak-kodureo-bakkat-makgi )
- Target Block ( 표적 막기 pyojeok-makgi )
- Underneath Target Block ( 아래 표적 막기 arae-pyojeok-makgi )
Stance ( 서기 sogi )
- Log Pushing Posture ( 통밀기준비 tongmilgi-junbi )
- Crane Stance ( 학다리서기 hakdari-sogi )
- Overlapped Hand Posture ( 겹손준비 gyeopson-junbi )
- Assisting Stance ( 곁다리서기 gyeotdari-sogi )
- Inner Knee Stance ( 오금서기 ogum-sogi )
- ‘ㅗ’ Shape Stance ( ‘ㅗ’자 서기 oja sogi )
Fist Strikes ( 지르기 jireugi )
- Target Punch ( 표적지르기 pyojeok-jireugi )
- Fork Punch ( 쳇다리지르기 chetdar-jireugi )
- Keumgang Punch ( 금강지르기 keumgang-jireugi )
- Keumgang Forward Punch ( 금강 앞지르기 keumgang-ap-jireugi )
- Keumgang Side Punch ( 금강 옆지르기 keumgang-yeop-jireugi )
- Extended Knuckle Fist ( 밤주먹 지르기 bamjumeok-jireugi )
- Extended Knuckle Fist Turn-over Punch ( 밤주먹 젖혀지르기 bamjumeok-jeocheo-jireugi )
Strikes ( 치기 chigi )
- Palm Heel Forward Strike ( 바탕손 앞치기 batangson-ap-chigi )
- Swallow Palm Heel Front Strike ( 제비품 바탕손 앞치기 jebipoom-batangson-ap-chigi )
- Bent Wrist Upward Strike ( 굽힌손목 올려치기 gupinsonmok-ollyeo-chigi )
- Pincer Hand Strike ( 집게주먹 지르기 jipge-jumeok-jireugi )
- Scissors Fingertip Thrust ( 가위손끝 찌르기 kawisonkkeut-jjireugi )
- Ridgehand Inward Strike ( 손날등 안치기 sonnal-deung-an-chigi )
- Ridgehand Downward Strike ( 손날등 내려치기 sonnal-deung-naeryeo-chigi )
Horizontal Thrust ( 엎어찌르기 eopeo-jjireugi )
Vertical Thrust ( 세워찌르기 sewo-jjireugi )
- Single Fingertip Vertical Thrust ( 한손끝 세워찌르기 hansonkkeut-sewo-jjireugi )
- Combined Two Fingertips Vertical Thrust ( 모은두손끝 세워찌르기 moeundusonkkeut-sewo-jjireugi )
- Combined Three Fingertips Vertical Thrust ( 모은세손끝 세워찌르기 moeunsesonkkeut-sewo-jjireugi )
Kicking ( 차기 chagi )
- Jumping Back Whip Kick ( 뛰어 뒤후려차기 ttwieo-dwi-huryeo-chagi )
- Repeating Kick ( 거듭차기 geodeup-chagi )
- Repeating Turn Kick ( 거듭 돌려차기 geodeup-dollyeo-chagi )
- Repeating Side Kick ( 거듭 옆차기 geodeup-yeop-chagi )
- Jumping Flip Kick ( 공중제비차기 gongjungjebi-chagi )
- Multi-direction Break ( 다방향격파 dabangyang-gyeokpa )
- Single Line-up Break ( 일렬격파 illyeol-gyeokpa )
- Holding Kick ( 잡고차기 japgo-chagi )
- Holding Whip Kick ( 잡고 후려차기 japgo-huryeo-chagi )
- Jump Two-foot Front Kick ( 뛰어 두발 앞차기 ttwieo-dubal-ap-chagi )
- Front Kick with the Heel of the Foot ( 뒤축 앞차기 dwichuk-ap-chagi )
- Turn Kick with Ball of Foot ( 앞축 돌려차기 apchuk-dollyeo-chagi )
- 360º Back Whip Kick ( 360도 뒤후려차기 360º dwi-huryeo-chagi )
- 540º Back Whip Kick ( 540도 뒤후려차기 540º dwi-huryeo-chagi )
Breaking ( 격파 gyeokpa )
- Power Break ( 위력격파 )
Poomse 품새
Poomse is the foundation for the teaching of Taekwondo. A poomse, or form, is a detailed pattern of defense-and-attack motions and techniques used in traditional martial arts. Poomse is useful in developing proper kinetics, mental and physical fortitude.
Most Kukkiwon schools will use the poomse taegeuk whereas a few schools will use the poomse palgwe. The meanings, trigrams and symbols are shared by both poomse taegeuk and poomse palgwe, however the sequence of movements is different. The first 8 forms of the set of poomse differ from each other, whereas the last 9 forms (Black Belt forms) of the set are shared between the two sets. All students studying in World Taekwondo (WT) Kukkiwon style must learn these forms, or taegeuk, to advance to a higher belt level. There are eight taegeuk forms, each one similar to the previous one, but each time with more complicated techniques to display the students' mastery of the techniques learned during lessons, as well as the ability to interconnect these techniques. For more information View Taekwondo Poomse 품새 »
Taekwondo Promotion Test
Testing or evaluation is important to taekwondo practitioners who wish to determine their progression or own level of skill in specific contexts. Students within individual belt levels often undergo periodic testing and grading by their own teacher in order to advance to a higher level of recognized achievement, such as a different belt color. View Taekwondo Promotion Tests »
* Please see a certified Master Instructor ( 사범님 sabeomnim ) for training. Proper guidance and instructions are needed to ensure safe training.
There are five tenets defined in the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) and several more in World Taekwondo (WT).
Integrity ( 염치 yeom-chi ): "Although it may be similar, this form of integrity takes on a more wider role then defined in the common dictionary. In taekwondo, integrity means not only to determine what is right or wrong but also having the conscience to feel guilt if one has done wrong and to have the integrity stand up for what is right." View Taekwondo Tenets »
RESOURCES
This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles "Taekwondo", "Taegeuk" and "Hyeong" which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
