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Belt Test Requirements

Testing in Amherst Martial Arts

Testing in Amherst Martial Arts

There are 9 levels in TaeKwanDo, represented by different colored stripes and belts.

  • To be promoted, every practitioner must complete specific tasks that they have learned and practiced throughout their training.

  • Before each test, Sabumnim will pretest you to make sure you are ready during class time while the rest of the class is working on other tasks.

  • If you aren't ready, she will not test you yet, and you will have another class or so to prepare.

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How is the testing conducted?

To some people, the testing process can feel intimidating--this can be true no matter what you are testing in--but it's important to remember that the testing environment in class is very supportive!

  • The test will be conducted for one or more people who are ready at the same time in each level.

  • The rest of the class sits quietly and witnesses their classmates achieve their next level. There is clapping and congratulations all around.

  • When you pass the test, Sabumnim presents you with your new stripe or belt and a certificate of achievement. 

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You can find the levels and their requirements below: 

Yellow Stripe - 9th Gup

Yellow Stripe - 9th Gup

A Journey of 10,000 Miles Begins With Your First Step

Requirements for 9th Gup (Yellow Stripe)

  1. Horse Riding Stance –Middle Punch

  2. Kicks

    1. Limbering Up

    2. Front Snap Kick

  3. Basics

    1. Front Stance

      1. Low Block

      2. Middle Punch

  4. Poomse (forms)

    1. Kicho (Basic) 1

Yellow Belt - 8th Gup

Requirements for 8 th Gup - Yellow Belt

  1. Horse Riding Stance –Double Punch

  2. Kicks

    1. Inner Crescent

    2. Roundhouse Kick

  3. Basics

    1. Front Stance

    2. Inner Block

    3. Outer Block

    4. Rising Block

    5. Knife Hand Strike

  4. Poomse (forms)

    1. Taeguk Il (1 st ) Jang

  5. Combinations

    1. Front Kick, Roundhouse Kick, Double Punch, Kihap

Yellow Belt - 8th Gup

Green Stripe - 7th Gup

Requirements for 7th Gup - Green Stripe

  1. Horse Riding Stance – Triple Punch

  2. Kicks

    1. Outer Crescent

    2. Side Kick

  3. Basics

    1. Front Stance

      1. Low, Inner, Outer and Rising Blocks with Reverse Punch.

    2. Back Stance

      1. Outer Block

      2. Double Knife Hand Middle Block

      3. Double Knife Hand Low Block

      4. Double Forearm Middle Block

      5. Double Forearm Low Block

  4. Poomse (forms)

    1. TaegukYee (2nd) Jang

  5. One Step Sparring

    1. One thru Four

  6. Combinations

    1. Skip Front Kick

    2. Skip Roundhouse Kick

    3. Skip Side Kick

    4. Switch Front Kick

    5. Switch Roundhouse kick

Green Stripe - 7th Gup

Green Belt - 6th Gup

Requirements for 6 th Gup - Green Belt

  1. Kicks

    1. Hook Kick

    2. Corkscrew kick

    3. Back Kick

  2. Basics

    1. Back Stance

      1. Single Knife Hand Block

      2. Outer Forearm Block

    2. Horse Stance

      1. Middle Punch (armpit attack)

      2. Palm Block – Double Punch - Kihap

      3. Elbow Attack – Reverse Knifehand Strike

  3. Poomse (forms)

    1. Taeguk Sam (3rd) Jang

    2. One other form

  4. One Step Sparring

    1. Five thru Eight

  5. Self Defense

    1. Wrist Grabs

      1. same side, cross grab, both wrists, two handed

  6. Combinations

    1. Fake, Spinning Side Kick

  7. Sparring

    1. one match

Green Belt - 6th Stripe

Blue Stripe - 5th Gup

Requirements for 5 th Gup - Blue Stripe

  1. Basics

    1. Front Stance

    2. 1. Spearfinger Thrust

    3. 2. Scissors

    4. 3. Swallow Tail

  2. Poomse (Forms)

    1. Taeguk Sah (4th) Jang

    2. Two other Forms

  3. One Step Sparring

    1. Nine thru Twelve

  4. Self Defense

    1. Push Defense

    2. Lapel grab

    3. Front Choke

    4. Rear Choke

  5. Combinations

    1. Front Kick, Roundhouse Kick, Spinning Side Kick, Double Punch

    2. Skip Side Kick, Back Kick, other side Back Kick

  6. Breaking

    1. One Board with any Kicking Technique

  7.  Sparring

    1. Two Matches

Blue Stripe - 5th Gup

Blue Belt - 4th Gup

Requirements for 4th Gup - Blue Belt

  1. Kicks – Cat Stance

    1. Front Snap Kick

    2. Roundhouse Kick

  2. Basics

    1. Cat stance - Palm Block

    2. Front Stance – Spread Block Double Uppercut

    3. Back Stance - Double Outer Forearm Block

    4. Fighting Stance – Inner Block Backfist, Spin Backfist - Kihap

  3. Poomse (Forms)

    1. Taeguk Oh (5th) Jang

    2. Two other Forms

  4. One Step Sparring

    1. Thirteen thru Sixteen

  5. Self Defense

    1. Back Fall

    2. Side Fall

    3. Shoulder Roll

    4. Sweeps

  6. Combination Kicks

    1. Roundhouse Kick, Spinning Hook Kick, 360 both sides

    2. Jump Front kick

  7. Breaking

    1. One Board with any Hand Technique

  8. Sparring

    1. Three Matches

Blue Belt - 4th Gup

Red Stripe - 3rd Gup

Requirements for 3rd Gup - Red Stripe

  1. Kicks

    1. Double Kicks

      1. Front-Round

      2. Double Round (middle-high, high-middle)

      3. Hook-Round

  2. Poomse (Forms)

    1. Taeguk Yuk (6th) Jang

    2. Two other Forms

  3. One Step Sparring

    1. Seventeen thru Twenty

  4. Self Defense

    1. Bear Hug

    2. Hook Punch

    3. Straight Punch

  5. Combinations

    1. Six Kick Combination, both sides 

  6. Breaking

    1. Adult - Two Boards together with any Kicking Technique

    2. Child - Two Boards separately with 2 Different Kicking Techniques

  7. ​VII. Sparring  

    1. Four Matches

Red Stripe - 3rd Gup

Red Belt - 2nd Gup

Requirements for 2nd Gup - Red Belt

  1. Poomse (Forms)

    1. One of the Following:

      1. A Creative Form

      2. A Weapons form

  2. One Step Sparring

    1. Any Five Chosen at Random

  3. Self Defense

    1. Kick Defense

    2. Knife Defense

    3. Head Lock

  4. Combinations

    1.  Inner Crescent, Spinning Crescent, 3 Times Continuous

    2. Jump Roundhouse Kick

    3. Jump Side Kick Over Pads - Hit Bag

  5. The Teacup Exercise

  6. Breaking

    1. Adult - Two Boards together with Any Hand Technique

    2. Child - Two Boards separately with 2 Different Hand Techniques

  7. VII. Sparring  

    1. One Match against 1 opponent

    2. One Match against 2 opponents

Red Belt - 2nd Gup

Black Stripe - 1st Gup

Requirements for 1st Gup - Black Stripe 

  1. Kicks

    1. Jumping Spinning Crescent Kick

    2. Double Side Kick

  2. Poomse (Forms)

    1. Taeguk Chil (7th) Jang

    2. Three Other Forms

  3. One Step Sparring

    1. Five Spontaneous Attacks and Defenses

  4. Self Defense

    1. Club defense

    2. Gun defense

  5. Combinations

    1. Tornado kick -  3 Times Continuous

  6. VI. Breaking

    1. Three Boards with Different Techniques in Rapid Succession

  7. VII. Sparring  

    1. Two Matches against 1 opponent

    2. One Match against 2 opponents

Black Stripe - 1st Gup

Deputy Black Belt

Requirements for Deputy Black Belt​

  1. Poomse (Forms)

    1. Taeguk Pal (8th) Jang Plus choice of: (must be different than Red Belt test)

      1. Weapons Form

      2. Creative Form

      3. Three Other Forms

    2. One Step Sparring

      1. Review of 1- 20

    3. Self Defense

      1. Review of the Following Defenses:

        1. Straight Punch

        2. Hook Punch

        3. Kick

        4. Knife

        5. Club

        6. and Gun Defenses

    4. Combinations

      1. Jumping Spinning Roundhouse

      2. Jump Back Kick

    5. Breaking

      1. Choice of:

        1. Speed Break

        2. Jump Side Kick over 3 people

    6. Sparring

      1. Three Matches against 1 opponent

      2. One Match against 2 opponents

Deputy Black Belt

Black Belt

Requirements for Black Best

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            You must exhibit the concentration and dedication

required of a martial artist

 

You must perform all 8 Taeguk Poomse

 Plus Kicho1 , Palgue 1-3, and Koryo

with grace and power

 

You must be able to defend yourself against

 all grabbing attacks - while blindfolded

 

You must demonstrate speed and focus by

extinguishing a candle with a punch

 

You must demonstrate your skill by performing the following kicks:

Jumping Spinning Crescent, Ax switch Ax, 

Jumping Spinning Roundhouse, Triple Roundhouse, Jump Back kick

Front-Round-Side , Jumping Spinning Hook Kick

Moving forward - Tornado Kick (3x), Jumping Spinning Side Kick 

 

You must show power, focus, and courage 

by breaking a cement patio block

 with a palm heel or hammerfist strike

 

You must demonstrate endurance coupled with  

well controlled sparring techniques while 

sparring 4 matches against one opponent

 and 1 match against two opponents   

 

You must have the ability and willingness to teach the

 tenets of Tae Kwon Do to others

Requirements for Black Belt​

  1. Poomse (Forms)

    1. Taeguk Pal (8th) Jang

    2. Plus choice of: (must be different than Red Belt test)

      1. Weapons Form

      2. Creative Form

      3. Three Other Forms

  2. One Step Sparring

    1. Review of 1- 20

  3. Self Defense

    1. Review of the Following:

      1. Straight Punch

      2. Hook Punch

      3. Kick, Knife

      4. Club

      5. Gun Defenses

  4. IV. Combinations

    1. Jumping Spinning Roundhouse

    2. Jump Back Kick

  5. V Breaking

    1. Choice of:

      1. Speed Break

      2. Jump Side Kick over 3 people

  6. Sparring  

    1. Three Matches against 1 opponent

    2. One Match against 2 opponents

Black Belt
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