World Taekwondo Mandeville
Kup Grading & Technical Guidance Syllabus · Kup Grading — Syllabus · Revised Edition 2026
World Taekwondo Mandeville · Revised Edition 2026
Kup Grading
Syllabus
Every requirement for every colour belt we examine: what you have to show, what you have to say, and how long it takes to get there. Each page prints to a clean A4 document.
01 — GradesChoose your grade
Every grade carries the grades below it. As you climb, your syllabus is the sum of all of them — which is why the first one looks so long.
10th Kup
White Belt
Kibon Il-Jang · the first grading · stances, basic blocks, five kicks
Open syllabus → 9th KupYellow Stripe
Taegeuk Il-Jang · three-step sparring 1–3 · the first long syllabus
Open syllabus → 8th KupYellow Belt
Taegeuk Ee-Jang · one-step sparring 1–3 · kinetic linking
Open syllabus → 7th KupGreen Stripe
Taegeuk Sam-Jang · one-step sparring 4–6 · hand and foot finish together
Open syllabus → 6th KupGreen Belt
Taegeuk Sa-Jang · one-step sparring 7–9 · the pattern that tests your stances
Open syllabus → 5th KupBlue Stripe
Taegeuk O-Jang · one-step sparring 10–12 · managing distance
Open syllabus → 4th KupBlue Belt
Taegeuk Yuk-Jang · cat stance and wedging block · one-step sparring 13–15, kick against kick
Open syllabus → 3rd KupRed Stripe
Taegeuk Chil-Jang · the 8-count uppercut · bear-hug escapes · one-step sparring 16–18
Open syllabus → 2nd KupRed Belt
Taegeuk Pal-Jang · five called combinations · the leadership track opens
Open syllabus → 1st KupBlack Stripe
Taegeuk Pal-Jang plus any three forms at random · advanced step sparring 1–5 · the written test and the essay
Open syllabus → 1st – 2nd DanBlack Belt
Koryo and Keumgang · four Taegeuk called at the examiner's choice · step sparring you write yourself
Open syllabus → 2nd – 3rd DanBlack Belt
Taebaek — the bright mountain · at 2nd Dan you prove you can transmit · at 3rd Dan the material has become yours
Open syllabus →02 — EligibilityTraining periods
The minimum time and number of classes required to be eligible to test. Minimum training means attending sessions twice per week. Students are notified ahead of time if they qualify for the next grading exam.
| Current belt | Time | Classes |
|---|---|---|
| White | Not specified | Not specified |
| Yellow Stripe | 2–3 months | 20 classes |
| Yellow | 2–3 months | 20 classes |
| Green Stripe | 3 months | 25–30 classes |
| Green | 3 months | 25–30 classes |
| Blue Stripe | 4 months | 30–35 classes |
| Blue | 4 months | 30–35 classes |
| Red Stripe | 5 months | 40–45 classes |
| Red | 5 months | 40–45 classes |
| Black Stripe | 6 months | Not specified |
Eligibility
Minimums are not entitlements. Meeting them makes a student eligible to be considered. Instructor recommendation is required in every case, and is based on standard rather than on time served.
03 — TteeThe belt ranking system
Six colours, ten grades between white and black, to the standard set by World Taekwondo and Kukkiwon. Read top to bottom the belts tell one story: a seed becomes a tree.
| Grade | Belt | What it signifies |
|---|---|---|
| 10th Kup | White | Innocence — a beginner with no previous knowledge of Taekwondo. |
| 9th Kup | Yellow Stripe | Same as yellow. Know the meaning of both colours. |
| 8th Kup | Yellow | Earth, from which the plant sprouts and takes root as the foundations are laid. |
| 7th Kup | Green Stripe | Same as green. Know the meaning of both colours. |
| 6th Kup | Green | The plant's growth, as Taekwondo skills begin to develop. |
| 5th Kup | Blue Stripe | Same as blue. Know the meaning of both colours. |
| 4th Kup | Blue | Heaven, towards which the plant matures into a towering tree. |
| 3rd Kup | Red Stripe | Same as red. Know the meaning of both colours. |
| 2nd Kup | Red | Danger — warning the opponent to stay away and the wearer to exercise control. |
| 1st Kup | Black Stripe | Same as red. Know the meaning of both colours. |
| 1st–9th Dan | Black | The opposite of white: maturity and proficiency, and imperviousness to darkness and fear. |
04 — HandbookCarried by every grade
These do not change from white belt to black. They are examinable at every grade.
The tenets
| Tenet | Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Courtesy | Ye Ui | Be polite to your instructor, your seniors and your fellow students. |
| Integrity | Yom Chi | Be honest with yourself. Be able to define right and wrong. |
| Perseverance | In Nae | Whether it is a new technique or a higher grade — never give up. |
| Self-control | Guk Gi | Losing your temper against an opponent is dangerous and shows a lack of control. |
| Indomitable spirit | Baekjul Boolgool | Show courage when you and your principles are pitted against overwhelming odds. |
The oath
- I shall observe the tenets of Taekwondo
- I shall respect my instructor and seniors
- I shall never misuse Taekwondo
- I shall be a champion of freedom and justice
- I shall build a more peaceful world
The pledge — the class repeats each line
- We as members train our spirit and bodies according to the strict code
- We as members are united in mutual friendship
- We as members will comply with regulations and obey instructors
Etiquette
- No smoking, eating or wearing of jewellery in the dojang.
- Jeans, tracksuits and similar are not worn after your first grading.
- Misuse of Taekwondo results in disciplinary action.
- Grading depends on attendance and the instructor's discretion as well as technical ability.
- No student may change kwan without the prior permission of both instructors concerned.
- Remain courteous and modest at all times, including outside the dojang.
- Always be helpful to junior grades and be prepared to pass on what you have learned.
Conduct in the dojang
- Bow on entering and leaving the dojang, eyes down — keeping your eyes on the other person shows distrust.
- Bow to the instructor and the most senior students at the beginning and end of every session.
- Give and receive with both hands, or with the right hand and the left hand touching the right elbow.
- An instruction from a senior is followed, unless your safety would be in jeopardy — in which case raise it respectfully.
- Training with a partner or group: bow at the beginning and end of the round. Your partner is helping you improve.
- At the end of training, show gratitude by saying Kamsahamnida.
Basic stances
| Korean | English | How it is held |
|---|---|---|
| Moa Seogi | Closed stance | Feet together, legs straight, weight centred. |
| Naranhi Seogi | Parallel stance | Feet parallel, legs straight, weight centred. |
| Ap Seogi | Walking stance | Legs straight, weight centred, front foot turned about 30°. |
| Ap Kubi | Forward stance | Front leg bent, rear leg straight, about ⅔ of the weight on the front foot. |
| Dwit Kubi | Back stance | Knees bent, about ⅔ of the weight on the rear leg; rear shoulder, hip and knee on one vertical line. |
| Juchum Seogi | Horse riding stance | Knees bent and in line with the hips and feet. |
| Beom Seogi | Tiger / cat stance | Rear foot carries all the weight; ball of the front foot lightly touching the floor. |
| Kkoa Seogi | Cross stance | Front leg at 30–45°, bearing about 90% of the weight. |
| Hakdari Seogi | Crane stance | Support knee bent as in horse riding stance, arch of the lifted foot in the crook of the knee. |
| Gyeorugi Junbi | Fighting stance | Side-on, hands up, weight even and mobile. |
Poomsae — the five steps to completion
- Pattern — learn the sequence — concentration of spirit, direction of the eyes, the angle of each movement
- Significance — balance, strength and weakness, speed, respiration and the poomsae line
- Practical use — adapt what you have learned and find out what actually works
- Self-style — weigh it against your own build, speed and power, and moderate it into your own style
- Completion — the art of Taekwondo technique, including Taekwondo spirit
| Form | Movements | Represents | Trigram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Il-Jang | 18 | Heaven and light | Keon ☰ |
| Ee-Jang | 18 | Joyfulness | Tae ☱ |
| Sam-Jang | 20 | Fire and sun | Ri ☲ |
| Sa-Jang | 20 | Thunder | Jin ☳ |
| O-Jang | 20 | Wind | Seon ☴ |
| Yuk-Jang | 19 | Water | Gam ☵ |
| Chil-Jang | 25 | Mountain | Gan ☶ |
| Pal-Jang | 27 | Earth | Gon ☷ |
05 — YongeoKorean terminology
Memorise as much as you can. All terms remain examinable on command.
General knowledge
Tae — Foot
Kwon — Fist
Do — Way
Poomsae — Forms
Dojang — Training hall
Dobok — Uniform
Ttee — Belt
Hogu — Body armour
Oreun — Right
Wen — Left
Chung — Blue
Hong — Red
Kibom — Technique
Kyorugi — Sparring
Kyukpa — Breaking
Hosinsul — Self defence
Sunbae nim — Senior student
Kyo bum nim — Instructor
Kyo sah nim — Novice black belt
Sabum nim — Teacher / Master
Kwan Jang nim — Grand Master
Kamsahamnida — Thank you
Kicks — Chagi
Chagi — Kick
Ap Chagi — Front kick
Yeop Chagi — Side kick
Dollyo Chagi — Turning kick
Dwit Chagi — Back kick
Dwi Huryeo Chagi — Spinning hook kick
Horyeo Chagi — Hook kick
Naeryeo Chagi — Axe kick
Mireo Chagi — Push kick
Yeop Mireo Chagi — Cut kick
Bandal Chagi — Half-moon kick, 45° to the mid-section
An Chagi — Inner crescent kick
Bakkat Chagi — Outer crescent kick
Momdollyo Chagi — Tornado kick
Narae Chagi — Double roundhouse
Kawi Chagi — Scissors kick
Bituro Chagi — Twisting kick
Twio + kick — Jumping / flying
Stances — Seogi
Charyot Seogi — Attention stance
Naranhi Seogi — Parallel stance
Ap Seogi — Walking stance
Ap Kubi — Forward stance
Dwit Kubi — Back stance
Beom Seogi — Tiger / cat stance
Juchum Seogi — Horse riding stance
Kkoa Seogi — Cross stance
Moa Seogi — Closed stance
Hakdari Seogi — Crane stance
Gyeorugi Junbi — Fighting stance
Bo Jumeok Junbi — Covered fist ready position
Commands
Charyeot — Attention
Kyeongnye — Bow
Junbi — Ready
Shijak — Start
Kooman — Stop
Swi-yo — Relax
Kal-yeo — Separate
Kyesok — Continue
Gam-jeom — Penalty
Seung — Winner
Dwiro Dora — Turn around
Hae San — Class dismissed
Blocks — Makki
Makki — Block
Arae Makki — Low block
Momtong Makki — Middle block
Olgul Makki — High block
Momtong An Makki — Inward middle block
Momtong Bakkat Makki — Outer forearm block
Sonnal Makki — Knife hand block
Hansonnal Makki — Single knife hand block
Batangson Makki — Palm block
Batangson Nullyeo Makki — Palm heel pressing block
Otgeoreo Makki — X block
Gawi Makki — Scissors block
Hechyeo Makki — Wedging block
Santeul Makki — Mountain block
Oesanteul Makki — Half mountain block
Goduro Makki — Guarding block
Punches & strikes
Jireugi — Punch
Momtong Jireugi — Middle punch
Olgul Jireugi — High punch
Arae Jireugi — Low punch
Bandae Jireugi — Reverse punch
Yeop Jireugi — Side punch
Du Hechyeo Jireugi — Twin upset punch
Deungjumeok Chigi — Back fist strike
Sonnal Mok Chigi — Knife hand neck strike
Sonnal An Chigi — Inward knife hand strike
Sonnal Bakkat Chigi — Outward knife hand strike
Sonnal Deung Naeryeo Chigi — Ridgehand downward strike
Mejumeok Naeryeo Chigi — Downward hammer fist
Batangson Teok Chigi — Palm heel strike to the chin
Palkup Ollyeo Chigi — Upward elbow strike
Palkup Dollyeo Chigi — Turning elbow strike
Palkup Pyojeok Chigi — Target elbow strike
Palkup Yeop Chigi — Side elbow strike
Palkup Dwi Chigi — Back elbow strike
Mureup Chigi — Knee strike
Kaljaebi — Arc hand strike
Jebipoom Mok Chigi — Swallow-form neck strike
Pyeonsonkeut Jireugi — Spearhand thrust
Counting — native Korean
Hana — 1
Dool — 2
Set — 3
Net — 4
Dasut — 5
Yasut — 6
Ilgop — 7
Yodol — 8
Ahop — 9
Yul — 10
Yul hana — 11
Sumul — 20
Sorun — 30
Mahun — 40
Shin — 50
Yesun — 60
Ilhun — 70
Yodun — 80
Ahun — 90
Baek — 100
Steps & footwork
Pal Pakkwo — Change feet
Chunjin — Slide forward
Hujin — Slide backward
Il-bo Chunjin — One step forward
Il-bo Hujin — One step backward