Kup Grading & Technical Guidance Syllabus. Taegeuk O-Jang — trigram Seon ☴, the wind: gentle, and capable of destroying everything in its path.
At beginner level, sparring is a matter of remembering which technique to throw and getting the blocks you know in the way. This is the rank where that stops being good enough: the theory here is distance, and blocking a kick with the arms becomes the last resort rather than the plan.
| Syllabus poomsae | Taegeuk O-Jang — 20 movements, trigram Seon ☴ |
| Time in grade | 4 months · 30–35 classes, minimum two sessions per week |
| Grading to | 4th Kup — Blue Belt |
| New at this rank | Hammer fist strike · turning and target elbow strikes in a form · kicking attacks in one-step sparring · two boards by hand |
| Belt meaning | Blue signifies the heaven towards which the plant matures into a towering tree as training progresses |
Minimums are not entitlements. Meeting them makes you eligible to be considered. Instructor recommendation is required in every case.
At this level you should be able to move your hands swiftly to the right place to protect your body — but managing the distance matters more. Blocking a kick with the arms is a last resort. The better option is simply not to be there.
So the key theory here is distance: gaining ground quickly to score, then retracting to avoid the kick coming back. Ideally you retract far enough to make the attacker miss, with your arms covering where the kick might land — without offering the arm forward to be kicked. There is no need to take a kick on the arm if you don't have to.
| Kwan | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Chung Do Kwan | Blue waves school |
| Jidokwan | School of wisdom |
| Changmookwan | Developing martial arts school |
| Song Moo Kwan | Ever youthful martial arts school |
| Moodukkwan | School of martial virtue |
| Oh Do Kwan | School of my way — General Choi's kwan |
| Kang Duk Won | Splinter school of Changmookwan |
| Han Moo Kwan | Splinter school of Jidokwan |
| Jung Do Kwan | Splinter school of Chung Do Kwan |
The new form has a clear passage where you come towards the examiner with a block to the middle section and then a strike to the face — it should be obvious that those two are at different levels. There are also movements where two strikes happen in different directions at once: a side kick to the side and a hammer fist that effectively strikes perpendicular to it.
In one-step sparring you should at least demonstrate the principle of going backward or slipping, even if the counter-attacks come slowly or the striking surface is not yet right.
Four combinations, five repetitions each, both sides, plus basics on call at the instructor's discretion.
Every sequence is written left-lead — left foot forward — and is mirrored on command. Stances are named by the forward foot. The lead hand blocks and the rear hand strikes unless a step says otherwise.
Landing a kick into a back stance means landing onto the rear leg. Graded on whether the candidate lands short — landing long forces a step and loses the stance.
The same technique travelling in opposite directions. Step 3 is the graded element — the mechanic must not change when the direction does.
The block puts the hips in the wrong place for the kick, deliberately. Scored on whether the candidate can still kick off the back leg without resetting.
Four beats without a reset. The rhythm is even — candidates lose marks by rushing beats 2 and 3 and then pausing before 4.
Face-line strikes are indicated and stopped. Under-13 candidates substitute a Momtong Bandae Jireugi for any elbow, knee or face-line element and lose no marks for it. The throat, neck, temple, eyes and spine are never contacted, at any speed, at any rank.
All from fighting stance, moving forward, resetting to the starting position after each set. Five repetitions each.
Bandal Chagi is a half-moon kick — a 45° roundhouse to the mid-section. It is not a crescent kick. The crescent kicks are An Chagi (inward) and Bakkat Chagi (outward). You are examined on the distinction from here up.
| Syllabus form | Taegeuk O-Jang — required with accuracy |
| Movements | 20 |
| Trigram | Seon ☴ — the wind |
| Character | Like the wind, the techniques change from quick and fast to heavier and more powerful. Gentle force that can sometimes be furious |
| Introduces | Hammer fist strike · turning elbow strike · target elbow strike · rear cross stance finish |
| Also examined | Kibon Il-Jang through Taegeuk O-Jang, called without warning |
O-Jang is 20 movements, trigram Seon ☴, the wind. The turns are performed quickly to suggest the twisting of a tornado, the techniques snapping into place before the linear passages.
The trigram is related to southwest and to the eldest daughter. The I Ching promotes that wind is a gentle force, but one that can sometimes be furious — the performer and the audience should be aware of the duality of the form.
Two repetitions of each, both sides. Grabs may be called from any previous rank. Weapon awareness begins at this rank — weapon technique does not.
Decision D-2. Graded knife technique — formerly "knife attack, middle thrust" at this grade — has moved to 2nd Kup — Red Belt. This grade carries the weapon-awareness sequence above: recognise, distance, barriers, exits, run. It is a safety decision, not a curriculum preference: this class includes children around age 10, and no weapon technique is graded for candidates under 14 (Band D).
No live blade is ever brought onto the WTM floor. No knife technique is taught or graded at this rank.
Disengagement and escape are the primary response. Every self-defence technique here is a last resort against an attack already in progress, and every scenario ends by reporting to a trusted adult or authority.
Nothing in this syllabus is legal advice on the use of force in Jamaica.
| Element | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Step sparring | One Step Sparring (Il-bon Kyorugi) 10–12, both sides, called by number |
| Kicking drill | Two for two kicking combinations |
| Free sparring | Controlled contact, age and weight matched |
| All bands | Mandatory equipment · a tactical objective is set before each round |
Concussion protocol applies on grading day with no exceptions: Recognise — Remove — Refer — Return. A candidate removed for suspected concussion does not return to the grading, and reschedules at no penalty.
| Element | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Hands | Downward knife hand strike or turning elbow strike — 2 boards |
| Foot | Spinning hook kick or back kick — 1 board |
| Boards | Rebreakable boards for all candidates under 16 |
| Scoring | On the technique, not the outcome |
| Stop rule | Any candidate reporting hand, wrist or foot pain stops immediately. No marks lost |
Answer out loud, finishing with "Sir" or "Ma'am". All previous mental requirements still apply.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the meaning of the blue belt? | The heaven towards which the plant matures into a towering tree as training in Taekwondo progresses. |
| What is the meaning of Taegeuk Sa-Jang? | The fourth Taegeuk form. 20 movements, trigram Jin ☳ — thunder. |
| Count 20, 30 and 40 in Korean | Sumul · Sorun · Mahun |
| What are the three rules of concentration? | Focus your eyes · focus your mind · focus your body. |
| Why do we practise controlled Olympic sparring? | To demonstrate mental discipline · to show physical control over ourselves · to build self-confidence, which indicates a strong mind. |
| How do we make power? | Power is mass multiplied by acceleration — f = ma. The weight of the person times the speed, with concentration, balance, confidence and a kihap. |
| Why do we do relaxation and strength exercises? | An effective kick or punch begins relaxed for speed and ends tight for strength. Strength work increases muscle tone and gathers energy; relaxation work develops speed and agility. |
| Which part of the foot strikes for each kick? | Skipping front leg roundhouse — instep. Skipping front leg side kick — bottom of the heel. Skipping front leg double roundhouse — instep. |
| Life skill concept (children only) | Identify, define, and answer questions on the current concept. |
The 2024 source syllabus answers the blue-belt question with "the purple belt represents power, the royal colour of majesty" — a leftover from another school's syllabus. The answer above is the school's own belt meaning. It also romanises 20, 30 and 40 as *Samul, Sarun, Mahun*; the terminology table in the same document gives *Sumul, Sorun, Mahun*, which is what is used here.
From this rank the attacks are kicks as well as punches. Defending side — remain in Junbi until the attacking side commits.
The 45° step is the graded element — the defender leaves the line of the kick rather than absorbing it. Matted surface; the attacker is taken down under control and never dropped.
A parry, not a block — the side kick is deflected rather than met. Scored on whether the parry moves the kick past the body instead of stopping it in front of it.
The hop is what buys the kicking range from a punching distance. A candidate who steps instead of hops will be too close to kick.
Righteousness is being morally aware, right and justifiable.
All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Hebrews 12:11
Always strive to be the best at what you do. That does not mean comparing yourself to others — just in what you do and love.
Derek Hough
Don't treat people as bad as they are. Treat them as good as you are.
Dalai Lama
Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for anger does not bring about the righteous life God desires.
James 1:19–20
A wise man can play the part of a clown, but a clown cannot play the part of a wise man.
Malcolm X
| Merit stripe | How it is earned at 5th Kup |
|---|---|
| Kicking | The rank kicks and every kick from earlier ranks, with effort, accuracy and precision |
| Poomsae | Taegeuk O-Jang learned to standard, with speed, focus, effort and direction |
| Sparring | Demonstrable progress: different techniques attempted, match strategy applied |
| Self-defence & step sparring | One-Step 10–12 and the weapon-awareness sequence, performed correctly and safely |
| Life skills | Awarded on the parent's word — behaviour at home and school (children only) |
| Physical strength | Set exercises at the instructor's discretion |
| Jump rope | 100 consecutive skips |
| Board breaking | The Kyukpa requirement, demonstrated safely |
Memorise as much as possible. All terms remain examinable on command.
Ten questions drawn at random from this syllabus, in the areas you are examined on. Nothing here is scored by the school — it is for finding the gaps while you still have time to close them.