Kup Grading & Technical Guidance Syllabus. Taegeuk Sa-Jang — trigram Jin ☳, thunder: power, and the connection between heaven and earth.
In Taegeuk Sa-Jang you have to perform an inward block with the "wrong" hand in back stance. That movement is very hard to do if the back stance is not accurate — which is exactly the point of the pattern. This is the grade where the stance stops being scenery.
| Syllabus poomsae | Taegeuk Sa-Jang — 20 movements, trigram Jin ☳ |
| Time in grade | 3 months · 25–30 classes, minimum two sessions per week |
| Grading to | 5th Kup — Blue Stripe |
| New at this rank | Supporting knife hand block · supporting vertical thrust · tornado kick · forward and backward shoulder rolls |
| Belt meaning | Green signifies the plant's growth as Taekwondo skills begin to develop |
Minimums are not entitlements. Meeting them makes you eligible to be considered. Instructor recommendation is required in every case.
At the centre of the Korean flag is a swirling shape, half red and half blue. It is called umyang, and it is central to Korean philosophy: everything is made of opposites — male and female, hard and soft, dark and light.
One thing that distinguishes Taekwondo poomsae from Japanese karate kata is that our patterns hold soft movements of preparation in between rapid accelerations into the techniques themselves. Perform the whole pattern with tension and power and there is too much tension in the body to generate real force — and it is exhausting for no reason.
The paragraph above ends mid-sentence in the 2025 source document ("The body needs"). Nothing has been invented to complete it — the ending needs to come from the Head Instructor.
The World Taekwondo Federation was set up in 1973 to manage the sport side of Taekwondo. They developed the body protector and other pads to keep competitors safe in full-contact fighting. In keeping with the Korean traditional view that they are artisans and that punching a person in the face is uncouth, the rules allowed kicks to the head but not punches — both are permitted to the body. That single rule shaped Taekwondo into a dynamic and instantly recognisable combat sport: a demonstration sport at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics and a full medal sport from 2000.
People often call the non-ITF style "WTF Taekwondo", but the WTF only governs the sport side of our style. A better name is Kukki-Taekwondo, Kukkiwon Taekwondo, or Kukkiwon-style Taekwondo.
Five combinations, five repetitions each, both sides. Called by number, performed without demonstration.
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.
Two blocks on different lines with a kick in front of them. Graded on the landing — the low block arrives as the foot settles.
The stance change is the power source. A candidate who throws the elbow from the back stance has skipped the mechanic.
Long range collapsing to close range in one beat. The elbow into the practitioner's own palm may be delivered at full power.
Strike, then re-guard. Scored on step 3 — a combination that finishes on the strike has left the candidate standing in range with the hands down.
The first cross stance in a combination. Graded on whether the crossing leg kills the momentum rather than the candidate stumbling into position.
Turning and front elbow strikes are delivered to a held pad or into the practitioner's own palm — never to a partner. Face-line back fists are indicated and stopped. Under-13 candidates substitute a Momtong Bandae Jireugi for any elbow or face-line element and lose no marks for it.
All from fighting stance, moving forward, resetting to the starting position after each set. Five repetitions each.
Three-for-three kicking should flow between kicks, showing balance and accuracy, and the kicks should build in range. Opening with a long-range kick makes your opponent retract, and the short-range kick that follows lands nowhere near them: short, then medium, then long.
| Syllabus form | Taegeuk Sa-Jang — required with accuracy |
| Movements | 20 |
| Trigram | Jin ☳ — thunder |
| Character | Thunder comes from the sky and is absorbed by the earth: one of the most powerful natural forces, and the connection between heaven and earth |
| Introduces | Supporting knife hand block · supporting vertical thrust · swallow-form knife hand strike · consecutive side kicks |
| Also examined | Kibon Il-Jang through Taegeuk Sam-Jang, called without warning |
Sa-Jang is 20 movements, trigram Jin ☳, thunder. The reference map printed in the 2025 source document is titled Taegeuk Sa-Jang and is correct for this rank.
Two repetitions of each, both sides. Theme at this rank: escaping and countering from hair grabs. Grabs may be called from any previous rank.
Pinning the grabbing hand comes first, always — every hair-grab escape starts by making the hair impossible to pull. Locks are applied slowly, to the point of control, and released on the signal. The rear neck grab is drilled with the arm across the shoulder, never across the throat.
| Element | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Step sparring | One Step Sparring (Il-bon Kyorugi) 7–9, both sides, called by number |
| 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 | Side hammer fist strike — 1 board |
| Foot | Spinning hook 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 does the green belt signify? | The plant's growth, as Taekwondo skills begin to develop. |
| What is the Korean term for twist kick? | Bituro Chagi. |
| Name the five tenets of Taekwondo. | Courtesy · integrity · perseverance · self-control · indomitable spirit. |
| What is the form practised at green belt level? | Taegeuk Sa-Jang. |
| What does dojang mean? | The training hall where Taekwondo is practised. |
| Why does discipline matter in Taekwondo? | Discipline builds respect, focus and dedication — to the training and to your own growth. |
| What is the Korean term for roundhouse kick? | Dollyo Chagi. |
| Describe a basic self-defence technique for green belts. | One example: escaping a front shoulder grab by rotating and stepping back. |
| Which stance is used for many blocking techniques? | Forward stance — Ap Kubi. |
| How many movements are in Taegeuk Sa-Jang? | Twenty. |
Attacking side — step back with the right leg, executing a low block, in preparation to start. Defending side — remain in Junbi until the attacking side commits.
The hop backwards is the graded element — it makes the jumping kick possible. A candidate who jumps from standing range has not created the distance.
Block and strike arrive together in step 1–2 or the combination has failed at the entry. The knee is delivered to a pad only, never to a partner.
Foot-to-foot stepping is what puts the front leg in range without telegraphing. The wristlock is released on the signal and is never applied at speed.
Humanity — sometimes called empathy — is the ability to sense the misfortunes of others and love them as a parent loves a child.
If you must choose between being kind and being right, choose kind — and you will always be right.
Zen
Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.
Dalai Lama
One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.
John F. Kennedy
Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.
Mahatma Gandhi
| Merit stripe | How it is earned at 6th Kup |
|---|---|
| Kicking | The rank kicks and every kick from earlier ranks, with effort, accuracy and precision |
| Poomsae | Taegeuk Sa-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 7–9 and the hair-grab set, 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 | 75 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.