Kup Grading & Technical Guidance Syllabus. Taegeuk Sam-Jang — trigram Ri ☲, fire and the sun: snap, and then passion.
Green stripe is the crossing out of the beginner ranks. You now hold two very similar patterns at once and have to keep them separate, and the two hand techniques at this rank look almost identical to a spectator — a small change in starting position turns a defensive movement into an offensive one.
| Syllabus poomsae | Taegeuk Sam-Jang — 20 movements, trigram Ri ☲ |
| Time in grade | 3 months · 25–30 classes, minimum two sessions per week |
| Grading to | 6th Kup — Green Belt |
| New at this rank | Jebipoom Mok Chigi · fingertip thrust · the back kick · breakfall from squatting |
| Belt meaning | Green signifies the plant's growth as Taekwondo skills begin to develop |
A minimum of three months from the previous kup grade to be recommended for the 6th Kup grading. Minimums are not entitlements.
When you perform a hand technique while stepping forward, the hand and the foot must finish together. This builds on power generation, introduced at yellow stripe, and kinetic linking, introduced at yellow belt.
If moving forward generates more power, and having the feet firmly planted generates more power, then the optimum moment to strike is the exact moment the movement finishes and the feet are settling. So a hand technique lands in the same split second the foot does — not before, and not after.
The kick at this rank is the hallmark of Taekwondo and is hard to do properly — the standing foot ends up facing 180° away from the opponent. You are also asked to show a range of kicks while holding your balance and your distance, and while staying concerned for your partner's safety.
Five combinations, five repetitions each, both sides, plus basic techniques at the instructor's discretion. 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.
The pressing hand is what makes the thrust land safely. Graded on the two hands arriving together — a thrust that outruns the press is scored as an attack, not a technique.
The signature technique of Sam-Jang. Scored on simultaneity: the rising block and the strike are one movement performed by two arms, not two movements performed in order.
Kicking off the back leg from a back stance means the weight is already on the kicking leg. Graded on whether the candidate re-weights before kicking rather than falling into it.
The double punch is Sam-Jang's rhythm engine. Both punches land on the same line, from the same stance, with no drift forward between them.
The Korean name is graded as heavily as the movement. From this rank the examiner may call in Korean without translation.
The neck-line strike in Combination 2 and the fingertip thrust in Combination 1 are indicated to the line and stopped. Under-13 candidates substitute a Momtong Bandae Jireugi and lose no marks. 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.
The kicks build in range within a combination: short, then medium, then long. Balance is graded between the kicks, not only during them.
| Syllabus form | Taegeuk Sam-Jang — required with accuracy |
| Movements | 20 |
| Trigram | Ri ☲ — fire and the sun |
| Character | Snap and passion. Each combination follows quickly from the technique before it |
| Introduces | Knife hand inward strike · single knife hand outward block · the double punch |
| Also examined | Kibon Il-Jang through Taegeuk Ee-Jang, called without warning |
Sam-Jang is 20 movements, trigram Ri ☲, fire and the sun. The reference map for this rank is Taegeuk Sam-Jang; Taegeuk Sa-Jang is the 6th Kup form.
Theme at this rank: escaping and countering from collar grabs. Grabs may be called from any previous rank.
Locks are applied slowly, to the point of control, and released on the signal. The choke escape is drilled with the attacker's hands on the collar, never on the throat. The throat, neck, temple, eyes and spine are never contacted, at any speed, at any rank.
| Element | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Step sparring | One Step Sparring (Il-bon Kyorugi) 4–6, both sides, called by number |
| Free sparring | One-on-one and alternate, controlled contact |
| All bands | Mandatory equipment · age and weight matching enforced · 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 | Inward knife hand or reverse middle punch — 1 board |
| Foot | Side kick or roundhouse 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 green belt? | Green represents the colour of plants and signifies growth. |
| What is the meaning of the yellow belt? | The earth from which the plant sprouts and takes root. |
| What is the meaning of Taegeuk Sam-Jang? | The third Taegeuk form. 20 movements, trigram Ri ☲ — fire and the sun. |
| What does cooperation mean? | Working together as a team. |
| How do you use cooperation at home, at school or work, and at Taekwondo? | Answered from your own experience — one example for each of the three. |
| What are the four mental components of power? | Focus · desire · visualisation · confidence. |
| Which part of the foot strikes for each kick? | Twist kick — instep. Double roundhouse kick — instep. Jumping front kick — ball of the foot. |
| Tying your belt | Know how to tie your belt correctly and be ready to demonstrate it at the testing. |
| Life skill concept (children only) | Identify, define, and answer questions on the current concept. |
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.
Elbow and back fist from one arm, one rotation. The trap is graded — without it the elbow has no range and the back fist has no target.
Same entry as One-Step 4, different finish — the pair is examined together so the candidate has to name which one was called. The temple is indicated at every age and speed.
The first sweep on the syllabus. Matted surface, and the sweep is taken under control with the opponent's balance managed, never dropped.
Wisdom is knowing right from wrong — for others, and for yourself.
When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. If you listen, you may learn something new.
Dalai Lama
Any person capable of angering you becomes your master; he can anger you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him.
Epictetus
There are three solutions to every problem: accept it, change it, or leave it. If you cannot accept it, change it. If you cannot change it, leave it.
Buddha
| Merit stripe | How it is earned at 7th Kup |
|---|---|
| Kicking | The rank kicks and every kick from earlier ranks, with effort, accuracy and precision |
| Poomsae | Taegeuk Sam-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 4–6 and the collar-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 | 50 consecutive skips |
| Board breaking | The Kyukpa requirement, demonstrated safely |
From this rank the examiner may call techniques in Korean without translation.
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.