- Twin fist strike high
- Twin fist strike middle
- Twin fist strike low
Both fists arrive together on the same line. Scored on whether the shoulders stay square — a twin strike that rotates has become two punches.
World Taekwondo Mandeville
Kup Grading & Technical Guidance Syllabus · 8th Kup — Yellow Belt · Revised Edition 2026
World Taekwondo Mandeville · Mandeville, Jamaica
8th Kup
Yellow Belt
Kup Grading & Technical Guidance Syllabus. Taegeuk Ee-Jang — trigram Tae ☱, the lake: firm underneath, gentle at the surface.
Opens your print dialogue — choose Save as PDF as the destination.
→
01 — The rankWhat this grade asks of you
The first rank with a theory requirement. From here you are expected to be able to say why a technique works, not only to perform it — and the answer at yellow belt is kinetic linking.
| Syllabus poomsae | Taegeuk Ee-Jang — 18 movements, trigram Tae ☱ |
| Time in grade | 2–3 months · 20 classes, minimum two sessions per week |
| Grading to | 7th Kup — Green Stripe |
| New at this rank | Elbow strikes · twin fist strike · double knife-hand guarding block · one-step sparring · board breaking by hand and foot |
| Belt meaning | Yellow signifies the earth from which the plant sprouts and takes root |
Eligibility
Regular attendance for three months from the previous grading. At the instructor's discretion a student may grade for yellow belt directly from white belt. Minimums are not entitlements.
Theory — power generation and kinetic linking
There are two ways of generating force: linear and rotational. Stand square and punch forward moving only your arm — that is linear. Stand the same way, hold the arm out to the side, lock it, and rotate your waist — that is rotational. Taekwondo combines both: the arm extends forward while the fist rotates through the last 10–20% of the movement, and the waist rotates with it. That is true of about 98% of Taekwondo techniques.
The other half of power is mass. You can make a movement faster, or make the striking object heavier. You cannot make your hand heavier mid-fight, but you can make a solid connection from the striking surface, through the body, into the feet and down to the floor. Then the mass behind the strike is your whole body rather than one arm. That is why the back foot stays firmly flat in most stances — otherwise the force travels through the body and is wasted pushing the foot into the floor. This principle is called kinetic linking, and it is examinable from here to black belt.
02 — KibonHand & combination techniques
Five combinations, five repetitions each, both sides. Called by number, performed without demonstration.
How to read the sides
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.
Practise
LEFT-LEAD
- Left outer-forearm middle block Momtong Bakkat Makki
- Right upward elbow strike Palkup Ollyeo Chigi — to a held pad
- Recover the guard without dropping the elbow
The first elbow on the syllabus. The block creates the range the elbow needs — step into it, do not reach for it.
- Left single knife-hand outward middle block Hansonnal Momtong Bakkat Makki
- Shift forward into left forward stance Ap Kubi
- Right reverse punch Bandae Jireugi
A back stance becoming a forward stance is a weight transfer, not a step. Graded on whether the head rises during the change.
- Left inward middle block Momtong An Makki
- Left back-fist strike Deungjumeok Chigi with the same hand
Block and strike with one arm, one rotation. If the arm resets between the two, the mechanic has been lost.
- Knife-hand middle guarding block Sonnal Momtong Goduro Makki
- Hold: about ⅔ of the weight on the rear leg, the rear hand at the solar plexus
The guarding block that opens Taegeuk Sam-Jang and every back-stance passage after it. Graded on the rear hand, which is the one candidates forget.
Safety overlay
The upward elbow in Combination 2 is delivered to a held pad only — never to a partner. 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.
Fitness / endurance
| Element | Standard |
|---|---|
| Push-ups | 35 |
| Crunches | 35 |
| Squats | 35 |
| Burpees | 15 |
Adapted route
A candidate training under the para pathway, or with a documented injury or medical restriction, is assessed against an equivalent standard agreed with the Head Instructor before the grading. The adapted standard is a full pass, not a concession.
03 — ChagiKicking & footwork
All from fighting stance, moving forward, resetting to the starting position after each set. Five repetitions each.
- Combination kicking 1 — crescent kick, spinning hook kick and roundhouse kick
- Combination kicking 2 — front leg cut, single step forward, turning back kick
- Consecutive kicking — cut kick, hook kick and roundhouse kick
- Front pushing kick — Mireo Chagi
- Jumping kicks — roundhouse, side, hook, axe and back kick
What the panel watches
Spinning kicks arrive at this rank. The landing is graded as part of the kick — a spin that lands flat or facing the wrong way has not been completed, however good the kick looked in the air.
04 — PoomsaeTaegeuk Ee-Jang
| Syllabus form | Taegeuk Ee-Jang — required with accuracy |
| Movements | 18 — five kicks, seven punches |
| Trigram | Tae ☱ — the lake |
| Character | Inner firmness, outer softness. Movements flow, and are still performed firmly and with control |
| Introduces | The front kick inside a form · high punch in forward stance |
| Also examined | Kibon Il-Jang and Taegeuk Il-Jang, called without warning |
Watch it performed
- Turn 90° left into walking stance, left foot forward — left low block
- Step forward into front stance, right foot forward — right middle punch
- Turn 180° right into walking stance, right foot forward — right low block
- Step forward into front stance, left foot forward — left middle punch
- Turn 90° left into walking stance, left foot forward — right inward middle block
- Step forward into walking stance, right foot forward — left inward middle block
- Turn 90° left into walking stance, left foot forward — left low block
- Right leg front snap kick, landing in front stance — right high punch
- Turn 180° right into walking stance, right foot forward — right low block
- Left leg front snap kick, landing in front stance — left high punch
- Turn 90° left into walking stance, left foot forward — left high block
- Step forward into walking stance, right foot forward — right high block
- Turn 270° left (anti-clockwise) into walking stance, left foot forward — right inward middle block
- Turn 180° left into walking stance, right foot forward — left inward middle block
- Turn 90° left into walking stance, left foot forward — left low block
- Right leg front snap kick, landing in walking stance — right middle punch
- Left leg front snap kick, landing in walking stance — left middle punch
- Right leg front snap kick, landing in walking stance — right middle punch, then bring the right leg back turning 180° into ready stance, finishing where you started
Know this about the form
Taegeuk is two words — *Tae*, bigness, and *geuk*, eternity. The forms have no beginning and no end, and they hold the essence of Taekwondo.
Ee-Jang is 18 movements, trigram Tae ☱, and signifies joyfulness. Heaven and light belongs to Il-Jang.
05 — HosinsulSelf defence
Two repetitions of each, both sides. Theme at this rank: attacks that arrive from behind.
- Slap to the face
- Double lapel grab
- Shoulder grab from behind
- Double wrist grab from behind
- Hair grab from behind
Safety
Practised at partner speed, grip released on request. Hair grabs are taken with the hand pinned to the head so the hair is never pulled. Nothing at this rank is applied to a joint under load.
06 — KyorugiSparring & breaking
| Element | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Step sparring | One Step Sparring (Il-bon Kyorugi) 1–3, both sides, called by number |
| Semi-free sparring | Both students from fighting stance, kicking in turn on command |
| Free sparring | Controlled contact, age and weight matched |
| All bands | Mandatory equipment · a tactical objective is set before each round |
Sparring safety
Contact and round length are set by age band. 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.
Destruction — Kyukpa
| Element | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Hands | Hammer fist strike — 1 board |
| Foot | Side kick or 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 |
07 — TheoryMental requirements
Answer out loud, finishing with "Sir" or "Ma'am". All previous mental requirements still apply.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the meaning of the yellow belt? | The earth from which the plant sprouts and takes root, as the Taekwondo foundation is being laid. |
| What is the meaning of Taegeuk Ee-Jang? | The second Taegeuk form. 18 movements, trigram Tae ☱ — joyfulness. |
| Count 11 to 20 in Korean | Yul hana · Yul dool · Yul set · Yul net · Yul dasut · Yul yasut · Yul ilgop · Yul yodol · Yul ahop · Sumul |
| What are the commandments of Taekwondo? | Respect your parents · respect your brothers and sisters · be loyal to your friends · respect your elders · respect your teachers · finish what you begin. |
| What are the four physical components of power? | Follow-through · accuracy · speed · technique. |
| What is kinetic linking? | Making a solid connection from the striking surface through the body to the floor, so the mass behind the strike is the whole body rather than one limb. |
| Which part of the foot strikes for each kick? | Push kick — bottom of the heel. Back kick — bottom of the heel. Spinning hook kick — back of the heel. Jumping side kick — bottom of the heel. |
| Life skill concept (children only) | Identify, define, and answer questions on the current concept. |
08 — Il-bon KyorugiOne-step sparring
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.
- Move the right leg 45° off the opponent's line, forming a right Juchum Seogi
- Simultaneously block with the left hand Sonnal Makki (knife hand block)
- Right Momtong Jireugi to the solar plexus
The block and the punch are one movement, not two. The 45° step is what makes them possible — a defender who steps straight back has nowhere to punch from.
- Move the right leg 45° off the line into a right Juchum Seogi, blocking with the left hand Sonnal Makki
- Right Olgul Jireugi to the face — indicated
- Grasp the attacker's head with the left hand
- Right Ap Palkup Chigi (front elbow strike) to the face — indicated
The head grab is what makes the elbow safe and the elbow is what makes the grab worth doing. Both are indicated at every age and speed.
- Move forward with the right leg towards the opponent into Juchum Seogi, blocking with the left hand Sonnal Makki
- Trap the blocking hand
- Right Palkup Dollyeo Chigi (turning elbow strike) to the jaw — indicated
The only one of the three that moves towards the attack. Graded on whether the candidate genuinely closes the distance rather than turning side-on and hoping.
09 — Moral cultureTruth
Truth is what it is — you bend to its power, or you live a lie.
Truth is not what you want it to be; it is what it is, and you must bend to its power or live a lie.
Miyamoto Musashi
The truth is like a lion. You do not have to defend it. Let it loose. It will defend itself.
St. Augustine
A good woman or man will be honest no matter how painful the truth is. A coward hides behind lies and deceit.
Anonymous
Courtesy — Ye Ui
- Be polite to each other
- Distinguish senior from junior, instructor from student
- Behave according to protocol and etiquette
- Respect other people's property
- Do things with utmost respect and sincerity
- Avoid giving or taking gifts when uncertain
Merit stripes — the Mooto reward system
| Merit stripe | How it is earned at 8th Kup |
|---|---|
| Kicking | The rank kicks and every kick from earlier ranks, with effort, accuracy and precision |
| Poomsae | Taegeuk Ee-Jang learned to standard, with speed, focus, effort and direction |
| Sparring | Demonstrable progress in semi-free and free sparring |
| Self-defence & step sparring | One-Step 1–3 and the five grabs, performed correctly and safely |
| Life skills | Awarded on the parent's word — behaviour at home and school (children only) |
| Physical strength | The standards on the fitness table |
| Jump rope | 50 consecutive skips |
| Board breaking | The Kyukpa requirement, demonstrated safely |
10 — YongeoKorean terminology
Memorise as much as possible. 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
11 — Self-testTest yourself before you grade
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.
0out of 10