Kup Grading & Technical Guidance Syllabus. Taegeuk Il-Jang — trigram Keon ☰, heaven and light: the beginning of things.
Students are often surprised that the first graded syllabus looks so long. It looks long because it carries everything after it — as you climb, your syllabus is the sum of every syllabus below it. This is the one that sets the habits.
| Syllabus poomsae | Kibon Il-Jang and Taegeuk Il-Jang — 18 movements, trigram Keon ☰ |
| Time in grade | 2–3 months · 20 classes, minimum two sessions per week |
| Grading to | 8th Kup — Yellow Belt |
| New at this rank | Back stance · knife hand block and strike · the first kicking combinations · three-step sparring |
| Belt meaning | Yellow signifies the earth from which the plant sprouts and takes root, as the Taekwondo foundation is being laid |
Minimums are not entitlements. Regular attendance for 2–3 months at the instructor's discretion. Combined with the yellow belt test, a minimum of three months' training is usually required.
Five combinations, five repetitions each, both sides. The examiner calls a number and you perform it without being talked through it.
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 first sequence in the syllabus that goes kick → block → strike. Graded on the landing: the low block arrives as the foot settles, not after it.
Walking stance travels; the block does not stop the travel. Scored on whether the hips stay level through the kick.
Back stance is new at this rank and is the stance every later grade is examined on. Graded on the vertical line, not on the arm.
The first open-hand strike on the syllabus. The line is indicated and stopped — the neck is never contacted at any rank.
The guard you will use in every sparring round from here to black belt. Graded on the elbows, which stay in front of the ribs.
Under-13 candidates substitute a Momtong Bandae Jireugi for any neck-line element and lose no marks for it. The chain is scored, not the omitted finish.
All from fighting stance, moving forward, resetting to the starting position after each set. Five repetitions each.
The kicks should build in range within a combination. Opening with a long-range kick makes your opponent retract, and the short-range kick that follows lands nowhere near them.
| Syllabus form | Taegeuk Il-Jang — required with accuracy |
| Movements | 18 |
| Trigram | Keon ☰ — heaven and light |
| Character | The beginning of things: light and rain come from the heavens and nurture growth |
| Also examined | Kibon Il-Jang, called without warning |
Two repetitions of each, both sides. Theme at this rank: releasing before the grip settles.
Practised at partner speed, grip released on request. Nothing at this rank is applied to a joint under load. The throat, neck, temple, eyes and spine are never contacted, at any speed, at any rank.
| Element | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Step sparring | Three Step Sparring (Sambon Kyorugi) 1–3, both sides, called by number |
| Free sparring | No-contact sparring |
| All bands | Mandatory equipment · age and weight matching enforced |
Contact and round length are set by age band. Concussion protocol applies on grading day with no exceptions: Recognise — Remove — Refer — Return.
Answer out loud, finishing with "Sir" or "Ma'am". All previous mental requirements still apply.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the Taekwondo oath? | I shall observe the tenets of Taekwondo · respect my instructor and seniors · never misuse Taekwondo · be a champion of freedom and justice · build a more peaceful world. |
| Why do we kihap in Taekwondo? | To develop spiritual strength with concentration, power and confidence. |
| Why do you belt test? | To demonstrate our knowledge and preparation — to gain confidence by performing under pressure, and to let a qualified judge determine the stage of our knowledge. |
| What is the meaning of the yellow belt? | Earth, from which a plant sprouts and takes root as the foundations of Taekwondo are laid. |
| What is the meaning of Taegeuk Il-Jang? | The first Taegeuk form. 18 movements, trigram Keon ☰ — heaven and light. |
| Which part of the foot strikes for each kick? | Axe kick — back of the heel. High roundhouse — instep. Inside crescent — inside edge of the foot. Outside crescent — outside edge of the foot. |
| All previous mental requirements | Examinable without warning. |
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 45° step is the graded element — the defender leaves the line rather than retreating along it. Three blocks that travel straight back score nothing.
The trap is what makes the counter safe to throw. A counter thrown without it is scored as an exchange, not a defence.
Blocking from horse stance while travelling backwards is the difficulty. Graded on whether the stance height changes between the three blocks.
The number one rule in Taekwondo is respect. At this rank it is examined as a list, and observed as a habit.
| Merit stripe | How it is earned at 9th Kup |
|---|---|
| Kicking | The rank kicks and every kick from white belt, with effort, accuracy and precision |
| Poomsae | Taegeuk Il-Jang learned to standard, with speed, focus, effort and direction |
| Sparring | Distance and control shown in no-contact sparring |
| Self-defence & step sparring | Three-Step 1–3 and the four grabs, 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 | 35 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.