TOTAL TKD || ITF Taekwon-Do Classes in London, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire

Taekwon-Do Theory

The theory sheets below cover the Taekwon-Do theory required for any students up to the age of 12. All students above the age of 12, or above red tag require a student handbook, please ask your Instructor for one of these.

I am a...	Grading for my...	Theory Sheet	Pattern Info
White Belt	Yellow Tag	White Belt Theory Sheet (10th Kup)	Saju Jirugi Saju Makgi
Yellow Tag	Yellow Belt	Yellow Tag Theory Sheet (9th Kup)	Chon-Ji
Yellow Belt	Green Tag	Yellow Belt Theory Sheet (8th Kup)	Dan-Gun
Green Tag	Green Belt	Green Tag Theory Sheet (7th Kup)	Do-San
Green Belt	Blue Tag	Green Belt Theory Sheet (6th Kup)	Won-Hyo
Blue Tag	Blue Belt	Blue Tag Theory Sheet (5th Kup)	Yul-Gok
Blue Belt	Red Tag	Blue Belt Theory Sheet (4th Kup)	Joong-Gun
Red Tag	Red Belt	Student Handbook required	Toi-Gye
Red Belt	Black Tag	Student Handbook required	Hwa-Rang
Black Tag	Black Belt	Student Handbook required	Choong-Moo

Ranks

White - Signifies innocence, as that of the beginning student who has no previous knowledge of Taekwon-Do.

Yellow - Signifies the earth from which a plant sprouts and takes root as the foundation of Taekwon-Do is being laid.

Green - Signifies the plant's growth as Taekwon-Do skills begin to develop.

Blue - Signifies the Heaven towards which the plant matures into a towering tree as training in Taekwon-Do progresses.

Red - Signifies Danger, cautioning the student to exercise control and warning the opponent to stay away.

Black - Opposite of white, therefore signifying maturity and proficiency in Taekwon-Do; also indicates the wearer's imperviousness to darkness and fear.

Grading Criteria

The following grading criteria must be applied to all TOTAL TKD gradings.

Colour Belt Gradings

Time Between Gradings

Based upon a student training regularly twice per week the following times are applicable between gradings. If the student is training once per week then grading times must be doubled.

10th - 9th Kup: 2 months
8th - 4th Kup: 3 months
3rd - 2nd Kup: 4 months

Grading Criteria

The following criteria is used for colour belt gradings:

I am a...	Grading for my...	Theory	Patterns	Sparring	Other
White Belt	Yellow Tag	White Belt Theory Sheet	Saju Jirugi Saju Makgi	None	10 press-ups 10 rising kicks 10 sitting stance punches Fundamental movements
Yellow Tag	Yellow Belt	Yellow Tag Theory Sheet	Saju Jirugi Saju Makgi Chon-Ji	None	20 press-ups sitting stance double punch Fundamental movements
Yellow Belt	Green Tag	Yellow Belt Theory Sheet	Saju Jirugi Saju Makgi Chon-Ji Dan-Gun	Sets 1 and 2 of 3-step sparring (see page 40)	Fundamental movements Measure with Ap Cha Busigi over 13 years old to attempt to break
Green Tag	Green Belt	Green Tag Theory Sheet	Chon-Ji Dan-Gun Do-San	Sets 3, 4 and 5 of 3-step sparring (see page 40)	Measure with Ap Cha Busigi over 13 years old to attempt to break
Green Belt	Blue Tag	Green Belt Theory Sheet (6th Kup)	Dan-Gun Do-San Won-Hyo	Sets 1 and 2 of 2-step sparring (see page 41) and 3-step semi-free sparring	Measure with Yop Chagi and Sonkal Yop Taerigi, over 13 years old to attempt to break
Blue Tag	Blue Belt	Blue Tag Theory Sheet	Do-San Won-Hyo Yul-Gok	Sets 3,4,5 of 2-step sparring (see page 41) and free sparring	Measure with Yop Chagi and Sonkal Yop Taerigi, over 13 years to attempt to break
Blue Belt	Red Tag	Blue Belt Theory Sheet	Won-Hyo Yul-Gok Joong-Gun	Sets 1 and 2 of 1-step sparring (see page 43) and free sparring	Measure with Dollyo Chagi and Ap Palkop Taerigi, over 13 years old to attempt to break
Red Tag	Red Belt	Student Handbook required	Yul-Gok Joong-Gun Toi-Gye	Sets 3, 4 and 5 of 1-step sparring (see page 43) and free sparring	Measure with Dollyo Chagi and Ap Palkop taerigi, over 13 years old to attempt to break
Red Belt	Black Tag	Student Handbook required	Joong-Gun Toi-Gye Hwa-Rang	Sets 1-5 of 1-step sparring (see page 43), free sparring and self-defence	Measure with Bandae Dollyo Chagi, Dwit Chagi and Ap Joomuk Jirugi, over 13 years old to attempt to break
Black Tag	Black Belt	Student Handbook required	Choong-Moo All other patterns	All step sparring and free sparring

Please note:

In all gradings there are 4 areas that have to be completed satisfactorily for the student to be promoted. These are the following Patterns and Meanings, pre-arranged sparring, measuring-up and Korean terminology.
Students under 13 years old do not have to break and will perform prearranged sparring to an imaginary opponent.
Female students will use Yop Joomuk instead of Ap Joomuk where stated.
All teenagers and adults may have a pre-arranged sparring partner to bring to grading, as long as the partner is the same grade or higher.

Black Belt Gradings

Students going for black belt grades from 1st degree - 3rd degree will perform a grading consisting of the following criteria:

3 grade patterns
Patterns of examiners choice
Step sparring
Destruction
Free sparring
Foot sparring
2 vs. 1 sparring
Theory
Kicking combinations
Self defence

As from 1st November 2018 TOTAL TKD will be adopting a minimum age policy for black belt degree testing. And is as follows;

1st degree - minimum age 12yrs*
2nd degree - minimum age 15yrs*
3rd degree - minimum age 18yrs*

*At the discretion of Master Symonds that have represented England at national Team level maybe considered to grade earlier than the stated minimum ages.