In Taekwon-do, character development, fortitude, tenacity, and technique are graded as well as individual capacity. The promotional scale is divided into nineteen ranks – 10 grades (Kups) and nine degrees (Dans). The former begins with 10th grade (Kup) the lowest and ends at first grade. Degrees begin with the first degree (Dan) and end with the ultimate, ninth degree.
This area of the site is broken down into the following sections: Syllabus, Belt Colour Meanings, Coloured Belt Patterns (Tul), Black Belt Patterns (Tul), Set Sparring, Terminology & Other Theory
Click on the document icon (
) next to a grade in the Syllabus section to see the syllabus associated with your current belt (i.e: click on the belt that you currently hold, not the belt you will be grading to next). The link will provide you with a breakdown of what you need to work on for your next grading.
Each syllabus is presented in printable Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. If you do not have an appropriate reader, you can download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free below.
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10th Kup |
White Belt |
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9th Kup |
White Belt, Yellow Stripe |
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8th Kup |
Yellow Belt |
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7th Kup |
Yellow Belt, Green Stripe |
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6th Kup |
Green Belt |
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5th Kup |
Green Belt, Blue Stripe |
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4th Kup |
Blue Belt |
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3rd Kup |
Blue Belt, Red Stripe |
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2nd Kup |
Red Belt |
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1st Kup |
Red Belt, Black Stripe |
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1st Dan |
Black Belt |
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2nd Dan |
Black Belt |
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3rd Dan |
Black Belt |
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4th Dan |
Black Belt |
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5th Dan |
Black Belt |
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6th Dan |
Black Belt |
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7th Dan |
Black Belt |
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8th Dan |
Black Belt |
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9th Dan |
Black Belt |
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White Belt |
signifies innocence as that of a beginner student who has no previous knowledge of Taekwon-do. |
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Yellow Belt |
signifies the earth from which a plant sprouts and takes root as the Taekwon-do foundation is being laid. |
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Green Belt |
signifies the plants growth as the skills in Taekwon-do begin to develop. |
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Blue Belt |
signifies the heaven towards which the plant matures into a towering tree as the training in Taekwon-do progresses. |
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Red Belt |
signifies danger, cautioning the student to exercise control and warning the opponent to stay away. |
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Black Belt |
is the opposite of white. Therefore signifying the maturity and proficiency in Taekwon-do. It also indicates the wearers imperviousness to darkness and fear. |
Each pattern is shown below. To the right of each pattern name are links to either a written description () and/or video (
) showing each pattern performed in real-time.
Note: Video links are to external content provided by YouTube. Videos will open in a new window which should be closed when you have finished viewing.
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Saju Jirugi |
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While Saju Jirugi in Korean, is translated as "Four Directional Punch". However, it is not considered a pattern (tul) as it has no defined meaning. |
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Saju-Makgi |
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Saju Makgi in Korean, is translated as "Four Directional Block", but like Saju Jurigi is not considered a pattern (tul) as it has no defined meaning. |
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Chon-Ji |
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Chon Ji means literally the "Heaven and the Earth". It is, in the Orient interpreted as the creation of the world or the beginning of human history, therefore it is the initial pattern practised by the beginner. This pattern consists of two similar parts, one to represent the Heaven, the other Earth. |
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Dan-Gun |
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Dan Gun is named after the holy Dan Gun legendary founder of Korea in the year 2333bc. |
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Do-San |
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Do San is the pseudonym of the patriot Ahn Ch´ang Ho (1876-1938). The 24 movements represent his entire life which, he devoted to furthering the education of Korea and its independence movement. |
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Won-Hyo |
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Won Hyo was the noted monk who introduced Bhuddism into the Silla Dynasty in the year 686AD. |
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Yul-Gok |
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Yul Gok is the pseudonym of the great philosopher and scholar Yi I (1536 – 1584), nicknamed the ´Confucious of Korea´. The 38 movements of this pattern refer to his birthplace on the line of 38 degrees latitude, and the diagram represents "scholar". |
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Joong-Gun |
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Joong Gun is named after the patriot Ahn Joong Gun who assassinated Hiro-Bumi Ito, the first Japanese-Governor General of Korea. Known as the man who played the leading part of the Korea-Japan merger. There are 32 movements in this pattern to represent Mr Ahn´s age when he was executed in Lui-Shung prison in 1910. |
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Toi-Gye |
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Toi Gye is the penname of the noted scholar Yi Hwang (16th Century), an authority on neo-Confucianism. The 37 movements of this pattern refer to his birthplace on the 37th degree latitude. The diagram represents "scholar". |
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Hwa-Rang |
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Hwa Rang is named after the Hwa Rang Youth Group, which originated in the Silla Dynasty in the early 7th century. The 29 movements refer to the 29th Infantry Division where Tae Kwon-Do developed into maturity. |
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Choong-Moo |
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Choong Moo was the name given to the great Admiral Yi Soon-Sin of the Lee Dynasty. He was reputed to have invented the first armoured battleship (Kobukson) in 1592, which is said to be the precursor of the present day submarine. The reason why this pattern ends up with a left hand attack is to symbolise his regrettable death, having no chance to show his unrestrained potentiality, checked by the forced reservation of his loyalty to the King. |
Each pattern is shown below. To the right of each pattern name are links to either a written description () and/or video (
) showing each pattern performed in real-time.
Note: Video links are to external content provided by YouTube. Videos will open in a new window which should be closed when you have finished viewing.
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Kwang-Gae |
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Kwang-Gae is named after the famous Gwang-Gae-T´-Wang, the 19th King of the Koguryo Dynasty, who regained all the lost territories including the greater part of Manchuria. The pattern diagram represents the expansion and recovery of the lost territory. The 39 movements refer to his reign of 39 years. |
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Po-Eun |
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Po-Eun is the pseudonym of a loyal subject Chong Mong-Chu (1400AD) who was a famous poet and whose poem "I would not serve a second master though I might be crucified a hundred times" is known to every Korean. He was also a pioneer in the field of physics. The pattern diagram represents his unerring loyalty to the king and country towards the end of the Koyro Dynasty. |
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Ge-Baek |
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Ge-Baek is named after Ge-Baek, a great general in the Baek Je Dynasty (660AD) the pattern diagram represents his severe and strict military discipline. |
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Eui-Am |
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Eui-Am is the pseudonym of Son Byong Hi, leader of the Korean independence movement on 1st March 1919. The 45 movements relate to his age when he changed the name of Dong Hak (Oriental Culture) to Chondo Kyo (Heavenly Way Religion) in 1905. The pattern diagram represents his indomitable spirit displayed when dedicating himself to the prosperity of his nation. |
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Choong-Jang |
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Choong-Jang is the pseudonym given to General Kim Duk Ryang who lived during the Yi Dynasty, 15th Century. This pattern ends with a left hand attack to symbolise the tragedy of his death at 27 in prison before he was able to reach full maturity. |
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Juche |
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Juche is the philosophical idea that man is the master of everything and therefore decides and determines his destiny. It is said that this idea was rooted on the Beakdu Mountain that symbolises the spirit of the Korean people. The diagram represents the Baekdu Mountain. |
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Sam-Il |
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Sam-Il denotes the historical date of the independence movement of Korea, which began throughout the country on 1st March 1919. The 33 movements in this pattern stand for the 33 patriots who planned the movement. |
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Yoo-Sin |
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Yoo-Sin is named after General Kim Yoo-Sin, commanding general during the Silla Dynasty, who unified the three separate kingdoms of Korea. The 68 movements refer to the last two figures of 668 AD, the year Korea was unified. |
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Choi-Yong |
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Choi-Yong is named after General Choi-Yong, Premier and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces during the 14th Century Koryo Dynasty. Choi-Yong was greatly respected for his loyalty, patriotism, and humility. He was executed by his subordinate commanders, headed by General Yi Sung Gae, who later became the first king of the Yi Dynasty. |
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Yong-Gae |
Yong-Gae is named after a famous general during the Koguryo Dynasty, Yon Gae Somun. The 49 movements refer to the last two figures of 649 AD, the year he forced the Dang Dynasty to quit Korea after destroying nearly 300,000 Chinese troops at Ansi Sung. |
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Ul-Ji |
Ul-Ji is named after General Ul-Ji Mun Duk who successfully defended Korea against a Chinese invasion force of nearly 1,000,000 soldiers led by Yang Je in 612 AD. Ul-Ji employing hit and run guerrilla tactics was able to decimate a large percentage of the force. The pattern diagram represents his surname. The 42 movements represent the authors age when he designed the pattern. |
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Moon-Moo |
Moon-Moo honours the 30th king of the Silla Dynasty. His body was buried near Dae Wang Am (Great Kings Rock). According to his will, the body was placed in the sea "Where my soul shall forever defend my land against the Japanese". It is said that the Sok Gul Am (Stone Cave) was built to guard his tomb. The Sok Gul Am is fine example of the culture of the Silla Dynasty. The 61 movements in this pattern symbolise the last two figures of 661 AD when Moon-Moo came to the throne. |
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So-San |
So-San is the pseudonym of the great monk Choi Hyung Ung, 1520 AD – 1604 AD, during the Yi Dynasty. The 72 movements refer to age when he organised a corps of monk soldiers with the assistance of his pupil Samung Dang. The monk soldiers helped repulse the Japanese pirates who overran most of the Korean peninsular in 1592 AD. |
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Se-Jong |
Se-Jong is named after the greatest Korean king, Se-Jong who invented the Korean alphabet in 1443 AD, and was also a noted meteorologist. The pattern diagram represents king, while the 24 movements refer to the 24 letters of the Korean alphabet. |
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Tong-Il |
Tong-Il denotes the resolution of the unification of Korea, which has been divided since 1945. The pattern diagram symbolises the homogenous race. |
Click on the document icon () next to document you’re interested in.
Each document is presented in printable Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.
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Taekwon-do Dictionary |
A list of important Taekwon-do terms in both English and Korean. |
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Students Oath |
The Taekwon-do students oath. |
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Tenets |
The Five Tenets of Taekwon-do. |
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Stances |
Diagrams showing the correct width and length of stances. |
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Attacking & Blocking Tools |
Diagrams showing a variety of attacking and blocking tools, including target sections of the body. |
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Sine Wave |
Description of what Sine Wave is and how to generate it. |
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Theory of Power |
Description of the Theory of Power, which helps us to most efficiently use our body. |
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How to Tie Your Belt |
Description of how to tie your belt correctly. |
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Training Secrets |
Overview of the training secrets of Taekwon-do. |
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Types of Motion |
Overview of the different types of motion present in Taekwon-do patterns (tul). |