1st Dan Requirements

 

ONE MONTH BEFORE THE TEST

REQUIREMENTS

Minimum time: 6 months from last test date

Minimum age: 11 years old

Students must be actively training 6 months before the test in order to be invited to test.

TOURNAMENTS AND SEMINARS

Competing in 2 tournaments from last test (1 sparring, 1 patterns)

1 seminar from last test

HOURS

100 class hours (80% of classes must be completed 1 month prior to the test in order to be invited)

24 assist hours (80% of classes must be completed 1 month prior to the test in order to be invited)

20 volunteer hours (Students have the option of completing 10 community service hours outside of the studio or 20 additional assist hours in the studio. 80% of the hours must be completed 1 month to the test in order to be invited - Starting March 2026)

PROJECT

Thesis - 3 pages, double spaced, 12 point font.

Topic: What has been the motivation for you to want to become a black belt? Has there been any memorable moments in your training that has either inspired you, or caused you to wonder if this was a path you wanted to pursue?

TEST DAY

PHYSICAL TEST

3 mile run completed in 30 minutes

100 of each - pushups, squat thrusts, sit ups, completed in another 30 minutes

WRITTEN TEST

Must score 90% or higher to be eligible to test.

Exam is open book.

PATTERNS

Chon-Ji

Dan-Gun

Do-San

Won-Hyo

Joong-Gun

Toi-Gye

Hwa-Rang

4-D Thrust

Choong-Moo

KICKING REQUIREMENTS

Quadruple kicks

Four consecutive kicks (multiple targets)

Flying side pushing kick

Flying side thrusting kick

Flying 360° reverse hook kick

Flying twin foot front snap kick (1 or 2 targets)

Flying twin foot side piercing kick (1 target)

Mid-air 360° back piercing kick

STEP SPARRING

3 step sparring sets 1-6

2 step sparring sets 1-6

1 step sparring sets 1-12

Semi-free sparring

TAEKWON-DO DEMONSTRATION

Defense against one opponent

Expectations

  • 2 minute in length

  • Students should utilize previous knowledge on self defense, movements, and techniques to create a “self-defense” demonstration (hint: look through color belt rank requirements for inspiration). Students should think about different situations that they may find themselves in and how they would react.

  • No weapons allowed

  • Partner must be lower or equal rank as testing candidate. Male testing candidates must use a male opponent.

Demonstration Examples

  • Double choke from the front (back against the wall)

  • Single choke from the back

  • Hair grab from the rear

  • Hair grab from the front

  • Bearhug from the rear

  • Bearhug from the front

  • Throw against a single punch

  • Throw against a downward knife-hand strike

  • Three separate demonstrations of your choosing (no weapons allowed)

 

Patterns