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