Promotion Requirements

Ceremony | Testing Information | Promotion Requirements

Students must meet the requirements listed below for promotion to the next rank.
Minimum training classes requirement must be completed during the current testing cycle. After each testing cycle, class attendance totals revert to zero.
Black belts must have minimum of 48 classes in last six months and 16 classes within last test cycle.
White, Yellow, and Orange belts must receive each of the 4 black stripes on their belts to be eligible for testing.
Orange belts are required to have a full set of sparring equipment. They will not free-spar, but must perform sparring combinations that require the equipment.
White through decided second degree black belts test for advancement at local testings.
Senior second degree black belt and above must test for advancement a national testing.
At testing, patterns are the first requirement performed, then sparring (one-step/combos/free), then breaking.

CLICK X to view skills requirements.
CLICK STRIPES to view stripe requirements
PATTERN LINKS (except for Kibon) open TKDTutor website page. Close new window to return here.

Current Color Belt
	Minimums on Test Day				Perform These Skills at Test					Pattern Information (not required at testing)
	Time in Rank	Training Classes	Age	Events	One- Steps	Spar Combos	Free Spar	Break	Pattern	# Steps	Meaning of Pattern Name
White Stripes	2 months	10	None	None	X				Kibon	14	Basic pattern to familiarize students with performing a pattern.
Yellow Stripes	2 months	11	None	None	X				Dan-Gun	21	Named after the legendary Korean hero Tan Gun, who reportedly founded Korea in 2334 BC.
Orange Stripes	2 months	12	None	None		X			Do-San	24	Commemorates the pseudonym of the great patriot and educator Ahn Chang Ho (1876-1938).
Green	2 months	13	None	None			X		Won-Hyo	27	Named after Buddhist monk who introduced Buddhism into the Silla Dynasty in 686 AD.
Senior Green	2 months	13	None	None			X		Won-Hyo	27	Named after Buddhist monk who introduced Buddhism into the Silla Dynasty in 686 AD.
Blue	2 months	14	None	None			X		Joong-Gun	32	Named after patriot An Chung-Gun who assassinated Hiro-Bumi Ito, the first Japanese governor-general of Korea.
Senior Blue	2 months	14	None	None			X		Joong-Gun	32	Named after patriot An Chung-Gun who assassinated Hiro-Bumi Ito, the first Japanese governor-general of Korea.
Brown	2 months	15	None	None			X	X	Hwa-Rang	29	Named for the Hwarang, a Silla Dynasty youth group.
Senior Brown	2 months	15	None	None			X	X	Hwa-Rang	29	Named for the Hwarang, a Silla Dynasty youth group.
Red	2 months	16	None	None			X	X	Choong-Moo	30	Given name of Admiral Yi Sun Sin, who reportedly invented the first armored battle ship in 1592 AD.
Senior Red	2 months	16	None	*			X	X	Choong-Moo	30	Given name of Admiral Yi Sun Sin, who reportedly invented the first armored battle ship in 1592 AD.
Probationary 1st Degree	4 months	32	None	*			X	X	Kwang-Gae	39	Named after Kwang Gae To Wang, the 19th king of the Koguryo Dynasty.
Decided 1st Degree	4 months	32	None	*			X	X	Poe-Eun	36	Pseudonym of Chong Mong-Chu, a famous poet whose poem "I would not serve a second master though I might be crucified a hundred times" is known to every Korean.
Senior 1st Degree	6 months	48	None	*			X	X	Gae-Baek	44	Named after Kae Baek, a great general in the Paekche Dynasty (660 AD).
2nd Degree	6 months	48	None	*			X	X	Choong-Jang	52	Named after the great general Kim Dok-Ryong of the Yi Dynast, about 400 years ago.
Decided 2nd Degree	8 months	64	None	*			X	X	Yu-Sin	68	Named after General Kim Yu Sin, the Silla Dynasty commander who helped unite Korea's three kingdoms.
Senior 2nd Degree	10 months	80	None	*			X	X	Ul-Ji	42	Named after general Ul Ji Mun Dok who successfully defended Korea against a Tang invasion in 612 AD.
3rd Degree	12 months	96	13	*			X	X	Yon-Gae	49	Named after a famous general during the Koguryo Dynasty, Yon Gae Somoon.
Decided 3rd Degree	12 months	96	15	*			X	X	Juche	45	A philosophical idea that mankind is the master of the world and his or her own destiny.
Senior 3rd Degree	12 months	96	18	*			X	X	Ko-Dang	39	Pseudonym of patriot Cho Man-Sik who dedicated his life to independence movement and education of Korea.
Decided 4th Degree	2 years	192	21				X	X	Choi-Yong	46	Named after General Choi-yong, commander-in-chief of the armed forces during the Koryo Dynasty.
Senior 4th Degree	2 years	192	23				X	X	Tong-Il	46	Denotes the hope for unification of Korea, which has been divided into two countries.
5th Degree	5 years	480	25				X	X	Moon-Moo	61	Honors the 30th king of the Silla Dynasty, Moon Moo.
6th Degree Master	6 years	* *	None						* * *
7th Degree Senior Master	7 years	* *	None						* * *
8th Degree Grand Master	8 years	* *	None						* * *
9th Degree Senior Grand Master	Highest Taekwondo America Rank

* Black belts are required to attend certain events before testing for the next belt level. The event attendance requirements are as follows:

ALL BLACK BELTS (and senior red belts) must have attended at least:
- One Black Belt Clinic conducted the Saturday after each testing (while in current rank)

SENIOR RED BELT must have attended at least:
- One regional camp or tournament (since becoming a green belt)
PROBATIONARY BLACK BELT must have have attended at least:
- One regional or national camp (since becoming a probationary black belt)
OR
- One regional or national tournament (since becoming a probationary black belt)
DECIDED FIRST DEGREE BLACK BELT must have have attended at least:
- One regional or national camp (since becoming a probationary black belt)
OR
- One regional or national tournament (since becoming a probationary black belt)
SENIOR FIRST DEGREE BLACK BELT must have have attended at least:
- One regional or national camp (since becoming a probationary black belt)
OR
- One regional or national tournament (since becoming a probationary black belt)
SECOND DEGREE BLACK BELT must have attended at least:
- One regional or national camp (since becoming a second degree black belt)
OR
- One regional or national tournament (since becoming a second degree black belt)
DECIDED SECOND DEGREE BLACK BELT must have attended at least:

One regional or national camp (since becoming a decided second degree black belt)

One regional or national tournament (since becoming a decided second degree black belt)

SENIOR SECOND DEGREE BLACK BELT must have attended at least:
- One regional or national camp (since becoming a senior second degree black belt)
OR
- One regional or national tournament (since becoming a senior second degree black belt)
- ALSO, one national Black Belt Camp (since becoming a black belt)
THIRD DEGREE BLACK BELT must have attended at least:
- One regional or national camp (since becoming a third degree black belt)
OR
- One regional or national tournament (since becoming a third degree black belt)
DECIDED THIRD DEGREE BLACK BELT must have attended at least:

One regional or national camp (since becoming a decided third degree black belt)

One regional or national tournament (since becoming a decided third degree black belt)

SENIOR THIRD DEGREE BLACK BELT must have attended at least:

One regional or national camp (since becoming a senior third degree black belt)

One regional or national tournament (since becoming a senior third degree black belt)

* * 6th degree and above black belts are expected to maintain their Taekwondo proficiency, train and teach regularly, and make significant contributions toward the Taekwondo America organization and toward advancement of Taekwondo both locally and nationally.

* * * 6th degree and above black belts perform a pattern of their own design. The pattern should exhibit all the qualities expected of a pattern designed and performed by a Taekwondo master.