Testing Requirements

1st Dan - Black Belt

Pattern

Choong-Moo

Kicks

Quadruple kicks – multiple targets (same kick, same leg) (See Kicking Terms in the Testing Notes.)
Four consecutive kicks - multiple targets, more difficult kicks (same direction, same leg, same or different kick) (See Kicking Terms in the Testing Notes.)
Flying side pushing kick
Flying side thrusting kick
Flying 360° reverse hook kick (offensive)
Flying twin foot front snap kick – 1 or 2 targets
Flying twin foot side piercing kick – 1 target
Mid-air 360° back piercing kick

Hand Techniques

Inward strike with the knife hand
Inward front strike with the reverse knife hand
Inward block with the outer forearm
Checking block with the x-knife hand
Upward block with the twin palms

Stances

None

Step Sparring

Advanced 1-step sparring (minimum of five sets)
No-contact free sparring against two opponents

Advanced 1-step sparring — three counterattacks (high red and above). How 1-step sparring is performed

Tournament Competition

Participation in a minimum of 1 tournament within the previous 12 months required.

Training Requirements (Minimum)

Students must complete a minimum of six months of active training at the 1st gup level before testing for 1st dan black belt. Active training is participating in an average of seven formal classes per month.
Students must be a Level 3 Referee and work as a referee at a minimum of two tournaments.

Community Service

Consistent with the student oath and tenets of TaeKwon-Do, students must complete a minimum total of 10 hours of community service since beginning training as a White Belt to be eligible to test for 1st Dan Black Belt. See Community Service in the Testing Notes for more information.

TTA Membership

Students must be a member of the TTA.

Seminars

Students must have attended a minimum of three (3) different TTA seminars in the previous 12-month period. NOTE: Since beginning as a White Belt, students are required to have attended a minimum of one (1) Kicking seminar, one (1) Technique/Patterns seminar, one (1) Referee/Sparring seminar, one (1) Self Defense/Ho Sin Sul seminar to be eligible to advance to Black Belt. Students are required to attend a minimum total of six (6) seminars since beginning training as a White Belt. It is recommended that students attend all of the different seminars made available at some point during their training from White Belt to 1st Dan Black Belt.

Ho Sin Sul

Time limit – Two minutes

To earn their black belts student must be able to perform a Ho Sin Sul approved by their instructor with realism. Ki-aps are required. No talking or hand signals are allowed between the students. Proper etiquette is also required. Ho Sin Sul partners should not be fellow testers or senior ranks unless permission has been granted by the testing board. Male participants may not use a female as their demonstration partner without prior approval.

Requirements: Two separate sets of three different Ho Sin Sul techniques each in succession followed by one set of four of the learned Ho Sin Sul techniques. No duplicates - black belt students must successfully demonstrate ten different Ho Sin Sul techniques.

Ho Sin Sul requirements and terms

Breaking

Below are the hand and power foot breaks. Numbers can be adjusted based on the candidate's age and size. Boards may be substituted with tiles for power hands. Other hand and foot breaks can be substituted with instructor's permission. (See Age Brackets in the Testing Notes.)

Adults – Hands

What to break	With
2-4 boards	Downward strike with the knife hand

Adults – Feet - Power

What to break	With
3-4 boards	Side piercing kick

Adults – Feet – Technique

What to break (select one)	With (select one)
1 suspended board	Any standing kick
1-2 boards – 1 target	Flying twin foot front snap kick Flying twin foot side piercing kick
1 board – 2 targets	Flying twin foot front snap kick Flying twin foot side piercing kick

Juniors – Hands

What to break	With
2 boards	Downward strike with the knife hand

Juniors – Feet - Power

What to break	With
3 boards	Side piercing kick

Juniors – Feet – Technique

What to break (select one)	With (select one)
1 suspended board	Any standing kick
1 board – 1 target	Flying twin foot front snap kick Flying twin foot side piercing kick
1 board – 2 targets	Flying twin foot front snap kick Flying twin foot side piercing kick

Pee Wees - Hands

What to break	With
1 board	Downward knife-hand strike

Pee Wees – Feet - Power

What to break	With
2 boards	Side piercing kick

Required Knowledge

Meaning of Black Belt

Black is the opposite of white, therefore, signifying the maturity and proficiency in TaeKwon-Do. It also indicates the wearer's imperviousness to darkness and fear.

Eight Parts of the Training Secrets of TaeKwon-Do

To study the theory of power thoroughly.
To understand the purpose and meaning of each movement clearly.
To bring the movement of eyes, hands, feet, and breath into a single coordinated action.
To choose the appropriate attacking tool for each vital spot.
To become familiar with the correct angle and distance for attack and defense.
Keep both the arms and legs bent slightly while the movement is in motion.
All movements must begin with a backward motion, with very few exceptions.
To create a sine wave during the movement by using the knee spring properly.

Testing requirements reproduced from the Traditional TaeKwon-Do Alliance Testing Syllabus (revised 2023). © 2013–2023 Traditional TaeKwon-Do Alliance, LLC. All rights reserved. See the Testing Notes for age brackets, kicking terms, breaking rules, and community service guidelines.

Home Belt Requirements 1st Dan - Black Belt