TaeKwonDo Kup (coloured belt) tests for 10th-1st Kup usually include the following elements:
- Forms
- Basic Techniques
- One-Step Sparring
- Self Defense
- (Light-No contact) Sparring
- Breaking
Forms/ Poomsae: After a short warmup all Taekwondoins are called to line up by kup/belt grade, they greet the Masters/instructors and are them called demonstrate their (chosen or chosen-for-them) forms.
A TaeKwonDo Form (or Poomsae) is comparable to Kata in Karate: A defined pattern of defense-and-attack motions combined with stances, weight changes and steps in several directions.
A separate form is studied for each (half-)colour belt grade, as well as for each Dan (black belt) grade. For our red belt test in December we practised our 6th Form/Poomsae, called Taeguk Yook Jang.
In the video below you see us practising O-jang, the 5th form (for blue belt) last summer in the woods:
Basic TKD techniques At times a technique basics demonstration is requested at the start of the belt test, along with naming the Korean name of each movement.
One-step sparring/ Han bon Kiyorugi: A partnered exercise where you take turns at demonstrating short defense-and-attack techniques/ combinations and sequences, incorporating (hopefully!) proper timing, coordination of movements and optimum distance to the opponent.
Self-Defense/ Hosinsul: Freeing yourself from grabs, warding off punches, disarming your opponent and fending off attacks with a weapon (stick or knife) is one of the most practically applicable skills studied/demonstrated in TKD, and also one of the most challenging (at least to me!) aspects of training. For our yellow belt test it looked like this:
Sparring/ Kiyorugi: To demonstrate your ability to apply attacking, parrying and defense techniques in a ‘live’ situation, a partnered (light- or no-) contact sparring session is an essential part of the testing sequence.
Breaking/ Kyok Pa: The breaking demonstration is definitely one of the most spectacular sections of a belt test.
One or two taekwondoins hold up a wooden board. The aim is to break it using a chosen TKD striking (hand, elbow or foot) technique or combination.
Speed, technique, focus and aim/accuracy are of the essence for breaking succes.
For our red belt grade two separate breaking techniques of choice were to be demonstrated. I chose to perform a Dollyo Chagi (roundhouse kick) and a Naeryo Chagi (axe kick). For my blue belt test last year I demonstrated a dwit chagi (backwards kick).
Note: At some TaeKwonDo tournaments ‘Power Breaking’ is demonstrated as an optional category.
Picture with the lovely Lou Pradas from Belgium at last Augusts MoveSpiration Crosstraining event in DE – me wearing my 3rd Kup (blue-red) TKD belt.