TAGB Tae Kwon Do – 5th Kup Grading Revision Guide

Tae

5th Kup (Blue Belt) Grading Requirements

This guide will help you prepare for your upcoming grading. Remember that the actual format may vary at the examiner’s discretion.


“As the plant reaches toward the heaven, so does your Tae Kwon Do journey progress to greater heights.”

What You Need to Know

Practical Elements

  1. Patterns:
    • Combinations in line from patterns
    • Pattern of student’s choice (excluding Yul-Gok)
    • Pattern set by the grading examiner
    • Pattern – Yul-Gok (38 movements)
  2. Sparring:
    • Two Step Sparring – Numbers 1, 2, 3 & 4
    • Semi-free Sparring (intermediate level)
    • Free Sparring

Two Step Sparring (Ibo Matsoki)

Starting Positions:

  • Attacker: Right leg back, forearm guarding block
  • Defender: Parallel ready stance
  1. Set One:
    • Attack: High punch, front kick
    • Defense: Left leg back, walking stance with rising block → Right leg back, walking stance with X fist pressing block
    • Counter: Twin vertical punch
  2. Set Two:
    • Attack: Side punch in fixed stance, turning kick
    • Defense: Right leg back, L stance with upward palm block → Left leg back, L stance with waist block
    • Counter: Slide forward into right L stance, execute right side elbow strike
  3. Set Three:
    • Attack: Front kick, twin vertical punch
    • Defense: Right leg back, walking stance with X fist pressing block → Left leg back, walking stance with outer forearm wedging block
    • Counter: Knee kick while pulling opponent’s shoulders
  4. Set Four:
    • Attack: Flat fingertip thrust, side kick
    • Defense: Right leg back, walking stance with knifehand rising block → Left leg back, L stance with inward palm block
    • Counter: Front kick to coccyx, twin upset punch to kidneys

Three Step Semi-Free Sparring (Ban Jayoo Matsoki) – Intermediate Level

Starting Positions:

  • Attacker: L stance with guarding block
  • Defender: Parallel stance

Format:

  • Attack: Kicking with back leg first, any kick (in any order) from: front kick, side kick, turning kick, reverse side kick
  • Defense: Any block suitable for each individual kick
  • Counter: Any hand attack

Note: The attacker starts with either leg back every time.

Theoretical Knowledge

The Meaning of the Blue Belt

Blue signifies the heaven towards which the plant matures into a towering tree as training in Tae Kwon-Do progresses.

Purpose of Two Step Sparring

Designed for intermediate students to learn more advanced techniques while maintaining the timing and distance practiced in three step sparring. Two step sparring introduces more varied attacks, allowing students to develop various combinations.

Essential Korean Terminology

Stances:

  • ‘X’ Stance: Kyocha Sogi

Hand Techniques:

  • Double Forearm Block: Doo Palmok Makgi
  • Elbow: Palkup
  • Upset punch: Dwijibo jirugi
  • Reverse knifehand guarding block: Sonkal dung daebi makgi

Kicks:

  • Hooking kick: Golcho chagi

Other Terms:

Jumping: Twigi

Yul-Gok Pattern

Number of Movements: 38

Meaning: Yul-Gok is the pseudonym of the great philosopher and scholar Yi I (1536-1584), nicknamed the “Confucius of Korea.” The 38 movements refer to his birthplace on the 38th latitude, and the diagram represents “scholar.”

Starting Position: Parallel ready stance

Movement Sequence

  1. Move left foot to B, forming sitting stance toward D while extending left fist horizontally to D
  2. Execute middle punch to D with right fist while maintaining sitting stance
  3. Execute middle punch to D with left fist while maintaining sitting stance (perform 2 and 3 in fast motion)
  4. Bring left foot to right foot, move right foot to A forming sitting stance toward D while extending right fist horizontally to D
  5. Execute middle punch to D with left fist while maintaining sitting stance
  6. Execute middle punch to D with right fist while maintaining sitting stance (perform 5 and 6 in fast motion)
  7. Move right foot to AD, forming right walking stance while executing middle side block with right inner forearm
  8. Execute low front snap kick to AD with left foot, keeping hands in position from movement 7
  9. Lower left foot to AD, forming left walking stance while executing middle punch with left fist
  10. Execute middle punch to AD with right fist while maintaining left walking stance (perform 9 and 10 in fast motion)
  11. Move left foot to BD, forming left walking stance while executing middle side block with left inner forearm
  12. Execute low front snap kick to BD with right foot, keeping hands in position from movement 11
  13. Lower right foot to BD, forming right walking stance while executing middle punch with right fist
  14. Execute middle punch to BD with left fist while maintaining right walking stance (perform 13 and 14 in fast motion)
  15. Execute middle hooking block to D with right palm while forming right walking stance toward D, pivoting on left foot
  16. Execute middle hooking block to D with left palm while maintaining right walking stance
  17. Execute middle punch to D with right fist while maintaining right walking stance (execute 16 and 17 in connecting motion)
  18. Move left foot to D, forming left walking stance while executing middle hooking block with left palm
  19. Execute middle hooking block to D with right palm while maintaining left walking stance
  20. Execute middle punch to D with left fist while maintaining left walking stance (execute 19 and 20 in connecting motion)
  21. Move right foot to D, forming right walking stance while executing middle punch with right fist
  22. Turn face toward D, forming right bending ready stance A
  23. Execute middle side piercing kick to D with left foot
  24. Lower left foot to D, forming left walking stance while striking left palm with right front elbow
  25. Turn face toward C, forming left bending ready stance A
  26. Execute middle side piercing kick to C with right foot
  27. Lower right foot to C, forming right walking stance while striking right palm with left front elbow
  28. Move left foot to E, forming right L-stance while executing twin knife-hand block
  29. Move right foot to E, forming right walking stance while executing middle thrust with right straight fingertip
  30. Move right foot to F, turning clockwise to form left L-stance while executing twin knife-hand block
  31. Move left foot to F, forming left walking stance while executing middle thrust with left straight fingertip
  32. Move left foot to C, forming left walking stance while executing high side block with left outer forearm
  33. Execute middle punch to C with right fist while maintaining left walking stance
  34. Move right foot to C, forming right walking stance while executing high side block with right outer forearm
  35. Execute middle punch to C with left fist while maintaining right walking stance
  36. Jump to C, forming left X-stance toward B while executing high side strike with left back fist
  37. Move right foot to A, forming right walking stance while executing high block with right double forearm
  38. Bring right foot to left foot, then move left foot to B forming left walking stance while executing high block with left double forearm

End: Bring the left foot back to ready posture

Practice Tips

  1. For Yul-Gok pattern, pay special attention to the fast motion techniques and connecting motions
  2. Practice the sitting stance with proper weight distribution (50/50) and correct hip position
  3. In two step sparring, focus on smooth transitions between defensive techniques
  4. For X-stance jumping technique (movement 36 in Yul-Gok), practice proper balance and landing
  5. When practicing semi-free sparring, work on recognizing and blocking various kicks quickly
  6. Practice elbow strikes with correct distance and aim
  7. For the twin knife-hand block, ensure both hands are in the correct position
  8. Develop good control and safety awareness for free sparring

Last updated: March 2025

Good luck with your 5th Kup grading!

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