Tae Kwon Do Testing

Information for Advanced students

Low and Middle Brown Belts

Note: For basic and intermediate information, refer to your earlier packets.

Hyung

The brown belt forms, as you will see, contain both a number of very difficult techniques, and are very complex in their overall pattern. Thus, they take more practice to memorize and learn, and take much more practice to perfect than any previous form. In addition, High Brown Belts are tested on every form and every one-step and ho-sin-sul, so low and middle brown belts should be reviewing their previous ranks continuously.

Tae-Gye

Tae-Gye was also known as Hwan Lee; he lived from 1501-1570, beginning his career as a public servant. After retirement Tae-Gye gained international renown as a scholar of Confucianism and founded the Do San Learning Institute.

Hwa-Rang

During the Shilla Dynasty, the Hwa-Rang – a national institute – trained the best of the Korean youth in military and martial skills as well as in moral development. These youth were taught to be brave and loyal to their country. Five leadership qualities the Hwa-Rang promoted are:

  1. Allegiance to country
  2. Faithfulness to parents
  3. Faithful in friendship
  4. Prohibition against killing animals
  5. No retreat in battle

One Step Sparring

Low Brown Belt (1-9)

1-7 Same as blue belt 1-7.

  1. L Foot step in, back stance, side punch – R,L punch middle section, R punch face, R hand grab opponents R wrist, R round kick middle section, R instep kick ribs, R roundkick face.
  2. (do both sides) R foot step back, L hand outside knife hand block, R spin heel, R round kick, L spin crescent, R round kick. (Repeat opposite side).
Middle Brown Belt

(Same as Low Brown, 1-9)

Ho-Sin-Sul

Defenses from the Guard
  1. (from the guard position, opponent is choking neck with both hands): L arm knife hand chop across the inside of both elbows, R spear hand eye, trap their L arm on your chest, throw the L leg over their head, sit up as your roll them to their back, and then lay back into the arm bar, bridge up with your hips.
  2. (from the guard position, opponent is choking neck with L hand, punching with R): double fist block, using L high block and R side block, bring L knee across their stomach, push them back with both hands and the knee, place L foot on their stomach, side kick, combat rise.
  3. (from the guard position, opponent is punching repeatedly): block in front of face, covering with the forearms, when they hook punch, L side block and wrap their arm, bring the R knee across their stomach, pull them up on the knee, scissor kick and roll them to their back, R hand punch, pull their L arm across your chest, kick L foot around and over their head, and lay back into the arm bar.

Ki-yuk-pa (Board Breaking)

In addition to being able to break with your chosen technique, you must tell the judges in Korean which technique you will be doing. So, study and practice saying the techniques listed below. If you are doing side kick, for example, you will need to say ‘Side kick board break” which is “Yup-chagi ki-yuk-pa”

Low Brown Belt

One foot technique

(Ap-chagi, Doy-ya-chagi, Yup-chagi)

Middle Brown Belt

One foot and one hand technique.

(Ap-chagi, Doy-ya-chagi, Yup-chagi)

(Polk-Ap, Ap-cho-mok, Soodo-tar-ri-gi, Jan-kwan)

Board Breaking Training Techniques and Tips

The Basics

During basic exercises, make sure to treat each and every kick like a board breaking technique. Slow down, chamber up for full power, launch into your kick, concentrate on the perfect technique, and focus on your foot position and target. Imagine kicking through a board with each kick you do in basic exercises, forms, and one-steps. Take the time to imagine the board in front of you. To Feel the thrust of your muscles. And To see the position of your foot as you hit your imaginary target.

“The Mental Video Clip”

In addition to visualizing yourself performing the board break outside of class, use the “mental video clip” both during training and actual breaking, to focus your mind and body on successfully executing the break. For example, line up in front of the bag or target pad and set up for your technique. Close your eyes and visualize yourself performing the technique perfectly, with speed and grace, with excellent balance and focus, with great power and perfect success. Then, open your eyes and execute the technique just as you imagined it in your Mental Video. Then repeat the process. Set up, visualize, and execute. And again, set up visualize, execute. As you repeat the process and continue training your physical technique will eventually improve and conform to your mental visualization.

Strategies for Breaking and Breaking Practice

First, establish the best distance, angle of attack, and height of target for your chosen technique. Always practice on pads, bags and targets from this same distance, angle, and at the same height. Also, you should follow the same routine of practice for each break, or each practice strike on a pad or at a target. For example, mark the heavy bag or pad with a piece of tape, representing the precise center of the board (where your heel, ball of foot, knuckle, etc. will strike), and make sure you consistently strike at this spot. Set up at your correct distance in your normal breaking stance. Visualize once using the mental video clip. Open your eyes and take a deep breath and put your focus and energy behind the target; Then Execute your technique with full power, speed and accuracy. Ki-yap as you strike through your target.

How to Practice for Board Breaking Outside of Class

Aiming Practice

Simply by putting a piece of tape or a small mark on a wall, or a hanging bag, you can create a small target for practicing your kicking and striking techniques with good aim. After placing the target, kick or strike full power a few inches in front of the target. You should be able to kick or punch full power, placing the correct part of your foot or hand in front of the target without actually striking the wall or bag. To set up for this, and be able to do it with full power, line up so you can kick the spot on the wall or bag with the right part of your foot. Now move back 6 inches and try your technique. If you feel like your still too close, and are about to hit the wall, or bag, move back another 6 inches. You want to be far enough away, that you can kick full power, with full thrust and movement, and come within an inch of your piece of tape.

Striking Practice (heavy bag)

Using a hanging or standing punching bag, or a partner with a heavy kicking shield, you should practice striking your target with correct aim, the right part of the foot, and full power. In addition to hitting the precise target area consistently, concentrate on increasing your kicking or punching power and pushing all the way through your target. Again, put a piece of tape on the target of heavy bag, or find a consistent mark, about the size of a quarter, that the correct part of your foot will strike every time. (for side kick, front kick, elbow, knife hand, and punch)

Striking Practice (makiwara boards)

With the makiwara boards, or a partner holding Muy Thai pads, you can practice striking, especially to concentrate on hitting with the right part of the hand or foot. This is especially useful for punch and knife hand strikes, round kicks and front kicks. Put a piece of tape in the center of the pad, and begin striking half power but making sure to hit the tape with the precise part of the hand or foot. (round kick and front kick use the ball of the foot, side kick the heel, punch the first two knuckles, knife hand the heel edge of the side of the palm, and so on)

Testing and Class Attendance Requirements By Rank

Low Brown Belt testing for Middle Brown Belt

Testing Fee: $100

Minimum Number of Classes: 20

Form: Tae Gae Hyung

One Steps: 1-9 blue-brown

Ho-Sin-Sul: 1-3 brown

Free Sparring:

Board Breaking: 1 foot technique

Middle Brown Belt testing for High Brown Belt

Testing Fee: $ 100

Minimum Number of Classes: 20

Form: Hwa-Wrang Hyung

One Steps: 1-9 blue-brown

Ho-Sin-Sul: 1-3 brown

Free Sparring:

Board Breaking: 1 foot technique, 1 hand technique

Make Up Classes

Please remember that the Class Attendance Requirements listed here are for the Minimum number of classes you must attend in order to be eligible to test; it is recommended, that in order for you to achieve your best, you do more than the minimum. Make sure you check off a box on the attendance sheet in the academy each time you go to class so you can accurately track your attendance. If you are close to meeting your minimum class attendance requirements, but need to get in a few extra classes, or workouts, you can substitute a few “Private Classes” for each rank. The number of substitutions allowed for each rank is listed on the minimum class attendance requirements. The following are allowable substitutions:

  1. A 30 minute private lesson with Master Lewis. This single session counts for 3 classes, and costs $30.
  2. A 30 minute private lesson or workout session with a Sun Yi’s Academy Black Belt; This single session counts for 1 class.
  3. A 45-60 minute workout session with another student your rank or higher. This single workout session counts for 1 class.