8th Gup Testing Requirements
Stances
Attention stance (charyot sogi)
- Width: None
- Length: None
- Weight Distribution: 50:50
Notes: The practitioner stands with weight equally distributed while the heels of the feet touch and the feet form a 45 degree angle in relation of each other. The arms are held naturally at the sides of the body and the hands are maintained as “lightly clenched fists”. The practitioners head is “chin up” and the eyes are looking forward.
Open Parallel ready stance (narani junbi sogi)
- Width: One (1) shoulder width (footsword-to-footsword)
- Length: None
- Weight Distribution: 50:50
Notes: The practitioner stands with feet equally weighted and separated by one (1) shoulder width. This distance is approximated by the distance from clavicle-to-clavicle (the clavicle is the collar bone). The feet are positioned such that the footswords are “straight”. In this fashion, the practitioner’s feet are slightly “pigeon toed”.
The practitioner’s arms are positioned naturally in front of the body and the hands are held at the belt level and maintained as “lightly clenched fists”. The fists are separated from each other by 2″ (inches) and are 3″ (inches) from the abdomen. The upper arms are forward 30 degrees while the lower arms are bents approximately 40 degrees.
Sitting stance (annun sogi)
- Width: 1 1/2 shoulder width (Inside of big toe-to-Inside of big toe)
- Length: None
- Weight Distribution: 50:50
Notes: The practitioner stands with feet equally weighted separated by one (1) and one-half (1/2) shoulder widths. The feet are turned inward such that the footswords are “straight”. The practitioners legs are bent such that their knees are positioned slightly ahead of the ankle joint but should not project beyond the “toe-line”. The practictioners upper body is positioned “upright” (chest and abdomen are pushed forward) while the hips (buttocks) are back almost as if “preparing to sit in a chair”.
Walking Stance (gunnun sogi)
- Width: One (1) shoulder width (Centerline of front foot-to-Centerline of rear foot)
- Length 1 1/2 shoulder width (Big toe of front foot-to-Big toe or rear foot)
- Weight Distribution (F/R): 50:50
- Right/Left: Named for the front foot
Notes: The practitioner stands with feet equally weighted with the dimensions above. The rear leg is maintained in a “locked” position while the front leg is bent such that the knee is positioned over the ankle joint of the front foot.
The rear foot is turned forward 25 degrees while the front foot is turned inward by 15 degrees. In this fashion, the practitioner may equally apply “positive” pressure upon both footswords.
L-Stance: Fighting Stance (niunja sogi)
- Width: One (1) inch (Back heel of rear foot-to-Inside heel of front foot
- Length: 1 1/2 shoulder width (Footsword of rear foot-to-Toes of front foot)
- Weight Distribution (F/R): 30:70
- Right/Left: Named for the rear foot
Notes: The practitioner stands with feet positioned as a capital “L” with the weight distributed proportionately towards the rear foot. In this fashion, the ankle, knee and hip of the rear leg is positioned in the same vertical plane (hip joint should be slightly ahead of the inner knee joint of the rear leg).
The rear foot is turned forward 15 degrees while the front foot is turned inward the same amount (15 degrees).
Patterns
Chon-Ji
Diagram: Plus Sign
Pattern Details: Video
Beginning Ready Stance: Open Parallel Ready Stance
Number of Movements: 19
Pattern Meaning:
Chon-Ji literally means “The Heaven the Earth”. In the Orient it is interpreted as the creation of the world or the beginning of human history. The pattern consists of two (2) similar parts; the first half represents the “Heaven” while the second half represents the “Earth”.
This is the first pattern learned by the Taekwon-Do practitioner.
Step Sparring
Beginning 3-Step (with out Partner)
No-Contact Free Sparring (1 opponent)
Hand Techniques
Basic Hand Techniques
- Guarding block with knife hands
Turning Exercise
- Spot Turning
– From walking stance;
– From L-stance - Stepping motion
Foot Techniques
Basic Kicking Techniques
- Side Piercing kick
– Lead leg; Rear leg; Stepping motions - Stamping kick*
*Demonstrate stamping kick from open parallel stance
Combination Kicking
- Side front snap kick; Side front snap kick (in L-Stance)
Mid-Air Jumping
From open parallel stance, jump up bringing knees-to-chest.
Kicking Definitions
- Lead leg kicking;
- Rear leg kicking
- Stepping motions;
- Combination kicking
Balance Training
Demonstrate balancing on one-leg. Slowly hop as high as possible. After each hop, the practitioner shall illustrate a solid balanced stance before the next hop.
Ho Sin Sul
Joint Attacks
- Straight grab to wrist
– joint attack to wrist, elbow or shoulder - Cross grab to wrist
– joint attack to wrist - Double grab to the wrist
– joint attack to wrist, elbow or shoulder - Single grab to label
Pressure Points
- Pressure point attacks to head
Demonstrate three (3) attacks to pressure points on the head against a passive partner.
Destruction
Men (16+ years)
Hand-Breaking Techniques
1 Board (Green Board) – Downward strike with side fist
Foot-Breaking Techniques
1 Board (Green Board) – Side front snap kick; or Side piercing kick
Ladies/Juniors (16+ years/11-15 years)
Hand-Breaking Techniques
1 Board (Green Board) – Downward strike with side fist (Juniors use 1″ protective pad)
Foot-Breaking Techniques
1 Board (Green Board) – Side front snap kick; or Side piercing kick
Children (5-10)
Hand-Breaking Techniques
None
Foot-Breaking Techniques
1/2 Board (White Board) – Stamping kick with 1″ protective pad
Competition Attendance
None
Certification
None
Yellow Belt – What Does It Mean
Yellow signifies the earth from which the plant sprouts and takes root as the Taekwon-Do foundation is being laid.
Origin of Taekwon-Do and Founder
Taekwon-Do was founded by General Choi Hong Hi, 9th Dan Grand Master, and originated in the country of Korea. General Choi is regarded as the founder of modern day Taekwon-Do and is responsible for its origination and popularity throughout the world.
Senior Grand Master C. E. Sereff is General Choi’s student and the Taekwon-Do Instructor to many senior Rocky Mountain Taekwon-Do Alliance (RMTA) Instructors. This “blood line” represents the family tree of Taekwon-Do lineage for the RMTA and its practitioners.
Taekwon-Do Color Belt System
10th Gup – White belt
9th Gup – White belt with Yellow stripe
8th Gup – Yellow belt
7th Gup – Yellow belt with Green stripe
6th Gup – Green belt
5th Gup – Green belt with Blue stripe
4th Gup – Blue belt
3rd Gup – Blue belt with Red stripe
2nd Gup – Red belt
1st Gup – Red belt with Black stripe
Meaning of “Taekwon-Do”
Taekwon-Do is the disciplined mental and physical practice unarmed martial art technique for the benefit of self defense and overall health. It integrates the skillful application of striking, blocking, kicking, dodging and feints for the rapid elimination of one (1) of more assailants.
Literal Definition
Tae: Means “jumping”, “flying” or to kick or smash with the foot. Kwon: means “fist” or to punch or destroy with the hand or fist. Do: means the “Art” or “Way”.
Taekwon-Do Belt System
There are five (5) color belts: White, yellow, green, blue and red. Black embodies the “absence” of color and is therefore not considered to be a “color belt”. The color belts are subdivided into ranks (Gups) with white belt representing 10th Gup and red belt w/ black stripe representing 1st Gup. In Korean “Gup” means “rank”.
There are nine (9) levels of Black Belt: 1st through 9th Dan (degree) black belt. In Korean “Dan” means “degree”.
Sections and Lines of the Body
For purposes of simplicity, the human body is divided into three (3) sections: high, middle and low. During Taekwon-Do practice, practitioners use these divisions to understand execution of attacks within a given section of the body.
Additionally, the human body is subdivided into vertical lines (meridians) which define directions upon which Taekwon-Do techniques, attacks and blocks, are focused.
The figures below illustrate the sections and meridian lines of the human body for these purposes.
The Taekwon-Do practitioner shall memorize the sections and meridian lines of the body to better execute Taekwon-Do technique with efficiency and focus.
