White belt 10th gup exam requirements

This learning is for adult students at White belt, 10th gup, preparing for promotion to white-yellow belt, 9th gup. The purpose of this exam is to confirm that the student can perform the first Taekwon-Do basics with control, respond correctly to commands, and understand the essential theory required for the next rank.

At this level, the examiner is not looking for advanced power, speed, or complicated combinations. The standard is clean posture, stable balance, clear preparation, correct finishing position, and respectful Dojang conduct. You should be able to demonstrate the required stances, stepping, blocks, punches, kicks, and fundamental exercises without confusion. You should also be able to answer simple questions about terminology, the founder, the meaning of the white belt, the tenets, and the Student Oath.

You must know Charyot Sogi, attention stance, and respond correctly to Kyong Ye, bow. In attention stance, the feet are together with the feet turned out at about 45 degrees. Stand upright, keep the body still, and bow with control. Do not treat the bow as a casual movement; it shows discipline and respect.

You must also practise Narani Sogi, parallel stance, and Narani Junbi Sogi, parallel ready stance. Parallel stance is approximately one shoulder width wide. The main moving stance for this exam is Gunnun Sogi, walking stance, including Gunnun Junbi Sogi, walking ready stance. Walking stance should be stable, approximately one and a half shoulder widths long and one shoulder width wide. Practise until your stance length, width, and foot angles are consistent every time.

The white belt exam includes single stepping forward and backward. Forward stepping is Nagagi, and backward stepping is Duruogi. These movements are simple, but they show whether the student can move with balance, maintain stance structure, and finish each technique clearly.

When stepping, move the foot cleanly, place it accurately, and complete the technique at the correct moment. Avoid rising and dropping unnecessarily, crossing the feet, leaning forward, or letting the knees collapse inward. Adult beginners should practise slowly first, checking the position of the front foot, rear foot, knees, hips, and shoulders. Once the movement is stable, practise with class commands and exam timing. In the grading, controlled movement is more valuable than moving quickly with poor structure.

You must demonstrate three main hand defensive techniques. The first is Palmok Najunde Makgi, forearm low block. The second is Sonkal Najunde Makgi, knife-hand low block. The third is An Palmok Yop Makgi, inner forearm side block. Learn both the English and Korean names, because the examiner may ask using either form.

Study the meaning of the key words. Palmok means forearm, Sonkal means knife-hand, An Palmok means inner forearm, Najunde means low, Yop means side, and Makgi means block. Each block should have a clear preparation, correct tool, correct height, stable stance, and controlled finish. Do not rush the chamber. Do not finish with a loose wrist, uneven shoulders, or an unstable walking stance.

The main punching requirement is the basic front punch at high, middle, and low height. For this grade, use the practical ITF naming expected in class: Nopunde Jirugi, high punch; Kaunde Jirugi, middle punch; and Najunde Jirugi, low punch. The front middle punch should be called Kaunde Jirugi. You do not need to add the hand tool when naming it for this learning.

When practising, focus on the punch travelling on a clean line and finishing at the correct height. Nopunde finishes high, Kaunde finishes middle, and Najunde finishes low. The fist should finish firmly but without excessive shoulder tension. The non-punching hand should retract correctly. The stance should not shorten, twist, or lose balance because of the punch. The examiner should see a simple, direct technique with control.

The required kicks for this white belt exam are front snapping kick, turning kick, and side piercing kick. The Korean names to study are Apcha Busigi for front snapping kick, Dollyo Chagi for turning kick, and Yopcha Jirugi for side piercing kick. Practise the English and Korean names together so you can recognise them in class and in the exam.

For Apcha Busigi, lift the knee, snap forward, retract sharply, and land with control. For Dollyo Chagi, turn the hip correctly and keep balance through the supporting leg. For Yopcha Jirugi, chamber the knee, align the body, pierce through the target line, retract, and place the foot down cleanly. Do not chase height before control. At white belt level, the examiner should see chamber, balance, direction, recovery, and discipline.

White belt students do not perform a formal Tul for this grading. Instead, you must perform two fundamental exercises: Saju Jirugi, four direction punch, and Saju Makgi, four direction block. These exercises prepare the student for future patterns by teaching direction, stepping, turning, stance discipline, breathing, and coordination.

In Saju Jirugi, focus on stepping into Gunnun Sogi and delivering a clear punch without leaning, shortening the stance, or losing the line of movement. In Saju Makgi, focus on correct preparation, correct blocking tool, correct path, and accurate finishing position. Practise both exercises until you can begin correctly, turn in the correct directions, return to the correct finishing point, and complete the sequence without hesitation. Treat these exercises as formal exam material, not casual drills.

You must know the basic terminology required for this grade. The training area is the Dojang, and the training uniform is the Dobok. A stance is Sogi, a punch is Jirugi, a block is Makgi, and a kick is Chagi. These words are the foundation for understanding later technique names.

You must also know the three height terms: Nopunde means high, Kaunde means middle, and Najunde means low. Avoid the common mistake of using the word section when naming techniques. Say Nopunde Jirugi, Kaunde Jirugi, and Najunde Jirugi. Do not say high section punch, middle section punch, or low section punch. In ITF terminology, section refers to areas of the body, while height names are used for techniques.

You must know that the founder of Taekwon-Do is General Choi Hong Hi, 1918-2002. You must also know the meaning of the white belt: White signifies innocence, as that of a beginning student who has no previous knowledge of Taekwon-Do. This meaning reminds the beginner to learn with humility, patience, and attention to detail.

Memorise the five tenets of Taekwon-Do: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self Control, and Indomitable Spirit. You should also be able to recite the Student Oath: I shall observe the tenets of Taekwon-Do. I shall respect the instructor and seniors. I shall never misuse Taekwon-Do. I shall be a champion of freedom and justice. I shall build a more peaceful world.

Before grading, confirm that you can demonstrate Charyot Sogi, Kyong Ye, Narani Sogi, Narani Junbi Sogi, Gunnun Sogi, Gunnun Junbi Sogi, forward stepping, backward stepping, all required blocks, Nopunde Jirugi, Kaunde Jirugi, Najunde Jirugi, front snapping kick, turning kick, side piercing kick, Saju Jirugi, and Saju Makgi.

Then check your theory. Say the Korean and English names for Dojang, Dobok, Sogi, Jirugi, Makgi, Chagi, Nopunde, Kaunde, and Najunde. Name General Choi Hong Hi as the founder. Explain the meaning of the white belt. Recite the tenets and the Student Oath clearly. On exam day, wear a clean Dobok, tie your belt correctly, bow properly, listen to commands, and correct mistakes without frustration.