Beom, Sasaja and Stadin TKD · ITF
Junior Black Belt Program
The program takes a child from the white belt towards the black belt. A child who has turned 13 moves on to the Senior Black Belt Program (SBBP), where the dan test is taken. A child under 18 who passes the dan test receives a junior black belt. It is a black belt with a white stripe running lengthwise through the middle, and it is exchanged for the adult black belt on reaching adulthood.
The suggested starting age is 8–10 years.
At a glance
- Who
- Beom Taekwon-Do, Sasaja Taekwon-Do and Stadin TKD. The program is for children under 13. The suggested starting age is 8–10 years. Children who have turned 13 move on to the Senior Black Belt Program.
- What
- Junior Black Belt Program (JBBP) is a Taekwon-Do path for children from the white belt to the junior black belt. The white belt has five colour tags and each colour belt grade has five white stripes. At a belt test, the requirements of the belt grade are shown.
- Where and when
- Training places and times are announced in myClub (besa.myclub.fi). The training place and times of Stadin TKD will be confirmed.
- Price
- JBBP is an add-on level that costs €600 per year on top of the base fee. The base fee is the same as in the Leisure Program (annual fee €200 or season fee €150). The add-on is invoiced in January. A belt test costs €20, and the price includes a new belt. Tags and stripes are free of charge.
- How to join
- Sign up in myClub at besa.myclub.fi: choose the base fee and the JBBP add-on. Before signing up you can take part in two free trial sessions.
How the program works
Colour tags on the white belt
The white belt has five colour tags: yellow, green, blue, red and black. They cover the yellow belt (8th gup) test.
White stripes
From the yellow belt onwards, every belt grade has five white stripes. The content of the stripes is the official requirement of the next belt test. For example, stripes 1–5 on the yellow belt together make up the requirements of the upper yellow belt (7th gup) test. When all five stripes are collected, the child is ready for the belt test. Each stripe covers about three new things.
How the belt is marked
On a lower colour belt (for example yellow), the white stripes are on the left side of the belt. When the child reaches the upper grade, the stripes are removed, the official tag of the next colour goes on the left, and the new white stripes go on the right.
Not official tests
Tags and stripes are not official belt tests, and they cost nothing. They are completed at a belt test or with the instructor in training.
Rules
Review rule
At a belt test you must also know everything required in the lower belt grades. In a tag or stripe test, only the new things of that tag or stripe are shown.
Patterns only at the belt test
Patterns do not belong to the tags or the stripes. A pattern is shown only at the actual belt test (the line "Also at the belt test"), even though its techniques are learned in the stripes. Step sparring is not split into parts, but is one whole item. Step sparring and saju drills are in bold in the stripe contents.
Saju is not a pattern
Saju drills (in four directions) are a way of showing techniques, and so they belong to the tags and the stripes.
Age limits and moving up
Red belt (2nd gup) at 12 years at the earliest, upper red belt (1st gup) at 12.5 years at the earliest, both with an exception by special permission. The dan test at 13 years at the earliest (a federation requirement), so the dan test is always taken in the Senior Black Belt Program.
A child who has turned 13 always moves to the Senior Black Belt Program (SBBP). The belt grade stays and the stripes are removed, because the Senior program has no stripes. The belt test requirements are the same.
Breaking
Minors always break onto a focus pad or a held impact pad, without exception. There are no wooden or practice boards. The same applies to people under 18 in the Senior program and at the dan test.
Contact in sparring
Contact depends on age: children aged 6 and under, no contact; ages 7–12, light body contact. Those who have turned 13 are in the Senior program, which has body contact and light head contact, but head contact only with protective gear.
Sparring against several opponents
Sparring against several opponents means all the opponents at the same time. It measures decision-making and use of the surroundings.
Always included
The line "Always included" holds a requirement that is part of training throughout the belt grade or revises what was learned earlier. It is not tied to one stripe, but it belongs to the belt test.
Names and references
Theory references (for example "theory guide: The tenets of Taekwon-Do") are links to chapters of the theory guide. In the names, the English description comes first and the Korean name below it.
Pace of the tags and stripes
A tag or stripe can be earned at the earliest when one fifth of the belt grade’s minimum time and hours has passed since the previous tag, stripe or belt test (checked from the training card). The fifth tag or stripe therefore coincides with the minimum time of the belt test. The hours are counted according to the weekly rhythm. Indicative intervals:
| Tags or stripes leading to the test | Minimum time / hours for the belt test | Minimum interval between tags or stripes |
|---|---|---|
| Tags: yellow belt (8th gup) | 12 weeks / 18 hours | about 2.5 weeks / 3.5 hours |
| Stripes: 7th gup | 12 weeks / 18 hours | about 2.5 weeks / 3.5 hours |
| Stripes: 6th and 5th gup | 16 weeks / 24 hours | about 3 weeks / 5 hours |
| Stripes: 4th gup | 16 weeks / 48 hours | about 3 weeks / 10 hours |
| Stripes: 3rd gup | 20 weeks / 90 hours | 4 weeks / 18 hours |
| Stripes: 2nd gup | 20 weeks / 120 hours | 4 weeks / 24 hours |
| Stripes: 1st gup and preparing for the dan test | 24 weeks / 144 hours | about 5 weeks / 29 hours |
The path by belt grade
White belt (10th gup)→ yellow belt test (8th gup)
On the white belt, five colour tags take the place of the stripes, in the order yellow, green, blue, red and black.
The content of the tags is the same as in the yellow belt test of the 2023 children’s requirements, but it has been evened out to about three items per tag. Nothing has been added and nothing removed (decided 20.10.2026). The tags apply to all children of the clubs, including the Leisure Program.
- Yellow tag
- Ready stance with feet parallel, and parallel stancenarani junbi sogi, narani sogi
- Attention stance and bowcharyot sogi, kyong ye jase
- Counting to five in Korean (theory guide: Numerals)
- Green tag
- Walking stancegunnun sogi
- Middle-height forefist punchapjoomuk kaunde baro jirugi
- Low block with the forearmpalmok najunde makgi
- Blue tag
- Middle block with the inner forearmanpalmok kaunde makgi
- Low block with the knife-handsonkal najunde makgi
- The Taekwon-Do oath and the five tenets (theory guide: The tenets of Taekwon-Do, theory guide: The Taekwon-Do oath)
- Red tag
- Double low block in ready stancegunnun junbi sogi, palmok najunde hechyo makgi
- Rising kick and front kick in three ways and at three heightsapcha olligi, apcha busigi
- Saju hana drills: the first punch, block and kick in four directionssaju jirugi hana, saju makgi hana, saju chagi hana
- Black tag
- Three-step sparring in one direction in formationsambo matsogi hanchok
- Three releases
- Shoulder tag at different target areas
Also at the belt test
Chon-Ji (the first pattern).
Always included, asked at the yellow belt test
Theory about the art and the club: the country of origin, the founder and the history, the chief instructor in Finland, the founders and chief instructor of the club, and the federation the club belongs to (theory guide: History). The founder and responsible instructor of Stadin TKD is Kalevi Mannermaa.
Yellow belt (8th gup)→ upper yellow belt test (7th gup)
- Stripe 1
- L-stanceniunja sogi
- Middle block with the outer and inner forearm in L-stancepalmok kaunde makgi, anpalmok kaunde makgi
- Numerals 1–10 in Korean (theory guide: Numerals)
- Stripe 2
- High forefist punchapjoomuk nopunde baro jirugi
- Reinforced knife-hand blocksonkal kaunde daebi makgi
- Double block in two directionssang palmok makgi
- Stripe 3
- Rising upper blockpalmok chookyo makgi
- Knife-hand strike outwardssonkal kaunde yop taerigi
- Front kick in three ways and at three heights, improvedapcha busigi
- Stripe 4
- Continuous motion: movements without a pauseyonsok dongjak
- Three locks in self-defence
- Theory: the story of Chon-Ji and Dan-Gun (theory guide: Patterns)
- Stripe 5
- Three-step sparring with a partnersambo matsogi hanchok
- Shoulder tag at different target areas
- Theory: the five tenets, the oath and a review of the numerals (theory guide: The tenets of Taekwon-Do, theory guide: The Taekwon-Do oath)
Also at the belt test
Dan-Gun (the second pattern). Chon-Ji already belongs to the yellow belt test.
Always included
Three releases (learned at the black tag).
Upper yellow belt (7th gup)→ green belt test (6th gup)
- Stripe 1
- Sitting stanceannun sogi
- Cross punchapjoomuk bandae jirugi
- Theory: explaining the stances (theory guide: Stances)
- Stripe 2
- Forearm block to high heightbakat palmok nopunde makgi
- The same as a releasing blockbakat palmok nopunde hechyo makgi
- Side back-fist strike to high heightdung joomuk nopunde yop taerigi
- Stripe 3
- Turning kick diagonally and to the sidedollyo chagi
- Saju jirugi dol (the second punching drill in four directions)
- Saju makgi dol and saju chagi dol (the second blocking and kicking drills)
- Stripe 4
- Theory: the story of Do-San (theory guide: Patterns)
- Fast motionbarun dongjak
- Three kick or punch finishes for self-defence
- Stripe 5
- Three-step sparring in two directions, alone and with a partnersambo matsogi yangchok
- Sparring: movement and scoring with hands and feet
- Breaking with a hand technique onto a focus pad
Also at the belt test
Do-San (the third pattern).
Always included
Names of techniques in Korean (theory guide: Glossary) accumulate stripe by stripe; the knife-hand strike outwards (also at the 7th gup); three releases and three locks as a review.
Green belt (6th gup)→ upper green belt test (5th gup)
- Stripe 1
- Close stance A and bending ready stance Amoa junbi sogi A, goburyo junbi sogi A
- Fixed L-stance and the reinforced block in itgojung sogi, palmok kaunde daebi makgi
- Knife-hand thrustsun sonkut kaunde tulgi
- Stripe 2
- Knife-hand strike inwards to high heightsonkal nopunde anuro taerigi
- Circular blockanpalmok kaunde dollimyo makgi
- Side kick: pressing, checking, all heightsyopcha jirugi
- Stripe 3
- Theory: the story of Won-Hyo (theory guide: Patterns)
- Saju drills with different techniquesjirugi, makgi, chagi
- Theory: Chon-Ji and Dan-Gun move by move in Korean
- Stripe 4
- Two-step sparring, two different onesibo matsogi
- Block + counter-attack against a punch
- Theory: Do-San and Won-Hyo in Korean, explaining the stances
- Stripe 5
- Block + counter-attack against a kick and a grab
- Jumping kicks in formation and the jumping front kicktwimeo, nopichagi
- Breaking with a foot technique onto a focus pad
Also at the belt test
Won-Hyo (the fourth pattern).
Always included
Sparring (movement and scoring with hands and feet), the same as in the previous grade.
Upper green belt (5th gup)→ blue belt test (4th gup)
- Stripe 1
- Punches and measuring from the sitting stanceannun sogi kaunde baro jirugi
- Grasping block with the palmsonbadak kaunde golcho makgi
- Elbow strike to a palm targetap palgup kaunde taerigi
- Stripe 2
- Double knife-hand blocksang sonkal makgi
- Double forearm block to high heightdoo palmok nopunde makgi
- X-stance with a jump and side back-fist strikekyocha sogi, dung joomuk nopunde yop taerigi
- Stripe 3
- Combined motion and theory: the story of Yul-Gok (theory guide: Patterns)eojin dongjak
- Back kick straight and turning, middle and high heightdwit chagi
- Theory: what each technique is meant for
- Stripe 4
- Two-step sparring with different techniquesibo matsogi
- Saju drills with different techniques and different stances
- Self-defence as one continuous performance
- Stripe 5
- Sparring: combinations of several techniques
- Jumping front kick 50 cm above head heightnopichagi
- Assigned breaking onto a focus pad
Also at the belt test
Yul-Gok (the fifth pattern).
Always included
Theory: teaching a technique to a younger student (practised by helping in training).
Blue belt (4th gup)→ upper blue belt test (3rd gup)
- Stripe 1
- Back-leg stance and knife-hand block with the inside of the wristdwitbal sogi, sonkal dung kaunde bakkuro makgi
- Upward palm blocksonbadak ollyo makgi
- Close stance B and elbow strike to high heightmoa junbi sogi B, wi palkup nopunde taerigi
- Stripe 2
- Two-fist punchessang joomuk nopunde sewo jirugi, sang joomuk dwijibo jirugi
- Upward X-fist block and releasekyocha joomuk chookyo makgi, jappyosul tae
- Low stance and pressing palm blocknachyo sogi, sonbadak noollo makgi
- Stripe 3
- Angle punchkaunde giokja jirugi
- U-shape blockdigutja makgi
- Slow motion and theory: the story of Joon-Gun (theory guide: Patterns)neurin dongjak
- Stripe 4
- One-step sparringilbo matsogi
- Two-step sparring in different stancesibo matsogi
- Self-defence against several attackers
- Stripe 5
- Sparring against two opponents at the same time
- Over-jump side kicknomochagi
- Assigned and special-technique breaking onto a focus pad
Also at the belt test
Joon-Gun (the sixth pattern).
Always included
Side kick and jumping kicks in formation (the same requirement as at the 5th gup); saju drills with different techniques and stances.
Upper blue belt (3rd gup)→ red belt test (2nd gup)
Age limit: you can be graded to the red belt at 12 years at the earliest, except by special permission.
- Stripe 1
- Downward thrust with the wrist turned updwijibo sonkut najunde tulgi
- Back-fist strike diagonally backwarddung joomuk nopunde yopdwi taerigi
- Sliding into L-stance and pressing X-fist low blockmigulgi niunja sogi, kyocha joomuk najunde noollo makgi
- Stripe 2
- Mountain block (W-block)san makgi
- Two-elbow thrust to the sidessang palgup yop tulgi
- Pushing low blockdoo palmok najunde miro makgi
- Stripe 3
- Head grab and knee kick upwardmori japki, moorup ollyo chagi
- Thrust to high height with the wrist downopun sonkut nopunde tulgi
- Reinforced knife-hand block to low heightnajunde sonkal daebi makgi
- Stripe 4
- Theory: the story of Toi-Gye (theory guide: Patterns)
- Jump and punch as a combination
- Pre-arranged step sparring routine (1 minute)
- Stripe 5
- Sparring against five opponents at the same time
- Self-defence against several opponents
- Breaking onto a focus pad
Also at the belt test
Toi-Gye (the seventh pattern).
Always included
Two-step and one-step sparring with different techniques and stances; saju drills.
Red belt (2nd gup)→ upper red belt test (1st gup)
Age limit: you can be graded to the upper red belt at 12.5 years at the earliest, except by special permission.
- Stripe 1
- Close stance C and pushing palm blockmoa junbi sogi C, sonbadak kaunde miro makgi
- Upward punchap joomuk ollyo jirugi
- Short stance and downward knife-hand strikesoojik sogi, sonkal naeryo taerigi
- Stripe 2
- Sliding from one stance to another and elbow thrust to the sidemigulgi gojung/niunja sogi, yop palgup tulgi
- Forearm block to high height, front-to-sidean palmok nopunde yopap makgi
- Fast turning kicksbarun dongjak dollyo chagi
- Stripe 3
- Theory: the story of Hwa-Rang (theory guide: Patterns)
- Double jumping kick
- Self-defence against several opponents as one continuous performance
- Stripe 4
- Step sparring with different techniques and stancesibo ja ilbo matsogi
- Self-defence demonstration against 2–3 opponents: planning
- Assigned and special-technique breaking onto a focus pad
- Stripe 5
- Sparring against five opponents at the same time, with contact according to age
- Self-defence demonstration ready
- Saju drills with different techniques and stances
Also at the belt test
Hwa-Rang (the eighth pattern).
Upper red belt (1st gup)→ dan test in the Senior program (1st dan)
The upper red belt also has five white stripes, and in them the child prepares for the dan test. The age limit for the dan test is 13 years, and a child who has turned 13 always moves to the Senior Black Belt Program. That is why the dan test is taken in the Senior program. The belt grade stays and the stripes are removed. Unfinished items from the stripes are practised in the Senior program, where the dan test requirements are the same.
A child under 18 who passes the dan test receives a junior black belt. It is exchanged for the adult black belt on reaching adulthood.
The federation’s official requirements for the 1st dan (the black belt test criteria 2024 and the operating guideline 2020 of the Finnish ITF Taekwon-Do association, or SITF):
- at least 13 years of age
- Level 1 Taekwon-Do instructor course (TOK 1)
- D-judge course, if age allows
- licence paid for at least two seasons before the test
The technical content is the club’s own (approved 20.10.2026). The federation does not publish technical requirements for the dan test; they are set by the international instructor who holds the test. Choong-Moo (pattern sheet 9) is shown at the dan test, and the stripes hold its techniques and the federation’s requirements. Everything from the earlier belt grades is revised. The dan test usually has a written part, and you must know the theory guide from cover to cover.
- Stripe 1
- New hand techniques of Choong-Moosonkal nopunde ap taerigi, sonkal dung nopunde ap taerigi, kyocha sonkal momchau makgi, doo sonbadak ollyo makgi
- Jumping side kick and back kicktwimyo yopcha jirugi, dwitcha jirugi
- Theory: the story of Choong-Moo and all the earlier patterns (theory guide: Patterns)
- Stripe 2
- One-step sparring with own applicationsilbo matsogi
- Two-step sparring with different techniques and stancesibo matsogi
- Self-defence against several opponents
- Stripe 3
- Sparring with contact according to age (under 13, light body contact)
- Special-technique and power breaking onto a focus pad or impact pad
- Stripe 4
- TOK 1 course (federation requirement)
- D-judge course, if age allows (federation requirement)
- Stripe 5
- Written practice theory test: the whole theory guide from cover to cover
- Practice belt test: a full run-through of the dan test
Also at the dan test (in the Senior program)
Choong-Moo (the ninth pattern) and all the earlier patterns from Chon-Ji to Hwa-Rang, and the written theory test.
Always included
Saju drills and all the techniques of the 1st gup as a review.
What the requirements mean
The club’s own definitions for requirements that can be read in more than one way.
- Self-defence as one continuous performance (from the 4th gup onwards)
- The attacker makes 3–5 different attacks in a row without a pause (a grab, a punch, a kick). The defender answers each one and is ready for the next straight away. Fluency and distance are assessed, and that the performance does not stop. At the 3rd to 1st gup there are several attackers.
- Assigned breaking (from the 4th gup onwards)
- The person holding the belt test asks for the breaking of their choice. Minors always break onto a focus pad or an impact pad.
- Special-technique breaking (from the 3rd gup onwards)
- Jumping kicks are done onto a stand or a kicking paddle. The person holding the test decides what they want to see.
- Teaching a technique (4th gup theory)
- The candidate teaches a technique from a lower belt to a younger student in about five minutes: shows it, explains it and corrects one mistake.
- Saju with different techniques and stances (from the 5th gup onwards)
- The test commander names a technique and a stance, and the candidate does the drill in four directions in the saju pattern. The techniques are chosen from what the candidate has learned so far. At the 5th gup only the technique changes. From the 4th gup onwards the stance changes too (L-stance, sitting stance, fixed L-stance).
Frequently asked questions
Who is the Junior Black Belt Program for?
For children under 13 who want to progress in Taekwon-Do in a goal-oriented way from the white belt to the junior black belt. The suggested starting age is 8–10 years. The program is shared by Beom, Sasaja and Stadin TKD.
How much does the Junior Black Belt Program cost?
€600 per year on top of the base fee. The base fee is the same as in the Leisure Program (annual fee €200 or season fee €150). The add-on is invoiced once a calendar year, in January. A belt test costs €20, and the price includes a new belt. Tags and stripes are free of charge.
How do belt tests work?
Belt tests are held twice a year, around April–May and November–December, and separate tests are held when needed. A belt test requires the techniques, the number of training sessions and the minimum time. At the test you must also know everything required in the lower belt grades, and a pattern is shown only at the belt test.
What are tags and stripes?
A tag is a coloured mark on the white belt, and a stripe is a white mark from the yellow belt onwards. The white belt has five tags (yellow, green, blue, red and black), and each colour belt grade has five white stripes. They are not official belt tests, they are free of charge, and they are completed at a belt test or with the instructor in training.
Where and when is training?
Training places and times are announced in myClub (besa.myclub.fi). The training place and times of Stadin TKD will be confirmed.
What happens when a child turns 13?
The child always moves to the Senior Black Belt Program (SBBP). The belt grade stays and the stripes are removed, because the Senior program has no stripes. The belt test requirements are the same, and the dan test is taken in the Senior program.
What is a junior black belt?
It is a black belt with a white stripe running lengthwise through the middle. A person under 18 who has passed the dan test receives it, and it is exchanged for the adult black belt on reaching adulthood.
How do I sign up?
Sign up in myClub at besa.myclub.fi: choose the base fee and the JBBP add-on. Before signing up you can take part in two free trial sessions.