Every rank has a minimum time requirement plus specific forms and techniques. These are minimums — your instructor decides when you’re ready, and regular attendance is required.
Minimum time at each rank
| Testing for | Rank | Minimum time |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow belt | 8th Kyp | 3 months at white belt |
| Yellow belt with stripe | 7th Kyp | 3 months at yellow belt |
| Green belt | 6th Kyp | 3 months at yellow belt with stripe |
| Blue belt | 5th Kyp | 6 months at green belt |
| Blue belt with stripe | 4th Kyp | 3–6 months at blue belt (9 months total for blue + stripe) |
| Red belt | 3rd Kyp | 3–6 months at blue belt with stripe |
| Red belt with stripe | 2nd Kyp | 6 months at red belt |
| Red belt with two stripes | 1st Kyp | 6 months at red belt with stripe |
| Black belt — 1st Dan | Il Dan | 6 months at red belt with two stripes; free form memorized for 3 months |
| Black belt — 2nd Dan | Ee Dan | 3½ years at 1st Dan, plus application |
| Black belt — 3rd Dan | Sam Dan | 3½ years at 2nd Dan, plus application |
Higher black belt ranks: 4th Dan — 4 years plus application · 5th Dan — 5 years plus at least one student ranked 2nd Dan or higher · 6th and 7th Dan — 5 years · 8th and 9th Dan — 10 years.
Requirements by rank
Tap a rank to see what you’ll be tested on. Every test also includes an interview and the test fee ($20).
Yellow belt 8th Kyp
Minimum time: 3 months at white belt
Forms
- Ech Chan Cho Bu
- Ech Chan E Bu
Techniques
- 3-step sparring
- (3) self-defense technicals
- Free-sparring (1 on 1)
- Break: 1 board (bottom-fist)
Also required
- Count to 10 in Korean
- Know the basic commands and general information
- Know your instructors’ names and ranks
- Tie your belt correctly
Yellow belt with stripe 7th Kyp
Minimum time: 3 months at yellow belt
Forms
- Ech Chan Cho Bu
- Ech Chan E Bu
- Ech Chan Shim Bu
Techniques
- 5-step sparring
- (6) self-defense technicals
- Free-sparring (1 on 1)
- Break: 1 board (palm heel)
Green belt 6th Kyp
Minimum time: 3 months at yellow belt with stripe
Forms
- Ech Chan Cho Bu
- Ech Chan E Bu
- Ech Chan Shim Bu
- Pyong Cho Dan
Techniques
- (5) 1-step sparring
- (8) self-defense technicals
- (3) knifehand technicals
- (3) elbow technicals
- Free-sparring (1 on 1)
- Breaks: 1 board (knifehand), 1 board (elbow)
Blue belt 5th Kyp
Minimum time: 6 months at green belt
Forms
- Ech Chan Cho Bu
- Ech Chan E Bu
- Ech Chan Shim Bu
- Pyong Cho Dan
- Pyong E Dan
Techniques
- (10) 1-step sparring (5 × 5)
- (10) self-defense technicals
- (3) 1-step jump kicks
- Free-sparring (1 on 1)
- Breaks: 1 board right foot, 1 board left foot
Blue belt with stripe 4th Kyp
Minimum time: 3–6 months at blue belt (9 months total for blue + stripe)
Forms
- Ech Chan Cho Bu
- Ech Chan E Bu
- Ech Chan Shim Bu
- Pyong Cho Dan
- Pyong E Dan
- Pyong Sam Dan
Techniques
- (18) 1-step sparring (9 × 9)
- (10) self-defense technicals
- Timed surprise attacks
- (5) pressure points
- (5) 1-step jump kicks
- Free-sparring (1 on 1 and 2 on 1)
- Breaks: 2 boards punch, 2 boards foot technique
Red belt 3rd Kyp
Minimum time: 3–6 months at blue belt with stripe
Forms
- All forms through Pyong Sa Dan
- (1) weapons form
Techniques
- (22) 1-step sparring (11 × 11)
- 2-minute self-defense
- Timed surprise attacks
- (10) pressure points
- 1-step jump kicks (5 near & 5 far)
- Free-sparring (1 on 1 and 2 on 1)
- Breaks: 1 patio stone or 3 boards; 2 boards foot technique
Red belt with stripe 2nd Kyp
Minimum time: 6 months at red belt
Forms
- All forms through Pyong O Dan
- (1) weapons form
Techniques
- (26) 1-step sparring (13 × 13)
- 2-minute self-defense
- Timed surprise attacks
- 1-step jump kicks (5 near & 5 far)
- Free-sparring (1 on 1 and 2 on 1)
- Breaks: 2 patio stones or 5 boards; break of choice
Red belt with two stripes 1st Kyp
Minimum time: 6 months at red belt with stripe
Forms
- All forms through Passai
- (1) weapons form
Techniques
- (32) 1-step sparring (16 × 16)
- 3-minute self-defense
- Timed surprise attacks
- 1-step jump kicks (20 near & far)
- Free-sparring (1 on 1, 2 on 1, 3 on 1)
- Breaks: 2 boards right foot, 2 boards left foot, 2 patio stones or 5 boards, break of choice
Black belt — 1st Dan Il Dan
Minimum time: 6 months at red belt with two stripes; free form memorized for 3 months
Forms
- All forms through Passai
- (2) weapons forms
- Original free form (developed and memorized at least 3 months before testing)
Techniques
- (32) 1-step sparring (16 × 16)
- (25) original 1-step sparring
- (88) pressure points
- (30) wrist technicals (15 × 15)
- (20) clothing technicals (10 × 10)
- Timed surprise attacks
- 1-step jump kicks (10 near & 10 far)
- Free-sparring (1 on 1, 2 on 1, 3 on 1)
- Breaks: 2 boards each hand and each foot, 2 patio stones or 5 boards, break of choice
Also required
- Black belt paper (essay) on a martial arts subject
- Black belt application submitted at least 3 months before your test date
- Interview
Black belt — 2nd Dan Ee Dan
Minimum time: 3½ years at 1st Dan, plus application
Forms
- All forms through Naihanji Cho Dan
- A form from a different style
- (2) weapons forms
Techniques
- (32) 1-step sparring
- (25) original 1-step sparring
- (176) pressure points
- Wrist technicals (15 × 15)
- (30) clothing technicals (15 × 15)
- Timed surprise attacks with and without weapons
- 1-step jump kicks (10 near & 10 far)
- Free-sparring up to 4 on 1
- Breaks: 3 boards or 1 patio stone each hand; 5 boards or patio stone each foot; break of choice
Also required
- 500 teaching hours (master to approve)
- Black belt paper
- Application at least 3 months before test date
- Interview
Black belt — 3rd Dan Sam Dan
Minimum time: 3½ years at 2nd Dan, plus application
Forms
- All forms through Naihanji Sam Dan
- (2) forms from a different style
- (3) weapons forms
Techniques
- (32) 1-step sparring
- (32) original 1-step sparring
- (208) pressure points
- (30) wrist technicals
- (30) clothing technicals
- Timed surprise attacks with and without weapons
- 1-step jump kicks (10 near & 10 far)
- Free-sparring up to 4 on 1
- Breaks as for 2nd Dan, plus break of choice
Also required
- 1,000 teaching hours (master to approve)
- Black belt paper
- Application at least 3 months before test date
- Interview
✏️ To do: Review these requirements (carried over from the Mountain Academy curriculum) and update any counts or techniques that differ at the Lakewood Academy.