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86 Middlesex Ave, Metuchen, NJ 08840Monday to Thursday: 4:30 to 9 pm

The belt path

Six belts, white to black

Each color adds poomsae, kicks and sparring. A student tests when the coach sees the skills, and stripes on the belt mark the steps between.

  1. White belt

    Ages 10 and up
    Skills
    • Bowing in and out, and the ready stance

    • Front kick and the first blocks

    • Counting and calling in Korean

  2. Yellow belt

    Skills
    • The first poomsae, Taegeuk Il Jang

    • Roundhouse kick on a target

    • Stepping in and out of range

  3. Green belt

    Skills
    • Three poomsae and a longer kicking combination

    • One-step drills with a partner

    • First rounds of light-contact sparring in gear

  4. Blue belt

    Skills
    • Back kick and turning kick on a target

    • Sparring rounds with a coach calling the pace

    • A board break

  5. Red belt

    Skills
    • Advanced poomsae, with timing and balance

    • Sparring with scoring rules, in gear

    • Helping a newer student with a drill

  6. Black belt

    Skills
    • Every earlier poomsae, and the black belt form

    • Teaching a drill and running a warm-up

    • Setting a training goal for the next session

Sample levels.

Every student moves at their own pace.

Belt tests

Tests follow the skills, not the calendar

A belt test closes each session, and a coach invites a student when they have shown the next belt's poomsae and kicks in class. Tests happen in the student's own class time, with the coaches who know them.

  • One poomsae, chosen for the belt

  • Kicks on a target, then a partner drill

  • A board break from blue belt up

Hand placing a plain wooden board on two supports for a board break, close view

Belt tests and the year

When tests and sessions happen

A belt test closes each session, and families are welcome to watch from the bench.

  1. Event

    Belt test

    End of every session

    Students test in their own class time, on the poomsae, the sparring rounds and, from blue belt, a board break.

  2. Event

    Sparring showcase

    Mid-session

    Light-contact rounds in front of families, with a coach calling each one.

  3. Closed

    Holiday closure

    Late December

    The club is closed for the holiday week.

  4. First day

    Winter session starts

    Early January

    New students start at the beginning of a session, or any week with a place open.

  5. Event

    Spring belt test

    Late March

    The test for the winter session; the order of testing goes up two weeks ahead.

Sample dates.

Dates are set each session and posted at the front desk.

Start at white

Every student begins with a white belt, at any age.