White Belt

Overview

“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” – Bruce Lee

White belt is the first belt on your road to Black belt, everybody starts as white belt, which means preparation is never easier, just show up. Most activities as a white belt will be centered around; learning the basic blocks and strikes, increasing in flexibility, and practicing simple foundational skills that can be built upon as you advance.

Most white belts take their first test (for advanced white belt) within 3 months or after about 15-20 classes. The material should not be physically challenging, though it may take some practice. The purpose is to allow you to better understanding into what Tae Kwon Do is, and set up a good foundation as you move into some more advanced belts.
Here is a breakdown of what you can expect from white belt.

  • Beginner Level Kicks
  • Basic Blocking
  • Basic stances
  • Beginning fighting techniques
  • Simple traditional courtesies
  • Into into stretching
  • Simple releases for getting away
  • Belt Tying

Testing Requirements:

Time Requirements

There are no time related holds at the white belt level. However, if a student joins in the weeks immediately prior to a test, they may be asked to wait until the next test.

Pre-Testing Requirements

Full Uniform –
All students must be in full uniform in order to test. The uniform includes: Pants, jacket, and belt

Tennets of Tae Kwon Do –
All Students must be able to say from memory the tennets of Tae Kwon Do. They are: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control, Indomitable Spirit, Victory (Defending Dragon’s tennet)

Be able to tie a belt – All students will be asked to take off their belt and put them back on at the beginning of the test. Students that cannot tie their own belt will not be allowed to test.

Required Material

  • 4 Kicks
    • Front Kick
    • Roundhouse Kick
    • Side Kick
    • Axe Kick
  • 4 Blocks
    • High Block
    • Low (Down) Block
    • Inward Block
    • Outward Block
  • Punches
    • Front Punch
    • Back Punch
  • Board Breaking

Required Knowledge

  • Blocking
    • High Block
    • Middle Block (Inward and Outward)
    • Low Block
  • Kicking (how to perform the kick and what part of the foot to use)
    • Front kick
    • Roundhouse
    • Side kick (required in kicking drill #3)
  • Punching (proper technique)
    • Straight punch (jab)
    • Reverse punch
  • Belt tying

Release Drills (Bonus)

Single Wrist Grab

*Attacker is grabbing your hand with his thumb pointing down.

  1. Step back with one leg. Grab your hand with your free hand and pull downward, towards your hip, thru the opening between the attacker’s thumb and fingers. Make sure to bend your elbow to achieve a quick motion instead of using your shoulder. Always pull toward the back leg.
  2. Turn toward your back leg and get away.

Reverse Wrist Grab

*Attacker is grabbing your hand with his thumb pointing up.

  1. Step back with one leg. Grab your hand with your free hand and pull upward, towards your shoulder, thru the attacker’s opening between his thumb and fingers. Always pull toward the back leg.
  2. Turn toward your back leg and get away.

Double Wrist Grab

*Attacker grabbing both of your wrists.

  1. Step back with one leg. Rotate your wrists inward so that your fists are facing up (you should be able to see your fingernails) (this should cause the attacker’s hands to rotate and face upward as well). As you bend your elbows pull through the openings in between the attackers thumbs and fingers and full your fists to your shoulders.
  2. Turn toward your back leg and get away.

Sleeve Grab

*Attacker is grabbing your sleeve somewhere between the shoulder and elbow.

  1. Using the same arm the attacker is grabbing, rotate the hand so the palm is facing up and grab the attacker’s elbow that hand.
  2. Stepping across towards the attacker, use your free arm to elbow-strike the attackers elbow (which should be in the palm of your hand).
  3. The elbow strike should make the attacker lean inward, near enough for you to strike their jaw with an second elbow strike.

Hair Grab

*Attacker is holding on to your hair from the front, just above the forehead.

  1. Using both hands grab attacker’s hand (that is grabbing your hair). Make sure both of your thumbs are in the attacker’s palm and your fingers are wrapping around the back of the attackers hand.
  2. Step back with one leg, then front kick to the attacker’s groin. This is a distraction move to make the attacker let go of your hair.
  3. Still holding on to the attacker’s hand, step back and pull the attacker’s hand down, and hyper-extend the wrist by twisting inward.

Chokes (Bonus)

Front Choke

*Attacker is grabbing you by the neck from the front.

  1. Step back with one foot. Raise both arms above your head (the same way you would if you were flexing).
  2. Using your forearm strike the attackers forearm as you turn toward the back leg (facing away from the attacker).

Rear Choke


*Attacker is grabbing you by the neck from the back.

Note: This technique is very similar to Front Choke.

  1. Step forward with one foot. Raise both arms above your head (the same way you would if you were flexing).
  2. Using your forearm strike the attackers forearm as you turn toward the back leg (this should place you facing the attacker).

Optional:
If you are around the same height as the attacker, instead of stepping forward (away from the attacker), you may step back (towards the attacker). Using your elbow, strike the attackers jaw as you turn around.
Keep in mind, if you choose to step back, you are within grappling distance and chances of running away decrease.

Throat Strike

*Attacker is grabbing you by the neck from the front. (exactly the same at Front Choke)

  1. Step forward with one foot. Using the same side arm as you stepped forward with (if you stepped with your right foot, use your right arm).
  2. Take your index and middle finger and thrust it into the V of the attackers throat (at the base of the neck).

Arc Hand

White Belt