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3rd Dan → 4th Dan — TAGB (ITF) Taekwondo

3rd Dan to 5th Dan

Your complete pre-grading revision guide and interactive checklist. Three demanding patterns, Referees Course requirements, and a minimum of four years' training — this is senior Black Belt territory.

Grading for 5th Dan represents a significant step into senior Black Belt rank. At this level the TAGB expects not only outstanding technical ability across three complex patterns, but also a formal commitment to officiating through the Referees Course.

🚨 Minimum Training Time: 4 Years
You must have held your 3rd Dan for a minimum of four years. Your TAGB licence must have been held continuously throughout.

💪 Black Belt Pre-Grading Sessions
Attend at least one TAGB Black Belt pre-grading session every six months (licence book stamped), and all three immediately prior to the grading for which you are applying.

⚠️ TAGB Additional Requirements — 3rd Dan to 4th Dan

In addition to the standard grading syllabus, all candidates for 4th Dan must strictly adhere to the following:

  1. Attend Referees Course Parts 1 & 2. Must have been a qualified Umpire for at least 6 months. Must officiate at least one TAGB tournament before attending Part 2.
  2. Officiate or compete (in at least 2 events) at a minimum of two TAGB tournaments each year — at least one of which must be a national TAGB tournament.
  3. Application forms must be signed by the student (or parent if under 16) and endorsed by their Instructor and Area Co-ordinator.

Regarding juniors (under 16): No requirement to attend Umpires', Referees', or Instructors' courses, or to officiate at TAGB tournaments. However, minimum training times for under-16s are double those printed.

Note: Minimum training time is 4 years. Variations of the grading format are at the examiner's discretion.
📚 Training Resources
▶️3rd Dan Grading Resources (TAGB) 🇰🇷Korean Quiz 🏆4th Dan Syllabus Preview 🎯Book a 1-to-1 Session
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Tick each item once you can perform it confidently. Theory and Korean items are bonus — they don't block the progress bar. No excuses! 💪

🔄 Patterns (Tul) — All Three Required
🤺 Sparring (Matsoki)
💥 Destruction (Gyokpa)
🥊 Practical Techniques & Combinations
📋 TAGB Mandatory Requirements
⭐ Attitude & Discipline
🧠 Theory (bonus)
🇰🇷 Korean Terms (bonus)
🥋 Outstanding work! You've ticked every practical item — you're ready for your 4th Dan grading! See you on grading day! 🏆⬛
Complete all practical items to unlock this button

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⏱ 30 minutes coaching 🎥 Session recorded 📝 Written feedback 🏠 Train from home
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📐 Pattern Diagram Reference

Click each pattern to expand the full movement breakdown.

🔄 Choi-Jong — 46 Movements ▼
Meaning: Named after General Choi Yong, premier and commander in chief of the armed forces during the 14th century Koryo Dynasty. Greatly respected for his loyalty, patriotism, and humility. Executed by his subordinate commanders headed by General Yi Sung Gae, who later became the first King of the Lee Dynasty.
Starting Position: Closed ready stance C
1–2. Guarding block, high left middle knuckle punch (right rear foot stance)1: Move left foot to D, right rear foot stance toward D, middle guarding block forearm · 2: High punch to D with left middle knuckle fist
3–4. Guarding block, high right middle knuckle punch (left rear foot stance)3: Move left foot on line CD, left rear foot stance toward C, middle guarding block forearm · 4: High punch to C with right middle knuckle fist
5–7. Left knife-hand rising block, right circular block, left middle punch (walking stance)5: Right foot on line CD, left walking stance toward D, rising block left knife-hand · 6: Circular block to AD right inner forearm · 7: Middle punch to D left fist
8–10. Right knife-hand rising block, left circular block, right middle punch (walking stance)8: Left foot on line CD, right walking stance toward C, rising block right knife-hand · 9: Circular block to AC left inner forearm · 10: Middle punch to C right fist
11. Low knife-hand guarding block (L-stance)Right foot on line CD, right L-stance toward D, low guarding block knife-hand
12–15. Turning kick, consecutive high reverse hooking kick, side kick, land right front elbow strike (walking stance)12: Middle turning kick to AD right foot, lower to side front of left foot · 13: High reverse hooking kick to D left foot · 14: Middle side piercing kick to D left foot (consecutive with 13) · 15: Left walking stance toward D, strike left palm with right front elbow
16. Low knife-hand guarding block (L-stance)Left foot on line CD, left L-stance toward C, low guarding block knife-hand
17–20. Left turning kick, consecutive high reverse hooking kick, side kick, land left front elbow strike (walking stance)17: Middle turning kick to AC left foot · 18: High reverse hooking kick to C right foot · 19: Middle side piercing kick to C right foot (consecutive with 18) · 20: Right walking stance toward C, strike right palm with left front elbow
21–22. Right pressing block, left pressing block in fast motion (walking stance)21: Left foot to C, left walking stance, pressing block right palm · 22: Right foot to C, right walking stance, pressing block left palm. Fast motion.
23. W-shaped knife-hand block (walking stance)Move right foot to D then left foot to D, counter-clockwise, left walking stance toward D, W-shape block knife-hand
24–25. Front right snap kick, land back into guarding block (L-stance)24: Middle front snap kick to D right foot · 25: Lower right foot to C, right L-stance toward D, middle guarding block forearm
26–28. W-shaped knife-hand block, front left snap kick, land guarding block (L-stance)26: Right walking stance toward D, W-shape block knife-hand · 27: Middle front snap kick to D left foot · 28: Left L-stance toward C, middle guarding block forearm
29. Step, step, turn clockwise into guarding block (L-stance)Move left foot to C, right foot to C, slide to C clockwise, left L-stance toward D, middle guarding block forearm
30–31. Flat fingertip thrusts (walking stance)30: Left walking stance toward D, high thrust left flat fingertip · 31: Right walking stance toward C, high thrust right flat fingertip
32–33. 90° clockwise, right hooking block, middle punch (parallel stance)32: Right foot to D clockwise, parallel stance toward B, middle hooking block right palm · 33: Middle punch to B left fist
34. Left bending ready stance A (opposite direction)Turn face toward A, left bending ready stance A toward A
35–36. Right side piercing kick, land high right side fist strike + jump (X-stance)35: Middle side piercing kick to A right foot, forearm guarding block · 36: Lower right foot to A jumping, right X-stance toward AD, high side strike right back fist + left finger belly to right side fist
37–38. High reverse right hooking kick, land right knife-hand strike + stamp (L-stance)37: High reverse hooking kick to B right foot · 38: Lower right foot to B stamping, left L-stance toward B, middle outward strike right knife-hand
39–40. 90° counter-clockwise, left hooking block, middle punch (parallel stance)39: Left foot to D counter-clockwise, parallel stance toward A, middle hooking block left palm · 40: Middle punch to A right fist
41. Right bending ready stance A (opposite direction)Turn face to B, right bending ready stance A toward B
42–43. Left side piercing kick, land high left side fist strike + jump (X-stance)42: Middle side piercing kick to B left foot, forearm guarding block · 43: Lower left foot to B jumping, left X-stance toward BD, high side strike left back fist + right finger belly to left side fist
44–45. High reverse left hooking kick, land left knife-hand strike + stamp (L-stance)44: High reverse hooking kick to A left foot · 45: Lower left foot to A stamping, right L-stance toward A, middle outward strike left knife-hand
46. Slide into right middle punch (fixed stance)Slide to A, right fixed stance toward A, middle punch right fist
END:Bring the right foot back to a ready posture
🔄 Sam-IL — 33 Movements ▼
Meaning: Denotes the historical date of the independence movement of Korea which began throughout the country on March 1, 1919. The 33 movements stand for the 33 patriots who planned the movement.
Starting Position: Closed ready stance C
1. Guarding block + slide (right L-stance)Slide to D, right L-stance toward D, middle guarding block forearm
2. High double forearm block (walking stance)Move right foot to D, right walking stance, high block right double forearm
3. Right high knife-hand side block + left palm on right forearm (walking stance)Move left foot to D, left walking stance, high side block right knife-hand + left palm on right back forearm
4–5. Mid-section right twist kick, land right middle punch (walking stance)4: Middle twisting kick to A right foot · 5: Right walking stance toward D, middle punch right fist
6. Reverse knife-hand wedging block (sitting stance)Right foot on line CD, sitting stance toward B, middle wedging block reverse knife-hand
7. Low right upset fingertip thrust (pivot into walking stance)Low thrust to C right upset fingertip, left walking stance toward C, pivoting with right foot
8. High right outer forearm block + left low block (pull left foot into L-stance)High outward block to D right outer forearm + low block to C left forearm, right L-stance toward C pulling left foot
9. Reverse knife-hand wedging block (sitting stance)Right foot to C, sitting stance toward A, middle wedging block reverse knife-hand
10. Low double punch (pull right foot into L-stance)Low punch to C right double fist, left L-stance toward C pulling right foot
11. High double arc-hand block (walking stance)Move left foot to C, left walking stance, high block to BC double arc-hand, looking through it
12. Reverse punch (walking stance)Move right foot to C, right walking stance, middle punch left fist
13. Low double punch (change direction into L-stance)Right foot on line CD, right L-stance toward D, low punch to D left double fist
14. High reverse knife-hand block (turn 90° counter-clockwise into L-stance)Move left foot to B, right L-stance toward B, high guarding block right reverse knife-hand
15. U-shape block (slip into fixed stance)U-shape block to B, left fixed stance toward B slipping left foot
16. Right sweeping kick, land U-shape block (fixed stance)Sweeping kick to B right side sole, lower to B, right fixed stance toward B, U-shaped block to B
17. Guarding block + jump and spin 360° (L-stance)Jump and spin counter-clockwise, land same spot, left L-stance toward B, middle guarding block knife-hand
18–19. Side right piercing kick, drop foot, change direction, front elbow strike (walking stance)18: Middle side piercing kick to B right foot, knife-hand guarding block · 19: Lower right foot to left foot, left foot to A, left walking stance toward A, strike left palm with right front elbow
20. Left back supported elbow thrust (counter-clockwise into diagonal stance)Move right foot to A counter-clockwise, left diagonal stance toward D, thrust to C left back elbow supporting with right palm, face toward C
21. X-fist pressing block (slip into walking stance)Pressing block X-fist, right walking stance toward AD
22. W-shape block + stamp (sitting stance)Move left foot to A stamping, sitting stance toward C, W-shape block outer forearm
23–24. Left side kick, land low knife-hand guarding block + change direction (L-stance)23: Middle side piercing kick to A left foot, forearm guarding block · 24: Lower left foot on line A, low guarding block to B knife-hand, left L-stance toward B
25. Upward left palm block (rear foot stance)Move left foot to B, right rear stance toward B, upward block left palm
26. Twin palm pressing block (rear foot stance)Move right foot to B, left rear foot stance toward B, pressing block twin palm
27. Turn left, twin upset punch + stamp (walking stance)Move left foot to C stamping, left walking stance toward C, upset punch twin fist
28–29. Right low block + left fist under armpit, left punch + right fist over shoulder (L-stance)28: Right foot to C, left L-stance toward C, low block right forearm + left fist under left armpit · 29: Middle punch left fist + right fist over left shoulder
30–31. Right middle forearm block, left high punch (pivot into walking stance)30: Middle front block right forearm, left walking stance toward D · 31: High punch to D left fist (continuous with 30)
32–33. Left front leg low snap kick, drop foot, step into twin vertical punch + stamp (walking stance)32: Low front snap kick to D left foot · 33: Lower left foot to D, right foot to D stamping, right walking stance, high vertical punch twin fist
END:Bring the left foot back to a ready posture
🔄 Yoo-Sin — 68 Movements ▼
Meaning: Named after General Kim Yoo Sin, commanding general during the Silla Dynasty. The 68 movements refer to the last two figures of 668 A.D., the year Korea was united. The ready posture signifies a sword drawn on the right rather than left side, symbolising Yoo Sin's mistake of following his King's orders to fight with foreign forces against his own nation.
Starting Position: Warrior ready stance B
1. Step left, extend both elbows horizontally (sitting stance)Move left foot to B, sitting stance toward D, extend both elbows to the sides horizontally
2–3. Left angle punch + slide right, right angle punch + slide left (fast motion)2: Angle punch to C left fist, slide to A · 3: Angle punch to C right fist, slide to B. Fast motion.
4–5. Stand into right hooking block, drop into left punch (sitting stance)4: Middle hooking block to D right palm, stand up · 5: Middle punch to D left fist, sitting stance
6–7. Stand into left hooking block, drop into right punch (sitting stance)6: Middle hooking block to D left palm, stand up · 7: Middle punch to D right fist, sitting stance
8–11. High outer forearm block, circular block, scooping block, middle punch (diagonal walking stance)8: Left foot to BD, left walking stance toward BD, high side block left outer forearm · 9: Circular block to D right inner forearm · 10: Scooping block left palm, sitting stance toward AD · 11: Middle punch to AD right fist (connecting motion with 10)
12–15. Mirror of 8–11 (right side)12: Left foot to right, right foot to AD, right walking stance toward AD, high side block right outer forearm · 13: Circular block to D left inner forearm · 14: Scooping block right palm, sitting stance toward BD · 15: Middle punch to BD left fist
16–19. Hooking blocks, middle punches (continuous motion)16: High hooking block to BC right palm, left walking stance · 17: Middle punch to BD left fist, sitting stance · 18: High hooking block to AD left palm, right walking stance · 19: Middle punch to BD right fist, sitting stance. Perform 16–19 in continuous motion.
20–22. X-fist pressing block, X-knife-hand rising block, right middle punch (walking stance)20: Right foot to C, left walking stance toward D, pressing block X-fist · 21: Rising block X-knife-hand (continuous with 20) · 22: Middle punch to D right fist, left palm to right elbow
23–24. Low right front snap kick, land reverse punch (walking stance)23: Low front snap kick to D right foot · 24: Right walking stance toward D, middle punch left fist
25–27. X-fist pressing block, X-knife-hand rising block, left middle punch (maintain walking stance)25: Pressing block X-fist · 26: Rising block X-knife-hand · 27: Middle punch to D left fist, right palm to left elbow
28–29. Low left front snap kick, land reverse punch (walking stance)28: Low front snap kick to D left foot · 29: Left walking stance toward D, middle punch right fist
30–33. Knife-hand guarding blocks forwards and backwards (L-stance)30: Right foot to D, left L-stance toward D, middle guarding block knife-hand · 31: Left foot to D, right L-stance, middle guarding block knife-hand · 32: Left foot to C, left L-stance toward D, middle guarding block knife-hand · 33: Right foot to C, right L-stance, middle guarding block knife-hand
34–37. High double forearm blocks with low blocks (fast motion)34: Right foot to D, right walking stance, high block right double forearm · 35: Low block left forearm (fast motion with 34) · 36: Left foot to D, left walking stance, high block left double forearm · 37: Low block right forearm (fast motion with 36)
38. Middle punch (walking stance)Move right foot to D, right walking stance, middle punch right fist
39–40. High reverse knife-hand block, closed ready stance C39: Left foot on line CD, counter-clockwise, right L-stance toward C, high block left reverse knife-hand · 40: Bring right foot to left, closed ready stance C toward C
41–42. Twin upset punches + stamps (diagonal walking stances)41: Right foot to CF stamping, right walking stance toward CG, upset punch twin fist · 42: Right foot to left, left foot to CE stamping, left walking stance toward CE, upset punch twin fist
43–44. Middle inner forearm block, left punch (L-stance)43: Left foot to right, right foot to F, left L-stance toward F, middle block right inner forearm · 44: Middle punch to F left fist
45. Slow right angle punch (closed stance)Bring left foot to right, closed stance toward C, angle punch right fist. Slow motion.
46–47. Middle inner forearm block, right punch (L-stance)46: Left foot to E, right L-stance toward E, middle block left inner forearm · 47: Middle punch to E right fist
48. Slow left angle punch (closed stance)Bring right foot to left, closed stance toward C, angle punch left fist. Slow motion.
49–50. U-shaped punches (fixed stance)49: Left foot to right, right foot to E, U-shape punch to E · 50: Left foot to right, right foot to E, right fixed stance, U-shape punch to E
51. Right front back fist strike + stamp (sitting stance)Right foot on line CD stamping, sitting stance toward E, front strike right back fist
52. Right waving kick, land high right outer forearm block (sitting stance)Waving kick to D right foot, high outward block to AC right outer forearm, sitting stance toward E
53–54. Left waving kick, land high front right outer forearm block, right back hand strike (sitting stance)53: Waving kick to C left foot, high front block to ED right outer forearm · 54: Horizontal strike to C right back hand
55–57. Consecutive crescent kick, same leg side kick, land left back hand strike (sitting stance)55: Middle crescent kick to right palm left foot · 56: Middle side piercing kick to C left foot (consecutive with 55) · 57: Lower left foot to C, sitting stance toward B, horizontal strike left back hand
58–61. Consecutive crescent kick, same leg side kick, land 9-shape blocks (sitting stance)58: Middle crescent kick to left palm right foot · 59: Middle side piercing kick to C right foot (consecutive with 58) · 60: Lower right foot to C, sitting stance toward A, right 9-shape block · 61: Change hands, maintain stance
62–63. Turn clockwise, 9-shape blocks (sitting stance)62: Left foot to C clockwise, sitting stance toward B, right 9-shape block · 63: Change hands
64. Downward side fist strike (vertical stance)Downward strike to D right side fist, left vertical stance pulling left foot
65–66. Twin vertical punches (walking stances)65: Right foot to A, left walking stance toward B, high vertical punch twin fist · 66: Right foot to B counter-clockwise, left walking stance toward A, high vertical punch twin fist
67–68. Knife-hand guarding blocks (diagonal L-stances)67: Right foot to left, left foot to BD, right L-stance toward BD, middle guarding block knife-hand · 68: Left foot to right, right foot to AD, left L-stance toward AD, middle guarding block knife-hand
END:Bring the right foot back to a ready posture
🇰🇷 Korean Terms Reference (3rd Dan)
EnglishKorean
Angle punchGiokja jirugi
Back elbow thrustDwit palkup tulgi
Diagonal stanceSasun sogi
Fixed stanceGojung sogi
Reverse hooking kickBandae golcho chagi
Sweeping kickMikulgi chagi
U-shape blockDigutja makgi
Upset fingertip thrustDwijibo sonkut tulgi
Waving kickNoollo chagi
Warrior ready stanceTongmilgi junbi sogi
3rd DanSam Dan
5th DanSa Dan
⭐ The 5 Tenets of Taekwondo
Courtesy Integrity Perseverance Self Control Indomitable Spirit
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Training Videos

Click a video to watch on YouTube. These will help you prepare for your grading — study the patterns, techniques and combinations carefully.

2nd Dan to 3rd Dan — Pattern & Techniques
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YouTube2nd Dan to 3rd Dan — Pattern & Techniques
3rd Dan to 4th Dan — Pattern & Techniques
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YouTube3rd Dan to 4th Dan — Pattern & Techniques
3rd Dan to 4th Dan — Training Guide
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YouTube3rd Dan to 4th Dan — Training Guide