How do you get a yellow stripe in Tae Kwon Do?

Answer 1

Usually belt promotion tests are held regularily at a dojang. Depending on the school a student may have to pass a pretest before they can test for their next belt. A student must know one or more forms, what form and/or how many forms the student must know is dictated by the school, and demonstrate said knowlege to their instructer. There is usually a knowlege portion of the test where the student must demonstrate their knowlege; can be tested on counting in korean, Taekwondo oath, tenents of taekwondo, historical or cultural meaning of a form, number of movements in their form, ect. The student must be able to properly perform their designated self-defense and board break. Depending on what belt the student is testing for they may have to pass a physical. That's usually it.

The yellow stripe is typically a strip of yellow tape that is attached to the end of the white belt or a stripe of yellow cloth sewn along the entire length of the belt on one side. A white belt is the beginner rank used to show that the student is just starting, and has no knowledge of taekwondo. Once the student has learned some basic class room proceedures, basic stances, blocks, punches, and kicks, they are usually given the opportunity to participate in a promotion test. The promotion test is often a formal gathering of students of various ranks up to black belt from one or more schools affiliated with the same organization.

The judges are experienced black belts, instructors, masters, or grandmasters who observe the students in action, and write appropriate scores and notes on a judge's score sheet. The students are expected to demonstrate basic techniques, forms of prearranged movements, one-step sparring with a partner, Hoshinsul (self defense), sparring, and board breaking depending on the grade level being tested for. Some knowledge might be tested with a written or oral exam, and the students overall attitude, manners, and respect is always being considered.

After the test, if the student has met the minimum requirements to advance to the next level, the Instructor will often announce the change in rank within the next week. Sometimes an official ceremony of rank presentation is held where family and friends may attend to watch the students receive their new rank. For many grade levels, a new belt of a different color is awarded. In some cases, the same belt is used for two or more grades, and a strip of colored tape (usually the color of the next belt in progression) is added to the tip of the belt to show an advancement of one grade level.