Taekwondo Black Belt Age Requirements [What are They?]
The taekwondo black belt age requirements may differ depending on the specific TKD school. In short, in taekwondo, there are junior black belts (poom) and adult black belt ranks.
TKD has various grading levels. The highest level is the black belt. The relevance of this issue concerns not only taekwondo fans but also other martial arts. For instance, we have already talked in detail about what age kids can get a black belt in BJJ. You can read it here.
In any martial art discipline, an age limit is provided. A child is not an adult in the sense of physical capacity and awareness. Although there are so many talented and smart children in martial arts who make even more progress than a lot of adults.
Can a 12-year-old get a black belt in taekwondo?
The age requirements for achieving a black belt in Taekwondo may differ depending on the school, the instructor, and the student’s abilities.
In order to achieve the black belt, there are certain criteria a person must meet, such as age.
And still, a teen kid in taekwondo can be a black belt, which is called poom.
What is a poom in taekwondo?
Each martial art discipline has its own belt order system and requirements. For instance, in taekwondo, there is a poom (junior) black belt degree for students under 15 years old.
What is a poom certificate in taekwondo?
So, generally speaking, taekwondo students must be at least 15 to become an adult black belt in taekwondo. Accordingly, a 10-year-old or 12-year-old gets the junior black belt taekwondo poom rank. After the belt promotion, the teen receives a poom certificate in taekwondo.
What is the difference between 1st poom and 1st dan?
Taekwondo’s 1st poom rank is also considered a transitional rank from junior to adult degrees, or simply the temporary black belt. Right after the 1st poom rank comes the 1st dan when the age requirement for adult black belt is achieved.
The poom black belt is black and red in color.
The belt degrees in taekwondo until the adult black belt are called GUP. Adult black belt levels are called DAN.
The next step of an adult black belt is the dan black belt degree, from 1 to 10 dan.
Can you get a taekwondo black belt in 2 years?
The taekwondo black belt requirements are fixed and reinforced by a long-standing tradition that is unbreakable. However, there is always a place and meaning for exceptions.
How long to get a black belt in taekwondo?
The average time period to get a black belt in taekwondo is about 4-5 years which makes taekwondo one of the fastest martial arts to get a black belt. Sometimes it can be 6 years as it depends on the time spent to achieve the needed taekwondo belt requirements.
2-2.5 years in taekwondo to become a black belt is a realistic scenario if focusing on leveling up and training 5-6 days a week or even more.
Tips for Black Belt Test: Video
Taekwondo belt requirements by WT (former WTF)
In fact, the first thing one should do before all taekwondo black belt requirements questions is to look into the official statement of this sport. For instance, the regulations by WTF (World Taekwondo Federation) – one of the organizations that rule the official Taekwondo competitions.
Note: The WTF is now just WT (World Taekwondo). Website: worldtaekwondo.org
WT is governing the sport of Taekwondo in the Olympics.
The main taekwondo belt requirements of WT is that the contestant must be a holder of a taekwondo dan or poom certificate issued by the Kukkiwo or WT.
To get the official WT dan or poom certificate, the taekwondo athlete needs to place an application.
Another taekwondo organization – ITF (International Taekwondo Federation) – has the same principles of belt requirements.
Kukkiwon black belt test requirements
Kukkiwon is the home of the World Taekwondo Academy and World Taekwondo Headquarters, established by the government of South Korea.
At the same time, Kukkiwon established the WT in 1973 and held the 1st World Taekwondo Championships.
In simple words, Kukkiwon is the mecca of taekwondo.
The Kukkiwon black belt test requirements can be found on the official website.
Here are some regulations from the Kukkiwon rules regarding black belts:
- Poom promotion tests: Eligible applicants shall be younger than 15 years of age;
- Applicants applying for 4th Poom shall be younger than 18 years of age;
- Dan promotion tests: Eligible applicants shall be 15 years of age and above;
- High Dan promotion: 5th-6th Dan – Time passage required is 5 years – Age limit is 30 years old or higher.
Who is the youngest black belt in Taekwondo?
The youngest black belt in Taekwondo is, as stated, an Indian girl Tanya Yogi. She obtained her black belt rank in 2016 in South Korea. The degree was registered by Kukkiwon. Tanya was only 5 years old.
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