Poomsae are Taekwondo’s equivalent of kata — prearranged sequences of techniques performed solo. WT/Kukkiwon Taekwondo has 17 official poomsae.
For a broader overview of forms across all martial arts, see the Kata & Forms hub.
Taegeuk poomsae (color belt)
| Poomsae | Belt Level | Key Techniques | Meaning |
|---|
| Taegeuk Il Jang | White→Yellow | Walking stance, low block, middle punch | Heaven — beginning |
| Taegeuk Ee Jang | Yellow→Green | Front kick, high block | Lake — inner firmness |
| Taegeuk Sam Jang | Green belt | Knife hand strike, back stance | Fire — passion |
| Taegeuk Sa Jang | Green→Blue | Side kick, knife hand block, twin block | Thunder — power |
| Taegeuk Oh Jang | Blue belt | Elbow strike, hammer fist, back fist | Wind — flexibility |
| Taegeuk Yook Jang | Blue→Red | Roundhouse kick, palm block | Water — flow |
| Taegeuk Chil Jang | Red belt | Knee strike, palm press, scissors block | Mountain — immovability |
| Taegeuk Pal Jang | Red→Black | Jumping front kick, double punch, complex combinations | Earth — completion |
Black belt poomsae
| Poomsae | Dan Level | Focus |
|---|
| Koryo | 1st Dan | Power and conviction. Named for the Koryo dynasty. |
| Keumgang | 2nd Dan | Diamond — unbreakable strength. Strong stances. |
| Taebaek | 3rd Dan | Sacred mountain. Light and powerful movements. |
| Pyongwon | 4th Dan | Vast plain. Spacious, dignified techniques. |
| Sipjin | 5th Dan | Decimal. Ten symbols of longevity. |
| Jitae | 6th Dan | Earth. Stability and power. |
| Cheonkwon | 7th Dan | Sky. Expansive and majestic. |
| Hansoo | 8th Dan | Water. Flowing, adaptive. |
| Ilyeo | 9th Dan | Oneness. Unity of mind and body. The final poomsae. |
Video resources
| Resource | Link |
|---|
| All 8 Taegeuk poomsae (step by step) | YouTube |
| Koryo poomsae breakdown | YouTube |
| WT poomsae competition highlights | YouTube |
