For official requirements, consult the American Kang Duk Won web site.
| Belt | Palgay | Forms | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| White (8th Gyup) | No testing required. | ||
| Yellow (7th Gyup) | 1 | 1-10 | |
| Green (6th Gyup) | 2 | 1-32 | History of AKDW, Ippon Kumite 1-5, side kick, sparring |
| Blue (5th Gyup) | 3 | Turning kicks, roundhouse kicks, skip kicks | |
| Purple (4th Gyup) | 4 | Flying kicks, advanced self-defense techniques, Ippon Kumite 6-10 | |
| Brown Belt (3rd Gyup) | 5 | Essay, self-defense against weapons | |
| Brown Belt (2nd Gyup - Black Stripe) | 6 | Self-defense against more than one opponent | |
| Brown Belt (1st Gyup - 2 Black Stripes) | 7 | Sparring more than one opponent | |
The elements of self-defence are recommended reading for all students.