Taekwondo belt system is represented by the different colored belts practitioners wear. The Taekwondo rank varies by school but generally starts with a white belt that represents a beginner student and typically, moves through various colored belts all the way up to black belt.
The concept of the Taekwondo belt system stems from the idea that the color white represents purity or birth while the color black represents maturity and mastery. As students progresses through the Taekwondo, the belts get darker until obtaining a black belt that represents maturity and a collection of all the knowledge gained throughout the student’s journey.
However, learning or mastery does not end with a black belt; on the contrary, the black belt is when a student further refines techniques, gains a deeper understanding of Taekwondo philosophy, shares the knowledge obtained through years of training with others by teaching and strives to reach for higher mental, physical, and spiritual development.
White Belt Meaning: White belt represents purity and the beginning of knowledge and the development of basic skills. Man is as a seed hidden beneath the winter’s snow.
Required Poomsae: None
Requirements for basics, physical & mental Skills, and terminology: Download PDF here.
Education: Youth Students must provide a recent copy of their school report card with grades C or higher. Students with grades D or F in their report card will be allowed to take promotion test but will not receive new belt/rank until grades have improved to at least a C.
Yellow Belt (8th kub)
Promotion Test Requirements
Yellow Belt Meaning: Yellow belt represents the warmth of the winter’s sun that melts the winter’s snow and allows the seed to germinate. This is the birth of conscious and purposeful action.
New Poomsae: Taegeuk 1 (Taegeuk IL Jang). 18 Movements.
Requirements for basics, physical & mental skills, and terminology: Download PDF here.
Education: Students must provide a recent copy of their school report card with grades C or higher. Students with grades D or F in their report card will be allowed to take promotion test but will not receive new belt/rank until grades have improved to at least a C.
Orange Belt (7th Kub)
Promotion Test Requirements
Orange Belt Meaning: Orange belt also represents the warmth of the winter’s sun that melts the winter’s snow and allows the seed to germinate. This is the birth of conscious and purposeful action.
New Poomsae: Taegeuk 2 (Taegeuk Ee Jang). 18 Movements.
Requirements for basics, physical & mental skills, and terminology: Download PDF here.
Education: Students must provide a recent copy of their school report card with grades C or higher. Students with grades D or F in their report card will be allowed to take promotion test but will not receive new belt/rank until grades have improved to at least a C.
Green Belt (6th Kub)
Promotion Test Requirements
Green Belt Meaning: Green belt represents the color of a sprout and the spring when growth and activity abound. This is continued growth of knowledge.
New Poomsae: Taegeuk 3 (Taegeuk Sam Jang). 20 Movements.
Requirements for basics, physical & mental skills, and terminology: Download PDF here.
Education: Students must provide a recent copy of their school report card with grades C or higher. Students with grades D or F in their report card will be allowed to take promotion test but will not receive new belt/rank until grades have improved to at least a C.
Blue Belt (5th Kub)
Promotion Test Requirements
Blue Belt Meaning: Blue belt represents the color of youth, ambition, and rapid growth. The seedling is now reaching for the blue sky.
New Poomsae: Taegeuk 4 (Taegeuk Sah Jang). 20 Movements.
Requirements for basics, physical & mental skills, and terminology: Download PDF here.
Education: Students must provide a recent copy of their school report card with grades C or higher. Students with grades D or F in their report card will be allowed to take promotion test but will not receive new belt/rank until grades have improved to at least a C.
Purple Belt (4th Kub)
Promotion Test Requirements
Purple Belt Meaning: Purple belt also represents the color of youth, ambition, and rapid growth. The seedling is now reaching for the blue sky.
New Poomsae: Taegeuk 5 (Taegeuk Oh Jang). 20 Movements.
Requirements for basics, physical & mental skills, and terminology: Download PDF here.
Education: Students must provide a recent copy of their school report card with grades C or higher. Students with grades D or F in their report card will be allowed to take promotion test but will not receive new belt/rank until grades have improved to at least a C.
Brown Belt (3rd Kub)
Promotion Test Requirements
Brown Belt Meaning: Brown belt represents the earth in which the roots are developing to nourish the plant. The roots of Taegeuk have formed and the growth of knowledge and skills continues.
New Poomsae: Taegeuk 6 (Taegeuk Yuk Jang). 23 Movements.
Requirements for basics, physical & mental skills, and terminology: Download PDF here.
Education: Students must provide a recent copy of their school report card with grades C or higher. Students with grades D or F in their report card will be allowed to take promotion test but will not receive new belt/rank until grades have improved to at least a C.
Red Belt (2nd Kub)
Promotion Test Requirements
Red Belt Meaning: Red belt represents the seedling reaching maturity. Soon it will be harvested.
New Poomsae: Taegeuk 7 (Taegeuk Chil Jang). 25 Movements.
Essay: Student must write 1000 word essay about the history of Taekwondo.
Requirements for basics, physical & mental skills, and terminology: Download PDF here.
Teaching: Student must have 10 teaching hours.
Education: Students must provide a recent copy of their school report card with grades C or higher. Students with grades D or F in their report card will be allowed to take promotion test but will not receive new belt/rank until grades have improved to at least to a C.
Deputy Belt (1st Kub)
Promotion Test Requirements
Red High Belt (Deputy Black) Meaning: Deputy black belt represents the twilight of fall’s sun and the completeness of harvest.
New Poomsae: Taegeuk 8 (Taegeuk Pal Jang). 24 Movements.
Essay: Student must write 1000 word essay about the tenants of Taekwondo and what it means to them to become a black belt.
Requirements for basics, physical & mental skills, and terminology: Download PDF here.
Teaching:
Student must have 20 teaching hours.
Education: Students must provide a recent copy of their school report card with grades C or higher. Students with grades D or F in their report card will be allowed to take promotion test but will not receive new belt/rank until grades have improved to at least to a C.
Black/Poom Belt (1st Dan/Poom)
Promotion Test Requirements
Black Belt Meaning Black belt represents mastery and maturity. No color added to this color can change or improve it. This completes a cycle that is now begun again as new knowledge and skills continue in a new cycle.
New Poomsae: Koryo
Essay: Student must write 2000 word essay about how they will continue to self growth, share what they have learned, and lead by example.
Requirements for basics, physical & mental skills, and terminology: Download PDF here.
Teaching: Student must have 20 teaching hours.
Education: Middle and high school students must have passing school grades (no exceptions).
Black Belts (Dans/Pooms)
Black Belt Dans
As mentioned before, earning your black belt is just the beginning of a new journey of further mastery and maturity of not only techniques but also of deeper understanding of Taekwondo’s philosophy. Kukkiwon requires an obligatory training period and age limit for Dan promotion. Kukkiwon also stipulates what the contents of Dan tests are in Article 10 of their Regulations for Promotion Tests. The Dan test requiremens are:
Obligatory Training Period & Age Limits:
1st Poom: No obligatory training period for youth below age 15.
2nd Poom: Obligatory 1 year training period for youth below age 15.
3rd Poom: Obligatory 2 years training period for youth below age 15.
1st Dan: No obligatory training period for individuals age 15 and over.
2nd Dan: Obligatory 1 year training period for individuals age 16 and over.
3rd Dan: Obligatory 2 year training period for individuals age 16 and over.
4th Dan: Obligatory 3 year training period for individuals age 21 and over.
5th Dan: Obligatory 4 year training period for individuals age 25 and over.
6th Dan: Obligatory 5 year training period for individuals age 30 and over.
7th Dan: Obligatory 6 year training period for individuals age 36 and over.
8th Dan: Obligatory 8 year training period for individuals age 47 and over.
9th Dan: Obligatory 9 year training period for individuals age 55 and over.
10th Dan: No obligatory training period for individuals age 60 and over.
Contents of Tests:
Practical techniques: Poomsae, Kyorugi (sparring), kyokpa (breaking), special techniques
Theory test (applicable for 4th Dan and above): Written exam and thesis
