Belt Rankings
Belt Ranks
The ITF ranking system consists of six solid color belts; white, yellow, green, blue, red, and black.
Coloured belt ranks are defined as follows (from lowest to highest rank):
| |
Grade Level |
Description |
|
10th geup |
 White – Signifies innocence, as that of the beginning student who has no previous knowledge of Taekwon-Do. |
|
9th geup |
White with yellow tag |
|
8th geup |
Yellow – Signifies the earth from which a plant sprouts and takes root as the foundation of Taekwon-Do is being laid. |
|
7th geup |
yellow with green tag |
|
6th geup |
Green – Signifies the plant’s growth as Taekwon-Do skills begin to develop. |
|
5th geup |
Green with blue tag |
|
4th geup |
Blue – Signifies the Heaven towards which the plant matures into a towering tree as training in Taekwon-Do progresses. |
|
3rd geup |
Blue with red tag |
|
2nd geup |
Red – Signifies Danger, cautioning the student to exercise control and warning the opponent to stay away. |
|
1st geup |
Red with black tag |
|
1st dan |
Black – Opposite of white, therefore signifying maturity and proficiency in Taekwon-Do; also indicates the wearer’s imperviousness to darkness and fear. |
|
2nd dan |
Assistant Instructor (must remain at this rank at least 2 years) |
|
3rd dan |
Assistant Instructor (must remain at this rank at least 3 years) |
|
4th dan |
Instructor (must remain at this rank at least 4 years) |
|
5th dan |
Instructor (must remain at this rank at least 5 years)At this point, a person my become a “SaBum-Nim” |
|
6th dan |
Instructor (must remain at this rank at least 6 years) |
|
7th dan |
Master Instructor (must remain at this rank at least 7 years) |
|
8th dan |
Master Instructor (must remain at this rank at least 8 years) |
|
9th dan |
Grand Master |
The reason for nine black belt degrees is that the number nine is not only the highest of the single-digit numbers, but also is the number of three multiplied by three. In the Orient, three is the most esteemed of all numbers. The Chinese character for 3 is three horizontal lines, one above the other. The bottom line represents earth; the middle line represents mortals; the upper line represents heaven. It was believed that a man who could unite the three realms in himself, would aspire or be reborn into a king.
