The key point when discussing taekwondo belts is that while the belt colors might vary throughout the various schools, associations, and organizations, the 10 gup levels will remain consistent and offer a reference point throughout the industry.
Taekwondo Belts and their Meaning
When you visit a taekwondo dojo or participate in a taekwondo class for the first time you will notice that the students will be wearing a variety of different colored taekwondo belts. The color of these taekwondo belts signify each students level of training and proficiency. For example a white belt student would be at the beginning level of learning the art and technique of taekwodo, while a black belt student would be at an advanced level of training and proficiency.
As a student passes their grading level, they will be awarded the next taekwondo belt level. This signifies that the student has reached the standards required for their current taekwondo belt color, and that they have learned and proven the abilities required for that belt level. They then begin the next stage of their training to learn, achieve, and demonstrate the requirements of the next taekwondo belt level.
The taekwondo belts system requires that each student is required to demonstrate the standards and requirements of their current taekwondo belt before they are allowed to progress to the next belt level. So it goes that they progress from one belt level, to the next, and so on until they reach the level of black belt.
The Color Sequence of Taekwondo Belts
Different Taekwondo associations and schools will often have a different system of colors for their taekwondo belts. However the principle of achieving the requirements of a belt level before progressing to the next level remains consistent throughout all taekwondo organizations. Also consistent is that there are 10 gup (or kup) ranks to the taekwondo belt system, so whatever belt color system a taekwondo school adopts, these 10 ranks can be directly referenced across all schools and associations.
The progression of taekwondo belts would typically follow this color sequence:
- White belt (10th gup)
- White belt with a yellow tag or tip (9th gup)
- Yellow belt (8th gup)
- Yellow belt with a green tag (7th gup)
- Green belt (6th gup)
- Green belt with a blue tag (5th gup)
- Blue belt (4th gup)
- Blue belt with a red tag (3rd gup)
- Red belt (2nd gup)
- Red belt with a black tag (1st gup)
- Black belt (1st dan)
When considering the various levels of taekwondo belts it is useful to have an understanding of the philosophy that each gup represents.
White belt or 10th gup represents a beginning. It signifies innocence or purity, and indicates a lack of knowledge for the mind to have true control over the body.
Yellow belt (7th and 8th gup) represents a seed taking root in the earth and beginning to react to the sun. This can be seen as the laying of the foundation of taekwondo.
Green belt (6th and 5th gup) represents the beginning growth of the seed as taekwondo knowledge and skills begin to develop.
Blue belt (4th and 3rd gup) represents the growth and maturing of the young plant and how it continues its skyward growth toward the heavens. This correlates to the student starting to solidifying skills and knowledge as taekwondo training progresses.
Red belt (2nd and 1st gup) represents danger. This element of danger is illustrated by the student’s proficient taekwondo knowledge and technical skills, but where there is still a lack of control and discipline to properly harness the knowledge and skills.
Black belt (1st dan) represents the opposite of white. It is the level of training where all of the previous taekwondo belt colors or gup levels merge into one color. A black belt signifies proficiency and maturity in taekwondo knowledge and skill.
The levels of black belt beyond first dan are measured by dan or degree. These range from 1st dan and continue through to exalted status of 9th dan. We will continue the discussion about black belt ranks elsewhere.
The key point when discussing taekwondo belts is that while the belt colors might vary throughout the various schools, associations, and organizations, the 10 gup levels will remain consistent and offer a reference point throughout the industry.
