The Taekwondo Belt Ranking System

There are traditionally ten color belt levels.

They are called gup (or kup) ranks. The nine black belt levels are called degree or dan ranks.

Each color of belt, namely white, yellow, green, blue, red, black, have a particular meaning. For example, white signifies innocence; it signifies the student who is just starting with no previous knowledge of taekwondo.

The International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) uses a system of 10 kup ranks and nine dan ranks. The colour belt ranks run from 10th kup to 1st kup.

The black belt ranks run from 1st dan to 9th dan.

The 1st to 3rd dan have the title of Assistant Instructor (Boo-Sabum).

The 4th to 6th are have the title Instructor (Sabum).

7th and 8th are Master (Sahyun).

And the 9th degree as the Grand Master (Saseong).

The first Grand Master was General Choi Hong Hi, the founder of Taekwon-Do. The second Grand Master was Rhee Ki Ha, who was promoted to 9th dan by General Choi at the 1997 World Championships in Russia.

At present, there are probably about 20 Grand Masters.

According to General Choi, the reason for nine black belt degrees, is that the number three is a powerful number in the orient. For that reason, three threes must be the most powerful.

It can be noted that the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) has 10 dan grades instead of nine.

The traditional belt colors recognized by the Kukkiwon (headquarters of the World Taekwondo Federation) are white, yellow, green, blue, and red.

Between solid colors, a central stripe down the middle of the belt reflecting the next full belt color is added to indicate progress in Gup level. For instance, from white the next belt would be white with a yellow stripe.

Some schools instead place a "tip" or belt-end stripe of the next color on a student's belt to signify a rise in rank.

Other schools opt for two-tone belts, reflecting both the lower rank and the next rank. For example, between the white belt and the yellow belt would be a belt half white, half yellow.

Some schools opt to use a solid color alternative instead of stripes. A common belt-color scheme is: white, yellow, gold, orange, green, purple, blue, brown, red.

There is no standardization in belt colors in the United States or elsewhere.

In Australia, many schools use white, yellow, blue, red and black. In these schools progression through gup levels is signified by white stripes near the tip if the belt, so white or yellow I, yellow II & III, blue I, II & III, red I, II & III, then red belt with black tip for Cho Dan Bo (sort of black belt in-training) and black for Cho Dan (1st Dan).

Another system in use in Australia is White, Yellow, Green, Blue, Brown, Black, with intermediate kups/gups being indicated by a stripe of the higher color. This is usually 1/4 to 1/2 inches wide and is going across the belt, close to one of the end.

This is usually called a 'tip'. For example, 3rd kup is blue belt, brown tip.

Rank advancement records are kept by the school of origin and often by the style's association headquarters.

Black Belt ranks are recognized as:

1st - 3rd, Instructor.

4th - 6th, Master.

7th - 9th, Grand Master.

In the past, tenth dan has been reserved as a posthumous award. But in recent years it has seen presentation to a few living, Korean recipients.

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The Strategic Science In Taekwondo Sparring

Looking from the outside, taekwondo sparring may look like random kicks and punches thrown ruthlessly with the objective of injuring the opponent.

But from the inside, a sparring match is like a chess game.

In chess, you cannot win a game by unthinkingly moving around the pieces anymore than one could win a sparring match by involuntarily throwing techniques.

Strategy. The prerequisite to chess as well as to taekwondo sparring!

Taekondo sparring strategy comes in two main forms:

Macro or Overall Strategy.

Macro strategy is composed of overall and generalized aspects about any sparring match that will make you spar one person one way and another person another way.

There are several things that will affect your macro strategy:

1. The setting or main goal of the match.

If you are sparring someone who is taking his or her belt exam or if you are sparring in a tournament, your main purpose and strategy for sparring will be different.

Before you spar, ask yourself, “What is my goal? What do I wish to accomplish in this match?”

2. Your own personal strengths and weaknesses.

These are very important factors affecting how you spar. If you feel really comfortable with turning back kick, and not with turning hook kick, then you should stick with the turning back kick.

You are likely score if you use a technique with which you are very comfortable.

3. You and your partner’s contradictory physical attributes.

These will greatly define the way in which you spar your partner. You should know which strategy to use to your advantage.

Micro or Exchange Strategy.

Micro strategy is the strategy that is used for dealing with each of the tiny exchanges that make up a sparring match.

Types of micro strategy are:

1. Open Stance and Closed Stance:

When two people spar each other, each person is in a particular sparring stance: either left foot lead or right foot lead.

When both competitors have the same lead, this is known as closed stance.

If both competitors have different, it is called open stance.

The stances you choose determine which techniques that you can use against your partner to get a clear shot. The whole idea of sparring is to strike your partner where he or she is open.

When attacking or counter-attacking, you must be aware of the stance in which you are fighting. If you ignore the stance, then your attack or counter-attack will be ineffective.

2. The attack.

In an Olympic-style taekwondo sparring, you will have noticed that the competitors’ average sparring distance from each other is out of range for any technique to successfully land on either partner.

The whole idea of attacking is to close the distance between you and your partner so that you will be close enough to land a technique.

The most effective attack relies heavily upon footwork and faking and not just mere kicks.

3. The counter-attack.

Most of all points scored in taekwondo competition come from the counter-attacks executed.

The idea of the counter-attack is to surpass your partner’s attack. In other words, you want your counter-attack to be superior to and more devastating than your partner’s attack.

If your partner lands a technique on you, it is imperative that it is immediately counter-attacked with several more devastating techniques.

This way, you will be awarded the point.

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What Is Taekwondo Class Got to Do With It ?

The ultimate goal of every taekwondo class is to input the teachings and principles behind taekwondo. Not to mention, realizing every students’ dream of having that black belt.

How do taekwondo classes go about teaching the sport?

Some merely require the display of techniques learned since last testing. Others mandate the testing of cumulative knowledge. Testing might necessitate performance in sparring, self defense or do the taegeuk movement own their own time.

Some schools test the students on their staying power, requiring many physical activities over prolonged periods of time.
Image by A. Dawson via Flickr
The amount of time and level of commitment required to achieve black belt varies from style to school to classes. Some offer regular testing that allows students to advance at a faster pace, sometimes achieving black belt in less than two years.

Others require a minimum commitment of five or more. Also, there may be minimum age requirements for children to receive a black belt.

Tuition can vary greatly for different taekwondo schools. Some hold classes through nonprofit organizations and charge lower fees, depending on the program provider.

Some have store front training halls that require higher tuition and possibly contracts. Contracts can offer a lower monthly fee in exchange for a longer term commitment.

Before putting in your signature, be sure to read the terms of the contracts carefully. Some contracts do not allow premature termination, even in the case of illness or job transfer.

They may be worded to allow the student "up to one class a day", which basically means that there will not be any classes on a particular day.

Try to get a feel of how each taekwondo class go about.

Do you approve of the instructors’ teaching methods? Watch how they interact with the other students.

Remember that the race or gender of the instructor, as well as the physical size, is not important.

Being Asian is not the basis of a good instructor. Keep in mind that classes that teach the same style may be different in their philosophies, teaching manner and even the techniques themselves.

Be absolutely sure to visit numerous schools before making your decision. It is recommended that you observe at least one class and participate in at least one class before signing any contracts.

You can find excellent schools not only in the store-front training halls, but through your local recreation centers, high school, universities and colleges as well as your town's health clubs.

Here are some questions you might consider asking in taekwondo classes.

1. Do the instructors teach each class? Or do they administer an assistant instructor? Are the classes divided by their ability?

2. Does the school emphasize self defense as well as the art?

3. What type of contact is made during sparring classes and training? If any, what safety gear is required for sparring?

4. How much is tuition and are there contracts?

5. Does the school attend tournaments?

6. How often are classes held? What is the fee for each class? What are the requirements for each?

7. What is the instructor's background, credentials as well as affiliations?

8. Do the classes fit your schedule? How many classes can you attend each week or month for your tuition?

Before or after the taekwondo class, ask for some time from the instructor and ask these questions or other questions that concern you the most.

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Taekwondo Shoes You Wish You Have

Each taekwondo shoe is a three part deal; the upper, midsole and outsole. While all three components contribute to the overall performance of the shoe, the midsole is probably the most crucial.

Why is this so?

Simply because it is the cushion between your foot and the cold, hard and unforgiving floor. If you skimp on the midsole your knees, shins, ankles, feet pick up the tab.

Wearing specially-designed taekwondo shoes help a student in a number of different ways. Most martial arts students make the mistake of practicing at home or at the gym using regular workout shoes that have thick soles.

These practically force the foot into an improper kicking position while the thick ties can cause incorrect roundhouse kicks.

Wearing the proper martial art clothing is very important, especially when a student is starting or is in the midst of training. Achieving proper balance and learning the best way to complete drills is best done wearing the right martial arts uniform and footwear.

Because taekwondo uses a number of kicking techniques, a martial arts student would do better to purchase the proper taekwondo shoes than use their normal workout gear.

Taekwondo shoe design.

A good example of this shoe style is the Adidas TKD-2000 shoes. They are made of leather with a tongue of elastic, allowing for them to be slipped over the foot easily and comfortably.

There are no laces to deal with and the upper foot area is flat to allow full contact when practicing kicks.

Flex grooves are embedded into the sides of this taekwondo shoes to allow for full mobility of the toes. They are lighter than your average gym shoes and allow a lot of freedom and balance. They also protect the foot from calluses and strained toe bones.

Most modern-day martial arts shoes have a special pivot point designed into the sole on the medial ball of the foot.

This is because karate and taekwondo emphasize movements from the ball of the foot, where these arts tend to focus their pivot and power.

In contrast, Chinese styles tend to be more "heel" based, so that pivot point does not really help the person wearing it.

The kind of taekwondo shoe that is perfect for a practitioner should have superior design to suit the demand of the sport.

It should also be suitable for training and all kinds of indoor sports. Having rigid rubber sole can help stop movement more easily when stepping backward.

The pivot point should increase speed and mobility when turning. During sparring, the midsole should also add softness and stability

Work out on a soft floor and wear good taekwondo shoes.

Practicing high-impact drills on a hard floor is one of the worst things you can do to your body. The high impact wears the cartilage in your joints down to nothing, and the damage is irreversible.

Only invasive surgery can fix it. The best way to prevent this is to play on a soft surface and wear fully cushioned shoes that have arch support.

Unfortunately, shoes are not allowed in most traditional Do Jangs, and if shoes are allowed they are only the Taekwondo shoes that have no arch support or cushioning in the soles.

However, you can control your personal workouts, so at least take good care of your feet in those workouts.

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Karate vs Taekwondo - Which one to choose ?

The two most common martial arts being practiced in the US are taekwondo and karate.

Ever since, people have been wondering on what is the difference between these two. This poses a problem especially for those who are just looking around for a martial art school or studio.

The fact that both karate and taekwondo seem to be wearing the same style of uniforms with different belt colors does not make help either.

The development of Karate.

Modern traditional karate was developed in the islands of Okinawa in Japan after some influences from Chinese martial arts.

In fact, there are different styles of karate but they are all commonly considered as Japanese martial arts today. The colored belt system was developed to show the different ranks of karate practitioners.
Image via Wikipedia
White depicting novices and black belts representing instructor levels and higher. There is a whole range of other different colors in between.

The development of Taekwondo.

Modern Taekwondo was developed in Korea after much influence from Japanese karate during the occupation by Japan. Sometimes, taekwondo is referred to as Korean karate.

The Koreans adopted the same white uniforms along with a colored belt ranking system for taekwondo.

Today, there are two major styles of taekwondo, one under the International Tae Kwon Do Federation and the other under the World Tae Kwon Do Federation.

Many taekwondo schools have added a black lining to their white uniforms for black belt levels. A V-neck top is often seen in schools affiliated with the World Tae Kwon Do Federation.

There are also older Korean styles including tang soo do and moo duk kwan. Some of the more Americanized karate and taekwondo schools also use uniforms with other colors such as red, black and blue. This is in addition to the traditional white.

It can be noted that in karate, arms or hands are used 60% of the time for strikes or blocks while the use of legs for kicking is just around 40%.

This breakdown is seen in the many forms or katas of karate, which are set routines that simulate fighting against imaginary opponents using martial arts techniques.

The forms from taekwondo would have the opposite percentage breakdown with 40% hands and 60% legs. In taekwondo, there is more stress on higher kicks to the head level than in karate.

Taekwondo practitioners also utilize more jumping or flying kicks where one is airborne while executing kicking techniques. The taekwondo forms or patterns are generally a bit shorter and less complex than the karate forms. Some taekwondo schools have been known to use the odd karate form in its curriculum as well.

In the US as well as other parts of the world, there are separate conventional competitions for karate and taekwondo.

However, the open martial arts tournaments often have competitors from both karate and taekwondo competing together.

Some of the larger open martial arts competition events even have separate forms divisions for Japanese karate and Korean taekwondo competitors but the fighting or sparring divisions is usually combined.

Many black belts in taekwondo end up studying karate and vice versa.

Taekwondo has received more publicity in recent years since its introduction as an Olympic sport. But both karate and taekwondo are considered as hard style martial arts today.

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