Taekwondo Ranking System and Belt Colour Order
The Taekwondo Ranking System and Belt Order explained!
When most people think of martial arts, the image of the black belt is what comes to mind. On the contrary, a Taekwondo dojang is a veritable rainbow of belt hues.
When it comes to Taekwondo, why are there so many distinct belt colours? Whose brainchild was this? Do the belt colours have any sort of logical order?
What's more, you may have noticed that there is no universally accepted order for the Taekwondo belts, which definitely adds to the confusion!
In this article, we will explain everything about the Taekwondo belt system you've ever wanted to know, from its origins to the significance of each colour, to the time commitment required to get the highest belt rank.
History of the Taekwondo Belt Ranking System
Although modern TKD was developed in South Korea in the 1950s, the idea of belt grading has been around for much longer.
The problem is that the colour belt system wasn't devised by Hong Choi or the other kwans (dojos) that developed TKD.
They borrowed the concept of belt colours and ranks from Judo, adapting the system as they saw fit.
Taekwondo's history of belt colours begins in the twentieth century when belt colours and orders were first used in Japan in other martial arts.
Kano Jigoro, the martial arts genius who developed Judo, was at work on a novel grading system at the time.
His primary plan was to establish levels of proficiency that would divide pupils and rivals from one another.
He got the concept for the several coloured belts while playing ‘Go’, a Japanese board game comparable to chess. These original colours were:
White
Yellow
Green
Blue
Red
Black
Kano Jigoro's system was so effective that it was adopted by numerous other martial arts.
This includes Karate and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
While the system has been adapted to meet the specific requirements of each art form, its fundamental principles have remained the same.
What is the belt order for Taekwondo?
ITF Taekwondo Belt Levels & Ranks
According to Black Belt Wiki, these are all the levels with belt colour:
Taekwondo Colour Belt Levels
10th Geup (Gup) – White Belt
9th Geup – White Belt with Yellow Tip
8th Geup – Yellow Belt
7th Geup – Yellow Belt with Green Tip
6th Geup – Green Belt
5th Geup – Green Belt with Blue Tip
4th Geup – Blue Belt
3rd Geup – Blue Belt with Red Tip
2nd Geup – Red Belt
1st Geup – Red Belt with Black Tip
Taekwondo Black Belt Levels
1st Dan – 1st Degree Black Belt
2nd Dan – 2nd Degree Black Belt – Rank for Boo Sabeom Nim (Assistant Instructor)
3rd Dan – 3rd Degree Black Belt – Rank for Boo Sabeom Nim (Assistant Instructor)
4th Dan – 4th Degree Black Belt – Rank for Sabeom Nim (Instructor)
5th Dan – 5th Degree Black Belt – Rank for Sabeom Nim (Instructor)
6th Dan – 6th Degree Black Belt – Rank for Sabeom Nim (Instructor)
7th Dan – 7th Degree Black Belt – Rank for Sahyeon Nim (Master Instructor)
8th Dan – 8th Degree Black Belt – Rank for Sahyeon Nim (Master Instructor)
9th Dan – 9th Degree Black Belt – Rank for Saseong Nim (Grandmaster)
ITF Instructor Titles
Assistant Instructor – Boo Sabeom Nim (also written as Bu Sabum Nim, Bu Sabom Nim, etc.)
Instructor – Sabeom Nim (also written as Sabum Nim, Sabom Nim, etc.)
Master Instructor – Sahyeon Nim (also written as Sahyun Nim, Sahyon Nim, etc.)
Grandmaster – Saseong Nim (also written as Sasung Nim, Sasong Nim, etc.)
What each colour belt means in Taekwondo!
White
The white belt does not require a test, but the white belt with yellow stripes is necessary for advancement.
The candidate must perform a prescribed pattern and engage in three- and one-step sparring with another Taekwondo practitioner as part of the examination.
The student must also be capable of protecting themselves from clutches and escaping with kicks or punches.
The average time to advance to the white with yellow stripe belt is between two and three months.
Yellow
The yellow belt exam is similar to the above, but with a new pattern and requiring board breaking with both hands and feet.
Preparing for the exam typically takes between two and three months.
After the plain yellow belt, the one with green stripes is an option.
The tests for each subsequent rank are generally the same, but the one from yellow to yellow with green involves a slightly different pattern and the breaking of a two-inch board with the hand and a one-inch board with the feet.
In addition, sparring with only one step is necessary.
Green
In order to go from a yellow and green striped belt to a solid green belt, the player must pass a test that includes a different pattern, a one-step spar and a freestyle spar.
As if that weren't enough, the student must also display their self-defense skills and smash through two-inch boards using both of their hands and feet.
You'll need to learn a new pattern and defend yourself against holds and clubs to obtain the green belt with blue stripes.
In addition, the player must use their hands to break a 2-inch board and perform a jump kick to shatter a 1-inch board.
The one-step and free sparring tests must be taken, just like the others. Training for the test to advance from "green" to "green with stripes" takes about four months.
Blue
The requirements for the blue belt are quite identical to those for the green with blue stripes, but a new pattern is introduced, and two-step sparring is added.
Besides that, you'll need to show that you can break a one-inch board with a spinning kick and a two-inch board with a punch.
Four months is the average time needed to complete all of these steps.
Defense against grips, clubs, knives and many unarmed opponents is required to get the blue with red stripes belt.
The student must also punch and turn a kick to break boards that are two inches thick.
It's a five-month process starting at the blue belt level.
Red
As well as a new routine, the red belt test features rounds of free sparring, instead of the two-step sparring seen at lower belt levels.
The test itself stays the same, but the student must also break a 3-inch board with any kick.
A belt with black and red stripes can be seen beginning with the color red.
Breaking two boards of three inches each is required, and the pattern is the same as in the red belt exam.
A minimum of five months of training is required.
Black
The highest level of training, the black belt exam consists of one pattern, one step of sparring, two steps of sparring, free sparring and several free sparring rounds.
You must be able to break two 3-inch boards with a single kick or blow, and you must be able to defend yourself from grips, clubs, knives and unarmed opponents.
After passing the red and black stripe belt test, you'll need to put in another nine months of training to get to this level.
