THE BELT RANKING SYSTEM OF KOREAN-AMERICAN TANG SOO DO

  Belt levels begin at degree number 10 and progress in reverse sequence to number l ; conversely, black belt status (signifying “master of the basics”) begins at 1st degree and can advance (theoretically) to 10th degree.

There is no official ranking until the rank of purple belt; informally, belt color designations differentiate the beginning ranks.

Beginning ranks:

white belt

yellow belt (children only)

purple belt (10thGup)

gold (orange) belt (9th Gup)

Intermediate ranks:

blue belts (8thGup) (7th Gup)

green belts (6thGup) (5th Gup) (4th Gup)

Advanced ranks:

red belt (3rdGup) (2nd Gup) (1st Gup)

Black Belt (1st Dan)

Progress culminates with the rank of Black Belt (1st Dan). Students may subsequently test for 2nd and 3rd degrees (2ndDan and 3rd Dan). Upper Black Belt ranks are usually awarded by a higher rank for honor and achievement in the martial arts;

the rank of 4thDan is considered Master level status.

Promotional tests are given every 3 months to evaluate performance and attitude. There is minimum wait of 6 months between testing for 1st red and 1st degree Black, and at least two years must elapse between 1st and 2nd degree Black Belt testing.

However, Students should only test when sufficiently ready to advance; there is no disgrace or failure in waiting to test, no “race to the finish.” Less mature practitioners of the art often view be advancement from the perspective of interpersonal rivalry, forgetting that proficiency in the martial arts is an individual achievement that is measured by personal growth and accomplishment.