Many martial arts use colored belts as a grading system. This serves multiple purposes
Freestanding Belt Display
including distinguishing rank and authority, instilling ideology and philosophy as well as for evaluating student progress. As an example of this is an explanation of the belt ranking system for the Korean martial art of Tae Kwon Do. Obviously there are different variations of schools and slightly differing grading systems but this will give you a good outline.
Normally the belt ranking system for Tae Kwon Do goes from white belt through to black belt and 9 additional degrees of black belt, also known as ‘Dans’. Most schools in Taekwondo also signify instructors with a black color on their Taekwondo uniforms. The American Tae Kwon Do Association or ATA’s colored belts include the following in order of hierarchy from lowest to highest:
- White
- Orange
- Yellow
- Camo
- Green
- Purple
- Blue
- Brown
- Red
- Black
Picture Frame with belt display
Additionally in between belt graduations there are also systematic tests for determining if you are ready to try out for the next level. Depending on your school you may have to gain 2 or 3 stripes on your belt before being able to be promoted up a rank. Often you will also have to achieve a certain rank before being able to participate in sparring and perhaps also to practice weapons or compete in competitions.
Each martial arts belt in this system has a meaning, and while perhaps not as ingrained in students as in centuries past, they still hold important values or lessons for today’s students. Some of these include:
White – signifying innocence, Yellow or Orange for the earth meaning you are building a foundation for future learning. Green for growth like a plant, Blue for the sky as you are reaching for the heavens, Purple for the dawn and change in yourself, Brown represents ripening or maturing and Red for blood and danger warning the student to use their techniques and skills wisely.
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September 30th, 2010 at 7:23 am
Can you please tell me how many months to change to the nexts belt please?
I’m a white belt and wondering how many months to become yellow belt and so on.
October 1st, 2010 at 12:19 am
It certainly depends on the school and instructor unless there is a known system to getting a higher rank. But, that doesn’t sound like the case with you. So, it can take anywhere from 2 months to maybe a 1.5 years to gain the expertise at the new skills you need in order to be promoted to your next belt. So hang in there any don’t get frustrated you will get it!
March 14th, 2011 at 2:17 pm
Do not concentrate on your Belt Color grasshopper…Concentrate on learning the proper techniques, forms, and execution. Dont arrive (like many) to a higher Belt level not learning to execute the movements properly…or you will be only cheating yourself. Learn to kick, strike, etc the RIGHT way & smoothly without thinking…& your Belt color will change appropriately. You’ll be proud in the end…