Taekwon-Do History and Information
DEFINITIONS
Literal Translation of Taekwon-Do
Tae — means to jump, kick or smash with the foot
Kwon — means to break, punch or destroy with the hand
Do — means art or "the way"
Taekwon-Do — The mental training and techniques of unarmed combat for self-defense and health. It involves the skilled application of punches, kicks, blocks and dodges with bare hands and feet for the rapid destruction of a moving opponent or opponents.
The Ranking System
The promotional system is divided into 19 ranks: 10 grades (gup) and 9 degrees (dan). Nine is considered important because it is the square of 3, the perfect number. In Chinese culture, the character 3 represents heaven, mortals and earth with 3 horizontal lines. The number nine is also considered important because the digits of all multiples of nine reduce to nine and it is the highest single digit. The number 10 is considered important because it is the lowest of the double digit numbers.
| Color Belt
| |
Black Belt |
| |
10th Gup |
White |
|
|
I Dan |
Novice |
| |
9th Gup |
White w/
Gold Stripe |
|
|
II Dan |
| |
8th Gup |
Gold/Yellow |
|
|
III Dan |
| |
7th Gup |
Gold/Yellow w/
Green stripe |
|
|
IV Dan |
Expert |
| |
6th Gup |
Green |
|
|
V Dan |
| |
5th Gup |
Green w/
Blue Stripe |
|
|
VI Dan |
| |
4th Gup |
Blue |
|
|
VII Dan |
Master |
| |
3rd Gup |
Blue w/
Red stripe |
|
|
VIII Dan |
| |
2nd Gup |
Red |
|
Grand Master |
| |
1st Gup |
Red w/
Black Stripe |
|
|
IX Dan |
Meaning of the Colors
WHITE Belt
White signifies innocense and purity; a beginning student who has no previous knowledge of TKD.
YELLOW Belt
Yellow signifies the earth from which a plant sprouts and takes root as the foundation of TKD has been laid.
GREEN Belt
Green signifies the plant's growth as the TKD skill begins to develop.
BLUE Belt
Blue signifies the heavens above the fully grown tree as the skills and knowledge of TKD matures.
RED Belt
Red signifies fire and danger; urging the student to exercise caution and the opponent to stay away.
BLACK Belt
Black is the opposite of white, therefore representing the students proficiency as a TKD practitioner. It also symbolizes that the student is impervious to fear and darkness.
