|
 Belt System
Progress is measured by the award of a color belt or stripe
through our unique ranking system in accordance with the knowledge, skill, time
and effort a student has dedicated. The time requirements below are based on
consistent training at a Certified Federation Studio.
Gup Member - "Grade" Holder
|
Rank
|
Belt
|
Time Requirement
(Between Tests)
|
|
10th Gup |
White Belt |
First Class |
|
9th Gup |
White Belt w/
Blue Stripe
|
3 Months Minimum |
|
8th Gup |
Orange Belt
|
3 Months Minimum
|
|
7th Gup |
Orange Belt w/ Blue
Stripe
|
3 Months Minimum
|
|
6th Gup |
Green Belt
(Green Trim on Lapel)
|
3 Months Minimum
|
|
5th Gup |
Green Belt w/ Blue
Stripe
|
3 Months Minimum
|
|
4th Gup |
Green Belt w/ Two Blue
Stripes
|
3 Months Minimum
|
|
3rd Gup |
Red Belt (Red
Trim on Lapel)
|
3 Months Minimum
|
|
2nd Gup |
Red Belt w/ Blue
Stripes |
6 Months Minimum
|
|
1st Gup |
Red Belt w/ Two Blue
Stripes |
6 Months Minimum |
Dan Member - "Degree" Holder
|
Rank |
Belt |
Time Requirement (Between Tests) |
|
1st Dan
(Cho Dan)
|
Midnight Blue Belt
(Blue Trim on Uniform)
|
1 Year Minimum
|
|
2nd Dan (E-Dan)
|
Midnight Blue Belt w/
Two White Stripes
|
2 Year Minimum
|
|
3rd Dan
(Sam Dan)
|
Midnight Blue Belt w/
Three White Stripes
|
3 Year Minimum
|
Ko Dan Ja - Senior Dan Holder (Master)
|
Rank
|
Belt
|
Time Requirement
(Between Tests)
|
|
4th Dan (Sa
Dan)
|
Midnight Blue Belt w/ Red Stripe in
center of belt.
|
4 Year Minimum
|
|
5th Dan (O
Dan)
|
Midnight Blue Belt w/ Red Stripe in
center of belt.
|
5 Year Minimum
|
|
6th Dan
(Yuk Dan)
|
Midnight Blue Belt w/ Red Stripe in
center of belt.
|
6 Year Minimum
|
|
7th Dan (Chil
Dan)
|
Midnight Blue Belt w/ Red Stripe in
center of belt.
|
7 Year Minimum
|
|
8th Dan (Pahl Dan)
|
Midnight Blue Belt
w/ Red Stripe in center of belt.
|
8 Year Minimum |
|
9th Dan (Gu Dan)
|
Midnight Blue Belt
w/ Red Stripe in center of belt.
|
9 Year Minimum |
Meaning of the Belts
White Belt - Winter (Meaning -
Emptiness, innocence, hidden potential, purity.)
As a white belt you represent
Winter. Your potential and skills are hidden under the pure white snow. As you
begin your journey, through training and time your skills and potential will
begin to appear.
Orange Belt - Time between Winter
& Spring
Orange belt was originally added by Grandmaster Hwang Kee in 1975, this level
was designed as an extra stage of encouragement and motivation. As an orange
belt you represent the time between winter and spring. Through your training,
some of your skills and potential are beginning to appear like the stalk of a
plant pushing up through the snow.
Green Belt - Spring (Meaning -
Growth, spreading, advancement.)
As
a green belt you represent Spring. Through hard work and training your potential
and skills are becoming much more visible, like the new growth of a plant in
spring. Just like a new plant your skills must be nurtured through continued
hard work and practice so they will continue to grow and blossom.
Red Belt - Summer (Meaning -
Ripening, "Yang," active.)
As
a red belt you represent Summer. With much hard work, your skills and potential
have blossomed and are visible like the petals of a flower. Your training has
provided you with strong roots and foundation in Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan. You
are able to accept life's challenges with confidence and a positive attitude.
Midnight Blue - Autumn (Meaning
- Maturity, "Um," passive, harvest.)
As
a Dan you represent Autumn, "Maturity and harvesting the crops". The time spent
training has provided you with the skills and maturity to better understand and
use Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan. This knowledge allows you to continue to grow
physically & mentally as well as lead a healthy and disciplined life.
Why doesn't a Soo
Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Dan Member wear a black belt?
The
term "Dan" is proper for those who have attained Black Belt status, except in
our style.
In most Asian cultures, black is typically a color reserved for perfection or
holiness, and we humbly use the darkest midnight blue to demonstrate that we are
not perfect, but striving toward that goal in a mature, peaceful and educational
manner.
Additionally the term for "First Degree", which is Cho Dan, actually
means "Beginner Level." |
