Taekwondo’s belt system has been a valuable part of Taekwondo tradition since the 1940s. Students and practitioners are honored with belts and ranks for being skilled, disciplined, and dedicated to their art. As students advance, they master new techniques, increase discipline, and gain a deeper understanding of Taekwondo’s core principles. Below are the 9 Taekwondo belt levels:
- White Taekwondo Belt Level
- Yellow Taekwondo Belt Level
- Orange Taekwondo Belt Level
- Green Taekwondo Belt Level
- Purple Taekwondo Belt Level
- Blue Taekwondo Belt Level
- Brown Taekwondo Belt Level
- Red Taekwondo Belt Level
- Black Taekwondo Belt Level
But what do the different taekwondo belt colors represent and why is the black belt considered the ultimate ranking of taekwondo belt levels? Keep reading to learn about the Taekwondo belt order and colors!
Taekwondo Belt Levels
1. White Belt Level
The Taekwondo white belt represents innocence and a new beginning. The white belt is the first stage of training in all stages of Taekwondo, signifying the start of a beginner’s journey. The color white, reminiscent of a black canvas, represents innocence and the enthusiasm to absorb new knowledge! Typically, it takes practitioners anywhere from three months to six months to earn their Taekwondo white belt.
2. Yellow Belt Level
The Taekwondo yellow belt level centers around foundation and the beginning of a journey. The yellow color signifies a seed being planted, symbolizing the budding foundation of Taekwondo skills for the student. During this stage, Taekwondo students must focus on mastering the basic foundational skills, enhancing techniques, and improving their understanding of the art. In order to earn the yellow belt, students must go through a test that shares similarities with the previous rank. On average, it takes about two to three months of dedicated training before one is eligible to take the test.
3. Orange Belt Level
The Taekwondo orange belt signifies that the student is developing strength and mastering basic self-defense moves. This is the final belt in the beginner program. Orange represents the sunrise, announcing the emergence of new developments and abilities. The Taekwondo student takes about two to three months to achieve the orange belt. They are now prepared to enter the intermediate program!
4. Green Belt Level
Along with many of the other Taekwondo belt levels, the Taekwondo green belt represents growth and development. This is the beginning of the intermediate stage. While the color green symbolizes a plant’s growth, this belt level represents the rapid development of the student’s skills in Taekwondo. To earn the green belt, students must undergo a comprehensive test that encompasses various Taekwondo aspects. Typically, it takes individuals about four months of training to refine their techniques before undertaking the test.
5. Purple Belt Level
The next Taekwondo belt level is the purple belt. As with the green belt, purple belts continue building the students’ application skills and work to further their knowledge. This Taekwondo step represents the earth’s strength, like the majestic mountains and tall trees. At this point in the students’ journey, they have most likely been training for a little over a year. Through consistent training, the purple belt can be earned in about three months.
6. Blue Belt Level
The Taekwondo blue belt represents expansion and reaching for the sky! Students’ skills are starting to mature and expand, much like a plant reaching up towards the sky. This is the final intermediate color of the Taekwondo belt levels. It serves as a great reminder that with perseverance, dedication, and excellence, they can reach new heights and surpass their personal achievements. With hard work and dedication, it takes about three to four months to master the blue belt level.
7. Brown Belt Level
The Taekwondo brown belt is the first belt in the advanced program. While reaching towards advanced preparation, the brown belt brings back students’ excitement as they learn harder techniques and more intense poomsae. Like a large tree, they have gained strength and are ready to seize the bull by the horns! The more motivated and hardworking the student is, the sooner they can move on to the final two Taekwondo belt levels!
8. Red Belt Level
The Taekwondo red belt level represents danger and caution. It signifies the stage where students’ skills have become formidable, demanding mental control and discipline. Especially compared to the other Taekwondo belt colors, mental preparation is key at this level. Students must be prepared to exercise restraint and make wise choices in challenging situations. As red belt practitioners, students are encouraged to spend a minimum of six months at this Taekwondo level.
9. Black Belt Level
The final belt of the Taekwondo belt levels is the black belt! Congratulations, you’ve reached the ultimate level of maturity and proficiency. The black belt represents the pinnacle of achievement in Taekwondo, proving years of dedication, hard work, and great commitment. At this stage, students learn the final Tae Geuk poomsae and the last color belt techniques.
Believe it or not, within the Taekwondo belt system, the normal black belt is not the final achievement! Although it is the last color of the Taekwondo belt levels, there is more for students to achieve. It serves as a foundation upon which practitioners can ascend through the Dans. The ultimate highest belt in Taekwondo is the 10th Dan, and attaining this Dan rank is a very rare accomplishment.
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It is time to track your students Taekwondo belt levels with RhinoFit! RhinoFit software offers all the belt-tracking tools you’ll need! Tracking your students Taekwondo belt colors, rankings, and progressions has never been easier.
Use RhinoFit’s preloaded belt-ranking templates or customize your own… the choice is yours. With our dynamic Taekwondo belt system, you can automatically schedule belt tests for each student. Once scheduled, you can set up automatic messages to be sent to students about upcoming events. View each member’s belts in the correct order by simply clicking their profile!
We understand teaching many students and keeping track of all their progress can be challenging. Our goal is to simplify the process with our dynamic belt-tracking tools. Plus, your students will love being able to view their belt colors and progress throughout their journey! It’s a win-win for everyone!