The grading system is divided into ten student (Keup) and nine to ten advanced, or Black Belt, levels (Dan), and the belts used in Taekwondo are generally thicker than those in other arts. The belt colors symbolize the stages of a student's gradual maturity as a person and martial arts student, comparing it to the growth of a tree (white = seed, brown = tree stem). Each advancing belt also represents greater skill level and application of Taekwondo's principles in everyday life.
|
Level
|
Colour
|
|
|
10th
Keup
|
White
|
 |
|
9th
Keup
|
White
with yellow stripe
|
 |
|
8th
Keup
|
Yellow
(or Gold)
|
 |
|
7th
Keup
|
Yellow
(or Gold) with green stripe
|
 |
|
6th
Keup
|
Green
|
 |
|
5th
Keup
|
Green
with blue stripe
|
 |
|
4th
Keup
|
Blue
|
 |
|
3rd
Keup
|
Blue
with brown stripe
|
 |
|
2nd
Keup
|
Brown
(or Red)
|
 |
|
1st
Keup
|
Brown
(or Red) with black stripe
|
 |
Once a student has progressed through these beginner levels, they advance to the Black Belt levels. There are a total of eight Black Belt levels; the 4th is the "Teacher" level, the 6th is the "Master" level, and the 8th is the "Grand Master" level.
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