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)
10^th Gup	White Belt	First Class
9^th Gup	White Belt w/ Blue Stripe	1 Month Minimum
8^th Gup	Orange Belt	2 Months Minimum
7^th Gup	Orange Belt w/ Blue Stripe	3 Months Minimum
6^th Gup	Green Belt (Green Trim on Lapel)	3 Months Minimum
5^th Gup	Green Belt w/ Blue Stripe	3 Months Minimum
4^th Gup	Green Belt w/ Two Blue Stripes	3 Months Minimum
3^rd Gup	Red Belt (Red Trim on Lapel)	3 Months Minimum
2^nd Gup	Red Belt w/ Blue Stripes	3 Months Minimum
1^st Gup	Red Belt w/ Two Blue Stripes	6 Months Minimum

Dan Member - "Degree" Holder

Rank	Belt	Time Requirement (Between Tests)
1^st Dan (Cho Dan)	Midnight Blue Belt (Blue Trim on Uniform)	6 Months Minimum
2^nd Dan (E-Dan)	Midnight Blue Belt w/ Two White Stripes	2 Year Minimum
3^rd 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)

4^th Dan (Sa Dan)	Midnight Blue Belt w/ Red Stripe in center of belt.	4 Year Minimum
5^th Dan (O Dan)	Midnight Blue Belt w/ Red Stripe in center of belt.	5 Year Minimum
6^th Dan (Yuk Dan)	Midnight Blue Belt w/ Red Stripe in center of belt.	6 Year Minimum
7^th Dan (Chil Dan)	Midnight Blue Belt w/ Red Stripe in center of belt.	7 Year Minimum
8^th Dan (Pahl Dan)	Midnight Blue Belt w/ Red Stripe in center of belt.	8 Year Minimum
9^th 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."