Belt Ranking System

As you train, you will progress through the various Taekwondo ranks.  The lower ranks (called Kub in Korean) are indicated by colored belts.  The higher black belt ranks (called Dan in Korean, or Degree in English) follow the Kub ranks.  Each Kub rank is associated with a belt color.  For each belt color, there is also a high Kub rank.  Belts for the high Kub ranks are striped the color of the belt of the next rank.  New students have no belt at all until they learn basic introductory material, and have no Kub rank.  White belt students also do not have a Kub rank.

The following lists the Kub ranks and Deputy Black Belt rank, and the typical time required to advance to the next rank.  Advancement is accomplished by competently demonstrating the requirements of each rank in public exams.

After working through the Kub ranks, students become eligible to advance to the lowest Dan rank, Deputy Black Belt (Bo Dan in Korean).  The requirements for advancement to Deputy Black Belt are more rigorous than the requirements for advancing to even the highest Kub rank.  The requirements are detailed in a subsequent section in this guide.

Students advance to First Dan Black Belt from Deputy Black Belt after a minimum of 6 months training period.  Higher Dan ranks, which are outside the scope of this guide, follow the first Dan rank.