If you have just joined a taekwondo class, or you are thinking about it, the different colored belts in the training hall can be hard to follow at first. So it helps to know what the colors mean, which belt comes next and how long the path to black belt takes.
Most people who look up taekwondo belt levels want the order first and the meaning second. The core colors, from white to black, are similar across schools, although the stripes and in-between belts vary. And because adults and children follow the same color belts, taekwondo classes generally start beginners at white belt, whatever their age or fitness.
In this article, we will cover the belts in order, how the belt system works, how you move up, how long black belt takes and what comes after it.
What Are the Belts in Taekwondo in Order?
The belts in taekwondo usually run in this order: white, yellow, green, blue, red and black. Many schools add extra colors, such as orange, purple or brown, but these six form the core of most belt systems.
The meanings below come from the traditional taekwondo explanation of each color, which compares a student’s progress to a plant growing toward the sky:
- White belt – the beginner’s belt, which stands for a fresh start with no previous knowledge of taekwondo.
- Yellow belt – the earth in which a seed takes root, as you learn the basic stances, blocks and kicks.
- Green belt – the plant’s growth, as your basic skills begin to develop.
- Blue belt – the sky the plant grows toward, as your training moves on to harder kicks and combinations.
- Red belt – danger, which reminds the student to use control and warns an opponent to stay away.
- Black belt – the opposite of white, which stands for maturity and skill in taekwondo.
So a black belt does not mark the end of training. Instead, in most schools it marks the point where a student has learned the basics well enough to start studying taekwondo in depth.
How Does the Taekwondo Belt System Work?
The taekwondo belt system works in two parts: colored belt ranks, called gup (or geup), and black belt ranks, called dan. The gup ranks count down, so a new student usually starts at 10th gup and reaches 1st gup just before black belt.
A belt system can therefore have 10 colored belt ranks, even though there are only five or six colors. Many schools fill the gaps with a stripe or a colored tip on the belt. For example, a white belt with a yellow tip shows a student who is halfway between white and yellow.
The exact number of ranks varies from school to school, because schools and organizations set their own color belt systems. Some schools also give out small stripes of tape between tests, so you can see your progress during the months spent on one belt.
How Do You Move Up Belts in Taekwondo?
You move up belts in taekwondo by passing a belt test, where an instructor watches you perform the skills set for your current rank. Instructors usually invite students to test once they have trained for a set time and are ready.
Here is what a belt test often includes, although each school sets its own:
- Basic movements – stances, blocks, punches and kicks, performed on command.
- Forms – a set pattern of moves performed alone, called poomsae or tul depending on the style.
- Sparring – controlled fighting with a partner, often with protective gear.
- Board breaking – breaking a wooden or plastic board with a kick or strike, which some schools add as students move up the ranks.
- Terminology – Korean words for stances, kicks and commands, and sometimes questions about taekwondo’s history.
For most students, a belt test is less stressful than it sounds, because it checks skills they have already practiced in class for weeks.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Black Belt in Taekwondo?
Getting a black belt in taekwondo usually takes three to five years of regular training, such as two or three classes a week. In many schools, students test for a new color belt every two to four months, with longer gaps at the higher ranks.
Adults move through the same color belts as children, so starting as an adult does not mean starting on a different path. Even so, your own pace depends on how often you train, how much you practice at home and how flexible you are when you start.
Rushing is rarely helpful, because each belt builds on the skills learned at the one before. In practice, regular attendance tends to count for more than natural talent.
What Comes After Black Belt in Taekwondo?
After black belt in taekwondo, the belt order continues in degrees of black belt, called dan, which usually run from 1st dan to 9th dan. The belt itself stays black, and the higher degrees take longer to earn. Under the system set by the Kukkiwon, the world headquarters of taekwondo, a student needs at least one year at 1st dan before testing for 2nd dan, two years at 2nd dan before 3rd dan and three years at 3rd dan before 4th dan.
Under the same Kukkiwon system, children under 15 are given a poom rank instead of a dan rank. A poom is a junior black belt, often shown by a red and black belt, and it can be changed to the matching dan rank once the student turns 15.
A 4th dan is also the level at which a Kukkiwon black belt can train to become a master instructor, who teaches and grades students. Beyond 4th dan, each degree can take many years of teaching and training to earn, and the 9th dan is generally the highest belt in taekwondo.
Looking Forward: Every Black Belt Started as a White Belt
Taekwondo belt levels give students a clear path, from the first white belt to the black belt degrees that follow. Each color marks a set of skills you have learned, and each belt test shows you how far you have come.
Whether you start as a child or an adult, the first step is the same. With regular classes and a little patience, many students find that each new belt is within reach.
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