Tae Kwon Do – Racine YMCA

(10th Gup) Basic One or Ki-Bon

Innocence, as that of the beginning student. This signifies birth or beginning of a seed. A white belt is a beginning student who is seeking knowledge in the art.

(9th Gup) Chon-Ji

As the sun shines on the seed, so does the instructor provide the student with the first ray of knowledge.

(Low-8th Gup) Dan-Gun (High-7th Gup) Do-San

As the ray of sun causes the plant to grow, it begins to blossom into beautiful colors; just as the student begins to discover their ability and potential.

(Low-6th Gup) Won-Hyo (High-5th Gup) Yol-Guk

Green signifies growth. As the young plant flourishes, the student`s ability and knowledge of the art begins to develop.

(Low-4th Gup) Joong-Gun (High-3rd Gup) Toi-Gye

A solid root has grown into the ground, and holds the plant firmly in place, such that the student has formed a strong basis for the basics of the art, and uses it as the building block to learn more.

(Low-2nd Gup) Hwa-Rang (High-1st Gup) Choong-Moo

As the ray of sun causes the plant to grow, it begins to blossom into beautiful colors; just as the student begins to discover their ability and potential.

(1st Dan) (2nd Dan) (3rd Dan)
(4th Dan) (5th Dan) (6th Dan)

The black belt signifies the darkness beyond the sun. Opposite of white, therefore signifying maturity and proficiency. Impervious to darkness and fear. As the darkness we come from at birth, so is the black belt born into a new world of wisdom. As he/she starts teaching others, so they are planting new seeds which will take root deep into the art, and blossom and grow through the ranks in a never ending process of self growth, knowledge, and enlightenment.