Taekwondo Belts in Order
Taekwondo is a centuries-old Korean martial art. It is an interesting skill that involves both physical and mental strength. Fighters may compete in sparring or present their skills in performing forms (poomsae). The sport of taekwondo has been an official medal competition in the Olympics since the year 2000.
To reach the heights of champions, one must practice for years – as this is a martial art involving much more than physical strength. Some crucial elements of taekwondo are self-improvement, character-building, and mental discipline.
Everyone who meets taekwondo for the first time will start from the bottom level and train to get a belt. The first belt is white and all students get it by default, usually after a few classes. During these first few lectures, they will learn the principles of taekwondo rather than actually go into battle.
The main five principles or tenets are courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit. When the student learns about them and starts practicing them in each next class, they get the white belt which officially marks their journey through the many levels of taekwondo.
Belt Levels of Taekwondo
As we mentioned, the first belt is white, and this one is not about earning but about participating. The next level must be earned, and this is done after roughly two months of training. Of course, if the athlete is not skilled enough, they will not earn the next level belt.
Taekwondo belts are not like boxing weight classes. Although boxing weight classes in order are similar to taekwondo belt levels, they are not the same classification. Let’s see all taekwondo belts and rank the taekwondo belts in order.
What are the 8 belts in taekwondo?
Although many schools have various variations of belts, there are officially eight taekwondo belts. The levels start from the basic, white belt and end with the black belt. Here are the different belt levels of taekwondo:
White Belt – Represents innocence and the beginning of one’s journey in taekwondo.
Yellow Belt – Signifies the earth from which a plant sprouts and begins to grow, symbolizing the foundation of taekwondo.
Green Belt – Represents the growth of a plant, indicating the student’s growth in taekwondo skills and knowledge.
Blue Belt – Symbolizes the sky and the heaven towards which the plant is growing, showing further growth and advancement.
Red Belt – Indicates danger, cautioning the student to exercise control and warning of the maturity and danger that come with increased knowledge and power.
Black Stripe (or Black Tip) Belt – Often known as a “half-black” belt, this is not always used, but when it is, it’s a transition from red to black, indicating readiness for black belt testing.
Red-Black Belt – Another variation where the belt is half red and half black, symbolizing the final stage before reaching the black belt. This isn’t universal but can be seen in some schools.
Black Belt – The highest level of proficiency, symbolizing mastery and the beginning of the journey as a teacher and leader.
What is the highest taekwondo belt?
As you can see from the previous explanation, the black belt is the highest taekwondo belt. However, this is not the final level a taekwondo athlete can achieve. There’s never an end to the taekwondo journey for those who practice it their entire lives. The black belt has multiple levels called “dan”. A black belt is not the final stage, but you can have a black belt 1st dan or a black belt with yellow stripes.
Then comes the 2nd dan, the 3rd, and all the way to the 9th dan, or a black belt with nine yellow stripes. This is the grandmaster level and is considered the highest one. Some taekwondo schools, though, go even further and have higher levels than the 9th dan, but this is not accepted worldwide.
To reach this level, many train their entire lives. It’s not easy being a grandmaster, but it all starts with the first class. If you’re considering taekwondo, be sure you’re making a great choice. For the first class, you need almost nothing, but once you get the first white belt, you start walking the great taekwondo journey.
How to tie a taekwondo belt?
If you’re a beginner, you must know how to tie the taekwondo belt. No matter which of the belt levels of taekwondo you reach, tying the belt is almost the same for all. Tying the belt needs no special knowledge. You should wrap it around your waist and pull one end into the other.
Once the knot is created, tighten it by creating another knot on top of it and tuck the ends of it inside the already-wrapped belt around your waist. This way you’re getting a simple but effective belt knot.
Conclusion
Now that you know all the taekwondo colors for belts and how the belt is tied, and understand what the basics of this martial art are, you’re ready to start your journey. Don’t hesitate and go boldly to reach its heights. The benefits of taekwondo are many, and you will realize them as you walk through the different belt levels.