Explanation of the Tang Soo Do Belt System

Our Tang Soo Do belt system in its progress from white to black represents the cycle of the seasons. Each color stands for a specific stage of achievement. In this way we realize an essential concept of oriental philosophy, i.e., that which is born must grow, reach maturity, die, and leave behind the seeds of a new birth.

WHITE: The beginner's belt color. White represents a primitive stage of development. White also symbolizes purity. Thus, a seed as it lies dormant beneath the snows of winter.

GOLD/YELLOW: Gold/Yellow is the first real stage of growth and development, like the new growth that appears in spring. At this level, a student first begins to reveal their newfound knowledge.

PURPLE: Purple represents new growth, like the spring of the seasons. The member has new knowledge to grow and a sense of Tang Soo Do direction is developed.

ORANGE: At orange belt, students should have a basic understanding of beginning techniques. Orange represents the knowledge that begins to emerge like the budding of a young plant in spring.

BLUE: Blue represents the speedy development of youth as summer arrives. Students at this level are still continuing to grow in their knowledge and understanding of the art.

GREEN: Green represents the speedy development of youth as summer arrives. Students at this level are still continuing to grow in their knowledge and understanding of the art.

BROWN: Brown represents power, stability, agility, weight and wisdom. This stability stage is both mentally and physically analogous to plants which curtail their growth and prepare to flower in late summer.

RED 2 & 1: Red represents blood, life, energy, attention, and control. The students power and techniques begin to bloom and ripen, as they begin to mature as martial artists. Now the student begins the preparation of mind and body for the final step needed to attain the rank of chodan.

MIDNIGHT BLUE #1 to 7th Dan: Midnight blue belt (Black Belt) represents maturity, respect and honor. Our midnight blue is given to the cho dan bo "black belt candidate". The student must now prepare mind and body for the final step needed to attain black belt.

BLACK: Black represents mastery, calmness, dignity, and sincerity. Black Belt is the final stage of one life cycle and the beginning of the next. Thus, we see that it is not only the end of one stage but, more importantly, the beginning of a path which leads up through the ranks of the higher Black Belt to true mastery.

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