PHILOSOPHY OF BELT SYSTEM
The philosophy of the Tang Soo Do Ranking System is based on nature. Original Tang Soo Do had four colored belts: White, Green, Red and Midnight Blue. The Orange belt was added in 1975 as an encouragement and motivation for beginners. Some Tang Soo Do and Soo Bahk Do schools use a Yellow belt in place of the Orange belt. We've included both Ranking Systems and their philosophies.
White Belt -- White represents Winter.
Means emptiness, hidden potential, purity.
Orange Belt -- Orange represents between Winter and
Spring.
Green Belt -- Green represents Spring.
Means growth, spreading, advancement.
Red Belt -- Red
represents Summer. Means ripening, head, active.
Midnight Blue -- Belt Midnight Blue represents Autumn. Means maturity,
calm, passive, harvest.
Yellow Belt Yellow is the initial growth of the seed. Yellow represents the second stage of physical and mental development.
Green Belt Green is the color of life and vigor. Green is symbolic of the flourishing of the plant. It is during the green belt level that the most rapid development occurs.
Red Belt Red is the color of energy and vitality. It represents the flowering of a strong plant. The beauty of the plant at this stage is evident for all to see.
Midnight Blue Belt Midnight blue is the color of the evening sky. It is a goal that the plant strives to reach yet may never attain. Midnight blue symbolizes infinity and perfection. It is this quest for perfection that epitomizes Tang Soo Do. A practitioner of Tang Soo Do must never be satisfied or complacent. Rather, he must continually strive to be better.
WHITE - Beginner's belt color. White represents a primitive stage
ready to learn and grow. It is the dormant stage of a new member.
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.
GREEN - Green represents the speedy development of youth as summer
arrives, a sense of pride has come over the member.
RED - Red represents power, stability; agility, weight and
wisdom. This is like the high school years. The member begins to flower and
bloom.
DARK BLUE - (Black Belt) Dark Blue represents maturity, respect,
honor. It is the completion of a goal or one stage of life. It is a new pathway
to higher ranks of black belt. Its graduating from high school and going on to
college to become a master. The mind is clear and calm. The body is a machine
that can move and react in a split second.
(Some Tang Soo Do schools award a black belt for Dan holders.)
Belt Levels
It takes a minimum of thirty months (two and 1/2 years) for a student to progress from white to midnight blue belt. The testing time is approximately three months between ranks. After that at least two more years for E dan, then three more years for Sam dan. It takes a minimum of seven years before the student reaches the rank of third degree Midnight Blue Belt.
Beginning Levels
10th gup - White belt
9th gup - White belt with one blue stripe
8th gup - Yellow or Orange belt
7th gup - Yellow or Orange belt with one blue
stripe
Intermediate Levels
6th gup - Green belt
5th gup - Green belt with one blue
stripe
4th gup - Green belt with two blue
stripes
3rd gup - Red belt
2nd gup - Red belt with one blue
stripe
1st gup - Red belt with two blue
stripes
Advanced Levels
Cho Dan (1st degree) - Midnight blue (or
black belt /Kyo Sa Nim)
E Dan (2nd degree) - Midnight blue (or black belt with two white
stripes)
Sam dan (3rd degree) - Midnight blue (or black belt with three white stripes)
Sa Dan (4th degree) - Midnight blue (or black belt with a red stripe
down the center of the belt)-, Master/Sa Bom Nim)
Copyright, Mark McGee , 1995-96 / [email protected]
|
Philippine
Moo Duk Kwan Soo Bahk Do, Inc. |
Wild
Cat Tang Soo Do |
Site created and maintained by Dennis
Arriola 