BELT RANK INFORMATION

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Rank colors and order varies within systems and styles. Typically ranks are divided by the levels prior to Black Belt (color belts, or Kup), and the levels after Black Belt (Poom or Dan) as junior and senior. World Taekwondo Mandeville uses a 9 Kup system of rank. There are 9 levels from beginner to Black belt and 9 levels of Black Belt. We begin at the larger number for White Belts and count down toward the highest Kup rank. This ranking system is based on Kukkiwon belt ranking. The colors that represent each Kup are earned in this order:

Click the picture representation for each rank below to view the syllabus for each rank.

The White Belt Signifies innocence as that of the beginner who has no previous knowledge of Taekwondo.

White Belt + Yellow Belt Terminologies

Signifies the Earth from which a plant sprouts and takes root as the foundations of Taekwondo are laid.

Yellow + Green Belt Terminologies 

Signifies growth as the Taekwondo skills begin to develop.

Green + Blue Belt Terminologies 

Signifies the heavens towards which the plant matures as training progresses.

Blue Belt + Red Belt Terminologies 

Signifies Danger cautioning the student to exercise control and opponents to be wary.

Red Belt + Black Belt Terminologies 

Opposite of white, therefore signifies the maturity and proficiency in Taekwondo also indicates the wearer’s imperviousness to darkness and fear.

The senior section of ranks is also divided by 9 ranks. Each black belt level is called a degree or dan. The numbering sequence for dan ranks is opposite of the color belts. It begins at first dan and counts up. You can tell which degree someone has earned by looking at their belt. The level is indicated by the number of gold bars. In our style students with 1st -3rd degrees can assist with teaching and train as an Instructor. An instructor with 4th - 6th degrees are considered Master and 7th -9th degrees are referred to as Grandmaster, which also has an age requirement of 40 years minimum. 10th dan rank is sometimes awarded posthumously for a lifetime dedicated to the practice of Taekwondo.
Kukkiwon standard recognizes a rank of black belt for practitioners under the age of 15 called poom. These students have passed dan level tests but will not receive full dan rank until reaching the required age. Poom ranks transition automatically to the equivalent dan rank without any additional levels or testing. World Taekwondo Mandeville follows this standard set by the Kukkiwon.

To advance from one rank to the next, students qualify for promotion testing. Each kup level is assigned a minimum length of time practicing, minimum number of classes attended, nine stripes earned, and instructor recommendation. (For what is tested at each level see Taekwondo Program Curriculum.) When a student has each of these requirements they are issued a testing application which will need to be filled out and turned in prior to the next available rank testing date. Rank tests are held every 3 Months on the condition that the student(s) is/are ready and have completed the requirements on their specific syllabus.
It may take longer for WTM Taekwondo students to qualify for their black belts than some newer, more contemporary taekwondo schools require. We believe that when someone is working towards a black belt faster isn’t better. All belts are earned at the individual’s pace and are measured by skill and not a timeline. The amount of time someone spends getting to black belt isn’t standardized but promotion from one black belt to the next is, and it takes years. In fact, the Kukkiwon style imposes age and time within rank limits on poom and dan promotions. Champion Taekwondo applies those same standards to the levels prior to Black Belt.