BELT COLORS & RANKING PHILOSOPHY.

Grade Ranks (under Black Belt):

All new students begin their training as White Belts. Nine (9) different colored belts must be achieved to be considered for candidacy to test for 1st Degree Black Belt. Each of these colored belts is called a ‘Grade’ rank (10th Grade being the lowest). It takes months for the average student to advance through each of the Grade ranks.

10th Grade White Belt…

  • Beginner level
    • The color White represents Purity and Innocence
    • Philosophically, it means Rebirth; To be born into a new environment of knowledge with an open mind and no preconceptions.

9th Grade Yellow Belt…

  • Beginner level
    • The color Yellow represents the Rising Sun.
    • Philosophically, it means the dawning of a new day…a new beginning. The first achievement of rank and knowledge.

8th Grade Blue Belt…

  • Beginner level
    • The color Blue represents the vast Sky.
    • Philosophically, it means that as the sky appears to be vast and never ending, so too is the knowledge of the martial arts. A student never learns all there is to know.

7th Grade Green Belt (1 stripe)…

6th Grade Green Belt (2 stripes)…

  • Intermediate level
    • The color Green represents Growth.
    • Philosophically, it means that as the green grass grows and leaves blossom, so too does the student grow and evolve with the knowledge gained.

5th Grade Purple Belt…

  • Intermediate level
    • The color Purple represents Transition.
    • Philosophically, it means that as the student grows and evolves mentally, spiritually and physically as a result of his/her training, a point is reached where the student becomes more technically substantial and makes a transition from Beginner/Intermediate level to Advanced level.

4th Grade Brown Belt (1 stripe)…

3rd Grade Brown Belt (2 stripes)…

2nd Grade Brown Belt (3 stripes)…

  • Advanced level
    • The color Brown represents Mother Earth.
    • Philosophically, it means that as the Earth is the foundation upon which we live, so too has the student established a solid foundation in the basics and fundamentals upon achieving this rank level.

1st Grade Red Belt…

  • Advanced level/Probationary Black Belt
    • The color Red represents the Setting Sun.
    • Philosophically, it means that as the setting sun marks the end of the day, so too does the achievement of this rank level mark the end of preliminary and preparatory training.

Black Belt (Child and Adult):

There are three (3) individual Child Black Belts that can be achieved in Kang Do for 15 years of age and under, within three specific age groupings. The embroidery on a Child Black Belt is Red. Child Black Belts are temporary and expire on the holder’s 16th birthday. In order to achieve Adult Black Belt, Child Black Belts must take an Adult re-certification test within one month after their 16th birthday.

  • There are eight (8) individual Adult Black Belts that can be achieved in Kang Do for those 16 years of age and older. The embroidery on an Adult Black Belt is Gold.
  • Each individual belt is called a ‘Degree’ of Black Belt (1st Degree being the lowest).
  • Each Degree is represented by an embroidered stripe on one tail of the holder’s belt.
  • It takes the average student years to achieve each of the Degrees of Black Belt.
  • The color Black represents Unification and Darkness or Night.

Philosophically, it means the unity and blending of all the colors and the accumulation of knowledge of all of the grade ranks. It also signifies the darkness of the night prior to the next day, which marks another beginning of learning and evolution at a much higher and more disciplined, individualistic level.