The ITF ranking system consists of six solid color belts; white, yellow, green, blue, red, and black.
Coloured belt ranks are defined as follows (from lowest to highest rank):
Grade Level
Description
10th geup
White – Signifies innocence, as that of the beginning student who has no previous knowledge of Taekwon-Do.
9th geup
White with yellow tag
8th geup
Yellow – Signifies the earth from which a plant sprouts and takes root as the foundation of Taekwon-Do is being laid.
7th geup
yellow with green tag
6th geup
Green – Signifies the plant’s growth as Taekwon-Do skills begin to develop.
5th geup
Green with blue tag
4th geup
Blue – Signifies the Heaven towards which the plant matures into a towering tree as training in Taekwon-Do progresses.
3rd geup
Blue with red tag
2nd geup
Red – Signifies Danger, cautioning the student to exercise control and warning the opponent to stay away.
1st geup
Red with black tag
1st dan
Black – Opposite of white, therefore signifying maturity and proficiency in Taekwon-Do; also indicates the wearer’s imperviousness to darkness and fear.
2nd dan
Assistant Instructor (must remain at this rank at least 2 years)
3rd dan
Assistant Instructor (must remain at this rank at least 3 years)
4th dan
Instructor (must remain at this rank at least 4 years)
5th dan
Instructor (must remain at this rank at least 5 years)At this point, a person my become a “SaBum-Nim”
6th dan
Instructor (must remain at this rank at least 6 years)
7th dan
Master Instructor (must remain at this rank at least 7 years)
8th dan
Master Instructor (must remain at this rank at least 8 years)
9th dan
Grand Master
The reason for nine black belt degrees is that the number nine is not only the highest of the single-digit numbers, but also is the number of three multiplied by three. In the Orient, three is the most esteemed of all numbers. The Chinese character for 3 is three horizontal lines, one above the other. The bottom line represents earth; the middle line represents mortals; the upper line represents heaven. It was believed that a man who could unite the three realms in himself, would aspire or be reborn into a king.