ATA Taekwondo Belt Order and Rank

The ATA belt order has nine color belts: white, orange, yellow, camouflage, green, purple, blue, brown and red, followed by nine black belt degrees. That makes 18 ranks in the system used by ATA Martial Arts, formerly the American Taekwondo Association. Each rank has its own Songahm form, from 18 moves at white belt to 99 at 9th degree, and from white belt through 2nd degree black belt each rank can be held as a half step (recommended) or a full step (decided). This guide covers every ATA belt in order, what the colors mean, the black belt degrees and the master titles.

Belt order

ATA belt order: all nine color belts

The color belts fall into three groups: Songahm 1 to 5 for beginners, In Wha 1 and 2 for intermediate students, and Choong Jung 1 and 2 for advanced students. Together with the nine black belt forms, the 18 forms make up what the ATA calls the Songahm Star. For how forms are practiced and judged in general, see what is poomsae. For other organizations’ belt systems, see the taekwondo belt order.

Meaning

What the ATA belt colors mean

Songahm means “pine tree and rock.” The ATA compares a student to a pine tree that grows from a seed at white belt into a large, deep-rooted tree at black belt.

• White: the seed, the very start of training.
• Camouflage: the young sapling is hidden among taller pines and must fight its way up toward the light.
• Green: the pine tree begins to develop and grow in strength.
• Purple: the tree is halfway grown, and the path ahead becomes steep.
• Brown: the tree is firmly rooted in the earth.
• Red: the sun is setting, and the first phase of growth is complete.
• Black: the tree has matured and overcome darkness, and now plants seeds for the future.

Half ranks

Recommended and decided ranks

From white belt through 2nd degree black belt, each ATA rank can be held as recommended or decided. Decided is a half step above recommended, so students can test one half rank at a time. Schools often mark a decided rank with black tape at one end of the belt or a black stripe down the center. Some licensed schools also add stripes to show time in grade.

The step before 1st degree black belt is 1st degree recommended, worn as a belt that is half red and half black.

Black belts

ATA black belt degrees and forms

Each black belt degree has its own form, and the forms grow longer at each rank.

Black belt promotion takes much longer than color belt promotion, with minimum time in rank between degrees. For how other organizations handle black belt ranks, see taekwondo black belt levels.

Masters

ATA master titles

From 6th degree, ATA black belts can earn master titles. Master is earned through an application and testing process that lasts a year, and each higher title requires at least a year between promotions. At special events, masters wear silk uniforms in the color of their title.

For how these titles compare with Kukkiwon and ITF titles, see what a taekwondo grandmaster is. ATA black belts may also train with weapons; see taekwondo weapons.

Compare

ATA vs other taekwondo belt systems

The ATA is one of three large taekwondo systems, alongside the Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo) and the ITF. The camouflage belt and the recommended and decided half ranks are features of the ATA system. See taekwondo styles for how the organizations differ, and the ITF belt order for the ITF system.

Young children often start in a separate program: in the ATA’s Tigers program for ages 3 to 6, animal patches take the place of stripes. If you are choosing a school, see how to choose a taekwondo school and the best age to start taekwondo. To wear any belt correctly, see how to tie a taekwondo belt.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions