The order of taekwondo belts usually runs white, yellow, green, blue, red and black, and many schools add colors such as orange, purple or brown in between. Color belts are called gup (geup) grades and count down from 10th gup, the new white belt, to 1st gup, the last step before black belt. Black belt ranks are called dan and count up from 1st dan. The exact colors depend on your organization and school: ITF schools use stripes between the main colors, the ATA has its own order, and Kukkiwon leaves color belts to each school. This guide covers the common belt order, what each color means and how the black belt ranks work.
| Main colors | White, yellow, green, blue, red, black |
|---|---|
| Common extra colors | Orange, purple, brown, or stripes of the next color |
| Color belt grades | 10th gup (white) down to 1st gup |
| Black belt grades | 1st dan up to 9th dan; 10th dan is honorary |
| Junior black belt | Poom, for Kukkiwon black belts under 15, often a half-red, half-black belt |
| Who sets the colors | Your school or organization (ITF and ATA have fixed orders; Kukkiwon schools choose their own) |
The order
Taekwondo belt order
Many Kukkiwon and World Taekwondo schools use a 10-grade order like the one below, with a stripe of the next color marking the half step between each main color. Kukkiwon certifies black belts only, so each school sets its own color belts; yours may add orange, purple or brown, or skip the stripes.
| Grade | Belt | Usual Taegeuk form |
|---|---|---|
| 10th gup | White | Basics |
| 9th gup | White, yellow stripe | Taegeuk Il Jang |
| 8th gup | Yellow | Taegeuk Ee Jang |
| 7th gup | Yellow, green stripe | Taegeuk Sam Jang |
| 6th gup | Green | Taegeuk Sa Jang |
| 5th gup | Green, blue stripe | Taegeuk Oh Jang |
| 4th gup | Blue | Taegeuk Yuk Jang |
| 3rd gup | Blue, red stripe | Taegeuk Chil Jang |
| 2nd gup | Red | Taegeuk Pal Jang |
| 1st gup | Red, black stripe | Review of all eight Taegeuk forms |
| 1st dan | Black | Koryo (first black belt form) |
Tip
Schools pair forms with belts differently, and some test a form one grade earlier or later. Use the list on your school’s study sheet. For all the forms in one place, see what is poomsae.
Meaning
What each belt color means
The traditional meanings follow the growth of a plant, from a seed in the ground to a tree reaching for the sky. These are the meanings taught in ITF taekwondo and used by many other schools.
Start
White
Innocence: a beginner with no previous knowledge of taekwondo.
The seed
Yellow
The earth, where a plant takes root as the foundation of taekwondo is laid.
Growth
Green
The plant’s growth as skills begin to develop.
Reaching up
Blue
The sky, toward which the plant grows into a tree as training progresses.
Caution
Red
Danger: a warning to the student to use control and to opponents to stay away.
Maturity
Black
The opposite of white: maturity and skill, and the end of basic training rather than the end of learning.
Schools that add orange, purple or brown give them their own meanings, often as further stages of the same plant. Brown, where it is used, usually sits between blue and red. There is no single official meaning for these extra colors.
Compare
Belt order by organization
The three systems you are most likely to meet use different orders. See taekwondo styles for how the organizations differ.
| Detail | Kukkiwon / WT schools | ITF | ATA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Color grades | 10 gup (set by each school) | 10 gup | 9 color belts |
| Order | Usually white, yellow, green, blue, red, with stripes or extra colors between | White, yellow, green, blue, red, with a stripe of the next color between each | White, orange, yellow, camouflage, green, purple, blue, brown, red |
| Uses orange, purple or brown | Some schools | No | Yes |
| Black belt degrees | 1st to 9th dan; 10th dan honorary | 1st to 9th dan | 1st to 9th degree |
| Junior black belt | Poom (under 15) | No separate rank | No separate rank |
| Full guide | This page | ITF belt order | ATA belt order |
If you move between schools or organizations, your rank may not transfer one for one. Most schools will look at your certificate and test you before placing you.
Black belt
Black belt degrees (dan)
Earning a black belt starts a new set of ranks. Each higher dan needs more years of training, and higher Kukkiwon ranks also have minimum ages. Titles differ by organization; the table shows the most common patterns.
| Dan | ITF title | Common Kukkiwon-style title |
|---|---|---|
| 1st to 3rd | Assistant instructor (boosabum) | Black belt; instructor (gyosa) from about 2nd or 3rd dan |
| 4th to 6th | Instructor (sabum) | Master (sabeom) from 4th dan |
| 7th and 8th | Master (sahyun) | Senior master; 8th dan often called grandmaster |
| 9th | Grandmaster (saseong) | Grandmaster |
| 10th | Not awarded | Honorary, rarely awarded |
For minimum ages and time between dan tests, see taekwondo black belt levels. For the top ranks, see taekwondo grandmaster.
Juniors
Black belts under 15: poom
In the Kukkiwon system, students under 15 who pass a black belt test receive a poom rank instead of a dan. 1st poom is officially equal to 1st dan, and a poom can be converted to the matching dan at 15. Poom holders usually wear a belt that is half red and half black. If your child is starting young, see the best age to start taekwondo.
Timeline
How long does it take to get a black belt?
Most students take a few years. In Korea, students who train four or more days a week often reach 1st dan or poom in about two years. Students who train two or three times a week usually take longer, and many schools quote three years or more.
- How often you train: attendance matters more than anything else.
- Time between tests: many schools test color belts every few months and set a minimum wait between grades.
- What each test asks for: forms, basic techniques, sparring, breaking and Korean terms, plus attitude.
- Practice outside class: forms and kicks you practice at home move you along faster.
- Your school: standards and test schedules differ, and so do fees; see how much taekwondo costs.
Note
Be cautious of schools that promise a black belt in a fixed time for a fixed price. A good instructor puts you forward for a test when you are ready, not when a contract says so.
Testing
What happens at a belt test
Each color belt test checks what you learned for that grade. Most tests include some or all of these:
- Your current form, and often the earlier ones.
- Basic stances, blocks, punches and kicks.
- One-step or free sparring at higher grades.
- Board breaking, often from the middle grades.
- Korean terminology and the meaning of your belt color.
New to taekwondo? See taekwondo for beginners for what you learn first.
Care
Belt care and etiquette
- Tie your belt correctly before class; see how to tie a taekwondo belt.
- Keep your belt off the floor, and fold it rather than throwing it in your bag.
- Wear it with a clean dobok.
- Many students follow the tradition of not washing the belt, so its wear shows the years of training. Others air it out or spot-clean it. Follow your instructor’s guidance.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the order of taekwondo belts?
The main colors are white, yellow, green, blue, red and black. Many schools add orange, purple or brown, or a stripe of the next color, in between. Color belts run from 10th gup to 1st gup, then 1st dan black belt.
How many belts are there in taekwondo?
Most systems have 10 color grades (gup) and nine black belt degrees (dan). The number of different belt colors depends on the school; the ATA uses nine color belts.
What is the highest belt in taekwondo?
Black belt. Within black belt, ranks run from 1st to 9th dan, and the Kukkiwon also awards an honorary 10th dan.
What do the taekwondo belt colors mean?
White is innocence, yellow is the earth where a seed takes root, green is growth, blue is the sky the plant grows toward, red is danger and black is maturity.
What is a poom belt in taekwondo?
Poom is the Kukkiwon junior black belt rank for students under 15, usually shown with a half-red, half-black belt. It converts to the matching dan rank at 15.
How long does it take to get a black belt in taekwondo?
Usually a few years. Students who train four or more days a week can reach 1st dan in about two years; training two or three times a week usually takes three years or more.
The short version
Taekwondo belts usually run white, yellow, green, blue, red and black, with stripes or extra colors such as orange, purple and brown in between. Color belts are 10th to 1st gup, black belts are 1st to 9th dan, and Kukkiwon black belts under 15 hold poom ranks. ITF and ATA schools use their own fixed orders, so your school’s curriculum is the final word.