Rhee Taekwon-Do - Ranks

Ranks

Rhee Taekwon-Do ranks are denoted by coloured belts, which indicate a member's level of experience and responsibility within the school. There are ten coloured belt grades, or kup ranks (급), and nine black belt degrees, or dan ranks (단). Members start with white belts and progress through yellow, green, blue, brown, and then black.

Non-black belts, from white through to brown, denote the kup ranks. 'Tips' denoting odd-numbered kup ranks are marked by a stripe of the higher colour near the right end (from the wearer's point of view) of a belt of the lower colour. Black belts denote the dan ranks. A specific dan rank is represented by the number of white bars embroidered on the black belt. A black belt with no bars is a Junior Black Belt, a rank assigned to members considered too young (typically 15 years or younger) for 1st dan. Junior Black Belt members are tested for 1st dan when they reach 18 years of age. One bar denotes 1st dan, two bars denote 2nd dan, and so on. The end of the belt bearing the dan rank also carries embroidery noting the name of the master issuing the promotion (Chong Chul Rhee, Chong Hyup Rhee, or Chong Yoon Rhee).

To attain Rhee Taekwon-Do 1st dan ranking typically takes around four to five years of regular training. Progression through the school's dan ranks is by invitation, and is usually slower than in other taekwondo schools. Invitation appears to be based on a combination of technique and knowledge. Promotion to 2nd dan might come after 10–15 years, in which time someone might have reached 4th dan (ITF) or 5th dan (WTF). Promotion to 3rd dan might come after 20–25 years, in which time someone might have reached 6th dan (ITF) or 7th dan (WTF). Several former Rhee Taekwon-Do instructors who joined other taekwondo organisations received new ranks consistent with these approximations.