Tang Soo Do - Ranking Systems

Ranking Systems

By and large, Tang Soo Do uses the colored belt system that was instituted by Jigoro Kano and first used in Karate-Do by Gichin Funakoshi. However, minor deviations according to organization and/or individual school are commonplace. One differentiating characteristic of the Moo Duk Kwan style is that the black belt, or dan rank, is frequently represented by a Midnight Blue Belt for students who attain Dan rank. The reason for the midnight blue belt is due to the belief in Korean culture, that black symbolizes ending or a finishing point. It was also a belief of the founder of Moo Duk Kwan, Hwang Kee, that black is a color to which nothing can be added, thus blue signifies that a dan holder is still learning. Many schools and organizations still opt to use the black belt. The Moo Duk Kwan lineage of Tang Soo Do incorporates a red-striped midnight blue (or black) belt to denote individuals who have reached the rank of Sa Beom Nim (master 사범님/師範님), or 4th dan. In other systems, the 7th-10th dan ranking is signified with two red stripes running along the length of a midnight blue (or black) belt. The original non-dan, or gup, belt colors established by Hwang Kee were: white belt; green belt; and red belt. In the 1970s, an orange belt was added after the white belt along with either one or two stripes onto the orange, green and red belts, encompassing ten gup (student) levels, and is currently the system in use in the Moo Duk Kwan. In the mid 1980s a yellow belt was placed between the white and orange belt in some other organizations. Many variations of this ranking system are still used and typically employ other colors (e.g., yellow, brown, purple, blue, etc.). However, this is primarily a western influence.

The Black belts (or Midnight-blue Belts) are called Dans and each degree has its own specific name. The Dan rank ranges from 1st-10th degree. In the Moo Duk Kwan, Dan level is known by its Korean numeration, such as Cho Dan, Ee Dan, Sam Dan for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Dan respectively, and onward. In many organizations the titles of Kyosa (Instructor 교사/敎師) and Sa Bom (Master 사범/師範) are separately awarded after successfully demonstrating ability, knowledge, understanding and character for that level in a Dan Simsa (심사/審査), or test. One may not test for Kyosa (Certified Instructor) until 2nd Dan, or Sa Bom (Master Instructor) until 4th Dan or above. Dan levels from 4th Dan onward are known as Ko Dan Ja (고단자/高段者), whether Sa Bom or not. Also in the US, a simple timing structure was created for the Dan ranking system, where if in constant study, then it was easy to measure when testing for the next rank would be. The next Dan number was equal to the minimum number of years that must be spent training to achieve that Dan. For example a First Dan would have two years before they could be candidate for Second Dan, etc.