Student Information
The Belt System
In the belt system, students begin as white belt and work their way through the colored belts toward black.
The stripes on the ends of the belt signify that the student is in between belts. Click belt color for meaning card.
White Belt
Pattern-Saju Ap & Yob Chaki
Signifies innocence. That of the beginning student who has no previous knowledge of Tae Kwon Do
CHON-JI means literally the "Heaven the Earth". It is, in the Orient, interpreted as the creation of the world or the beginning of human history, therefore, it is the initial pattern played by the beginner. This pattern consists of two similar parts-one to represent the Heaven and the other the Earth.
Dan Gun Tul is named after the Holy Dan Gun, the legendary founder of Korea in the year 2333 BC.
Yellow Belt signifies earth from which a plant sprouts and takes root as the Tae Kwon Do foundation is being laid.
Won-Hyo (617-686 AD) was the noted Buddhist monk who introduced Buddhism into the Silla Dynasty in 686 AD
Signifies that plant’s growth as the Tae Kwon Do skill begins to develop.
Yuk Gok is the pseudanym of the great philosopher and scholar, Yi I (1536 - 1584 AD), nicknamed the Confusious of Korea. The 38 movements of this pattern represent his birthplace on the 38th latitude and the diagram represents scholar.
Joong Gun Tul is named after the patriot An Joong Gun who assassinated Hiro Bumi Ito, the first Japanese Govenor General of Koren, known as the man who played the leading part in the Korea-Japan merger. The 32 movements of this pattern refer to Mr An's age when he was executed at Lui-Shung Prison in 1910.
Signifies the heaven toward which the plant matures into a towering tree as training in Tae Kwon Do progresses.
Toi Gye Tul is the pen name of the noted Scholar, Yi Hwang (16th century AD) who was an authority on Neo-Confusionism. The 37 movments of this pattern refer to his birthplace on the 37th latitude and the diagram represents scholar.
Hwa Rang is named after the Hwa Rang youth group, which originated in the Silla dynasty about 1350 years ago. This group eventually became the actual driving force of the unification of the three kingdoms of Korea. The 29 movements of his pattern represent the 29th infantry division where Tae Kwon Do developed into maturity.
Red Belt signifies danger, cautioning the student to exercise control and warning the opponent to stay away.
Black Stripe
Pattern-Chon Ji to Won Hyo
Choong Moo tul is the given name of the great admiral Yi Sun-Sin of the Yi dynasty who is reputed to have invented the first armored battleship (Kobuksun) which was the precursor of the present day submarine in 1592AD. The reason this pattern ends in a left-handed attack is to symbolize his regrettable death, having no chance to show his unrestrained potentiality, checked by his forced reservations of his loyalty to the king.
Red top, Black Bottom
Black Belt Candidate:
Formal Patterns & Their Meanings -
Yul Gok, Joong Gun, Toi Gae, Hwa Rang & Choong Moo
Sparing Patterns -
8, 9, & 10
Black 1st Dan
Gae Bek: GE-BAEK is named after Ge-Baek, a great general in the Baek jae Dynasty (660
AD). The diagram represents his severe and strict military discipline. 44 Moves
Opposite of white, signifying proficiency and maturity in Tae Kwon Do. Indicates imperviousness to darkness and fear.