Taekwondo Belts Order and Ranking System at WCTKD
The Taekwondo belt order is a crucial part of a student’s journey through the martial art, symbolizing their growth in skill, discipline, and knowledge.
At West Coast Taekwondo, we guide our students through each level of the Taekwondo belt ranking system, helping them achieve their goals step by step.
Earning Each Taekwondo Belt at West Coast Taekwondo
At West Coast Taekwondo, students earn their belts through hard work, dedication, and testing. Each of our programs has its unique belt progression, designed to fit the age group and developmental needs of the students.
Taekwondo belt order with stripes
Stripes are earned for mastering specific skills or techniques within a belt rank.
Increasing Difficulty: As students advance to higher belts, the requirements for earning stripes become more challenging.
Consistent Proficiency: A stripe indicates that the student consistently demonstrates proficiency in the designated material.
By diligently working towards each stripe, our students gradually build their skills and knowledge, ultimately reaching the highest levels of achievement.
Character NOW, Dragons, Tigers & Core
Our Character NOW approach utilizes the traditional Tenets of Taekwondo and Student Oath as well as a rotation of targeted character values to teach our students how to approach life situations and give them the words to talk about hard subjects. This is incorporated into all of our programs.
Our Dragons (ages 4-6) and Tigers (ages 6.5-8) are tailor-made classes for younger children with rapidly growing bodies (bones, brains, muscles, and nerves!) to work on gross motor skills through traditional basic Taekwondo techniques without the intricate moves that their bodies are not ready for. Combined with an age-appropriate approach to character and self-defense, our Dragons and Tigers flourish with Master Instructor Steven M. Austin Sr.
Focuses on gross motor skills through basic taekwondo techniques with 16 belt colors in Taekwondo and is approximately 32 months long.
Tailored for growing children, focusing on character and self-defense, with 9 belt colors and is approximately 18 months long.
Follows traditional Chang-Hun forms, helping students advance to black belt and beyond through our structured Taekwondo belt ranking system.
See Master Austin for Dragon and Tiger testing requirement details.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Black Belt in Taekwondo?
The time it takes to earn a black belt in Taekwondo varies depending on individual factors such as age, training frequency, and dedication. At West Coast Taekwondo, most students in the Core Program (for ages 8+, teens, and adults) achieve this milestone within 3-4 years of consistent training and successful belt tests.
However, it’s important to remember that every journey is unique. Factors like travel, breaks in training, or significant life events can influence the timeline. Regardless of the pace, we’re committed to supporting each student on their individual path to a black belt.
Order of Taekwondo Belts at West Coast Taekwondo
- Dragon White Belt
- Dragon White Senior Belt
- Dragon Yellow Belt
- Dragon Yellow Senior Belt
- Dragon Orange Belt
- Dragon Orange Senior Belt
- Dragon Green Belt
- Dragon Green Senior Belt
- Dragon Purple Belt
- Dragon Purple Senior Belt
- Dragon Blue Belt
- Dragon Blue Senior Belt
- Dragon Brown Belt
- Dragon Brown Senior Belt
- Dragon Red Belt
- Dragon Red Senior Belt
- Tiger White Belt
- Tiger Yellow Belt
- Tiger Orange Belt
- Tiger Green Belt
- Tiger Purple Belt
- Tiger Blue Belt
- Tiger Brown Belt
- Tiger Red Belt
Our Core Program consists of classes for kids ages 8+, teens, and adults. Core is the traditional program as passed down from our instructors. Following traditional Chang-Hun forms, we build our students to black belt and beyond.
White Belt
White Belt Sr
Yellow Belt
Yellow Belt Sr
Orange Belt Sr
Green Belt
Green Belt Sr
Purple Belt
Purple Belt Sr
Blue Belt
Blue Belt Sr
Brown Belt
Brown Belt Sr
Choong-Moo (31 movements) was the name given to the great Admiral Yi Sunsin of the
Joseon Dynasty. He was reputed for inventing the first armored battleship Geobukseon, a precursor to the modern-day submarine (1592 C.E.). This pattern ends with a left-hand attack to symbolize his regrettable death, having no chance to show his full potential checked by his loyalty to the king.
Start Your Taekwondo Belt Journey Today at West Coast Taekwondo
Ready to progress through the Taekwondo belt order and unlock your full potential?
Join us today and take the first step on your journey to achieving your next belt!
Contact us to schedule your free trial class.
FAQ
When the original form meanings were written, the authors hadn’t imagined how widespread Taekwondo was going to become and did not predict translation errors, cultural divergences, and generational gaps. We have revised the meanings to help our students better understand the stories behind the names.
In general no, students must follow the Taekwondo belt order and demonstrate proficiency at each level before advancing to the next belt. There are rare cases in which a student can double test to belt ranks at the same time. This is usually only seen in the beginner belt ranks, with students coming in with prior martial arts experience. If you are looking to transfer your belt rank from another martial art school, please contact us to set up an in-person assessment.
Yes, at our Taekwondo school, every student in the Core Program, regardless of age group, follows the same order of belt progression and requires the same level of dedication, hard work, and practice. The Dragon and Tiger Programs have completely different requirements, as self-defense goals for young children are different from those for adults.
No, competing in tournaments is not required to progress through the Taekwondo belts ranking at West Coast Taekwondo. While tournaments provide valuable experience and an opportunity to apply skills, students advance based on their class performance, mastery of techniques, and character development.
Stripes in Taekwondo track a student’s progress toward the next belt. Each stripe represents mastery of a specific skill or trait required for that belt rank. As students advance, the requirements to earn stripes become more challenging, ensuring consistent growth.
Students at West Coast Taekwondo earn their belts through hard work, dedication, and a formal testing process. Each test evaluates the student’s proficiency in techniques, forms, self-defense, and understanding of Taekwondo philosophy.
