Belt System

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Element: Metal

Animal: Tiger

Season: Winter

When students begin to train in Tang Soo Do, their techniques are rigid and hard, as is a piece of metal. Like a tiger, beginners tend to strike fast and are very aggressive. The winter snow canvases the ground, hiding the ground beneath it. This is a symbol of the inherent skills the beginner possesses which have yet to be seen.

Element: Wood

Animal: Dragon

Season: Spring

Green belt is the first major change in belts in Tang Soo Do, signified by the first colored trim on the uniform top. The element wood is a softer material than metal but is still hard; signified by the students’ strong techniques, which are becoming softer and more fluid; students also gain greater flexibility. The dragon was believed to be a fierce flying creature, stronger than a tiger but not quite as graceful as a bird. As a green belt students begin to learn jumping techniques but are not yet graceful with the techniques. Spring represents growth and new life, as a green belt the student’s spirit, confidence and techniques are starting to bloom.

Element: Fire

Animal: Bird

Season: Summer

The next major promotion is to red belt. The element of fire is capable of burning wood and melting metal, signifying the red belts seniority in pre-black belt ranks. The bird is symbolic of the student becoming more confident and graceful with jumping and flying techniques. The summer is hot and intense, similar to a red belt that is training hard and with ferocity to prepare for black belt.

Element: Water

Animal: Turtle

Season: Autumn

The next and most significant promotion thus far is to black belt. Water is the most powerful element there is, capable of rusting metal, rotting wood, and dousing fire. Water is able to take any shape and adapt, just as a black belt can change and adapt to the situation. Water is also essential to all life just as black belts are essential to the teaching and continuation of Tang Soo Do. The turtle is a humble, and strong they move slow but purposefully. Capable of striking fiercely, the turtle only attacks as a last resort choosing to use its great defensive ability first. These are all qualities that a black belt should strive to posses. The autumn is symbolic of the black belt beginning to take a more active role in teaching. The leave of the trees are changing and starting to fall off the trees. The leaves represent knowledge; they are falling to the ground as is the knowledge being passed to lower ranks.

"Black belt" is the term we use because it's a recognizable rank, however in Tang Soo Do we actually wear midnight blue belts. The reason we don't wear true black belts is because we relate the darkening of the belt to obtaining knowledge so if the belt was black then it is as dark as your belt could get, meaning you could not ever advance or learn anything new. So a midnight blue belt can have color added to it still and thus more knowledge can be added.