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Rhee TKD Black Belts

Some Korean martial art schools use embroidered bars to denote different dan ranks, as shown on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd dan belts above

The term dan is commonly used in Korean martial arts to denote a black belt. Literally, however, the word translates as "level." For example some jumping kicks are called "ee dan" kicks, which translates literally as "level two" (where ee is the number two in the sino-Korean numbering system).

Unlike some martial arts, in some styles of taekwondo achieving one's first black belt is not necessarily intended to connote that one is now an "expert." In these styles, the first black belt is intended instead to denote that one is now a trained student, but still a student nonetheless. For this reason taekwondo sometimes received criticism from practitioners of other martials arts, along the lines of, "taekwondo schools are black-belt mills...taekwondo black belts aren't martial arts experts at all." In fact, the first-dan black belt is not always intended to denote expertise at all, merely a state of training.

Korean martial arts lacked a grading system up until the Japanese occupation of Korean (1910–1945) during which a variety of Japanese martial arts were introduced into the Korean culture. After the Japanese occupation ended, newly emerging martial arts like taekwondo, tang soo do, soo bahk do and hapkido adopted the dan (단, 段) and geup (급, 級) ranks common to Japanese martial arts. 

Someone who is a candidate to receive a Black Belt is said to have the rank dan bo nim (단보님). Someone who has received a dan rank of any kind is called a yudanja (유단자, 有段者). Someone who has received a "high" dan rank (6th Dan upwards) is called a godanja (고단자, 高段者).

In some Korean schools, most notably in Kukkiwon (i.e., WTF-style taekwondo), there is also a poom system in place (품, 品). Practitioners who have not yet reached the age of 15 cannot test for a dan rank. For them, there is a system of four poom grades. After they reach the age of 15, their poom-grade can be changed to the corresponding dan-grade.

Symbolism of the Black Belt

Different symbolic elements are often attributed to the different color belts used in taekwondo. Some of the symbols commonly attributed to the Black Belt include:

  • Black is the opposite of White, thereby signifying maturity and proficiency
  • Black is a combination of all previous colors mixed, signifying proficiency in all the previously-learned forms and techniques
  • Black symbolizes one's imperviousness to darkness, and hence to fear
  • Black symbolizes something that is well-worn over time, having grown darker as it ages

The color black does have some negative connotations (death, the end, etc.) which is why martial arts forms such as Tang Soo Do prefer to use a Midnight Blue belt rather than a black belt. Midnight Blue belts are rarely used in taekwondo, even Traditional Taekwondo which shares many characteristics with Tang Soo Do.

Dan Ranks

When numbering the dan ranks, Sino-Korean numbers are used (rather than traditional Korean numbers). Some common (but not universal) names for dan ranks are:

  1. Il dan (일단): first-degree black belt (also known as cho dan (hangul: 초단 hanja: 初段), or 조교님 jo kyo nim: Instructor-in-Training)
  2. Yi dan (이단): second-degree black belt (also known as 교사님 kyo sa nim: Assistant Instructor)
  3. Sam dan (삼단): third-degree black belt (also known as 부사범님 boo sa bum nim: Deputy Instructor)
  4. Sa dan (사단): fourth-degree black belt (also known as 사범님 sa bum nim: Instructor. Note the sa again meaning "4")
  5. O dan (오단): fifth-degree black belt (5th-8th dan are also known as 관장님 kwan jang nim: Master. Note the word Kwan meaning "school" or "hall")
  6. Yuk dan (pronounced yook 육단): sixth-degree black belt
  7. Chil dan (칠단): seventh-degree black belt
  8. Pal dan (팔단): eighth-degree black belt
  9. Gu dan (구단): ninth-degree black belt (also known as 총관장님 chong kwan jang nim: Chief Master)

For most Korean martial arts, the dan ranks do not go past ninth dan, although on some occasions in some organizations, a tenth dan (십단) has been issued. When a 10th dan is issued, the term Supreme Grand Master is sometimes used. Typically this honor is awarded posthmously to somebody who has founded an entire system or style of taekwondo.

ITF Ranks

In ITF Taekwon-do

  • 1st - 3rd dan are considered to be national instructors
  • 4th - 6th dan are considered to be international instructors
  • 7th dan are considered to be junior master instructors
  • 8th dan are considered to be senior master instructors
  • 9th dan are considered to be grand masters

Kukkiwon/WTF Ranks

In Kukkiwon/WTF Taekwondo

  • 1st - 3rd dan are considered "trained students" who may serve as assistant instructors (kyo sah nim)
  • 4th - 6th dan are considered to be instructors / masters (sah bum nim)
  • 7th - 9th dan are considered to be grand masters (kwan jang nim)

Kukkiwon/WTF 10th Dan - Supreme Grand Masters

In the Kukkiwon/WTF-style, only a few honorary tenth degree black belts have been bestowed by the Kukkiwon.

The others were bestowed posthumously upon masters:

These masters were instrumental in developing the systems of their particular kwans, which later joined together to become taekwondo. (See: Taekwondo History).

See Also

  • Gup (Color Belts)
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