Belts
TIGER BELT 1
One of the central tenets of all forms of the martial arts is an absolute focus on self-discipline. Today’s kids are so accustomed to receiving instant gratification that lessons in self-restraint and discipline aren’t always easy to come by. Kids with a martial arts background, however are continually reminded of the importance of self-discipline.
TIGER BELT 2
BOOSTS SOCIALIZATION SKILLS!! Kids who don’t always thrive in highly social environments may find it easier to get to know people and manke new friends when they’re in a room filled with peers who share a common interest. The Kids on the playground may not always have much common ground, but devotees to the martial arts are able to get to know one another through shared pursuits. Partner- driven training can also foster camaraderie, as they force kids to pair off and build their skills together.
TIGER BELT 3
ENCOURAGES PHYSICAL ACTIVITY! Limiting screen time is a great idea when it comes to getting kids off the couch and encouraging them to be more active, but it only goes so far. enrolling an inactive child in such a physically demanding pastime not only discourages the sedentary lifestyle she’s used to, but also gives her an enjoyable activity that inspires her to keep moving.
TIGER BELT 4
LEARN TO SET AND ACHIEVE GOALS! Most forms of martial arts are based around an accomplishment system of colored belts that signify the wearer’s degree of skill. When your child strived toward each new belt, they are learning valuable lessons about setting and reaching ones goals.
TIGER BELT 5
INCREASED SELF-ESTEEM!! Confidence comes with achievement, so your child’s self-esteem level will get a boost with every new move they master and every belt they earn. Kids who struggle with a low sense of self-worth usually becomes more confident as time progresses while they’re enrolled in a martial arts class.
TIGER BELT 6
INSTILLS A SENSE OF RESPECT!! Learning any Songahm Taekwondo will require your child to show their instructor unflinching respect. Today’s kid culture doesn’t always include respect for authority, adults or those in advanced positions. When they go to their Songahm Taekwondo class they will be learning lessons in respect along with new moves.
TIGER BELT 7
ENCOURAGES NON-VIOLENT CONFLICT RESOLUTION!! Thinking that martial arts instruction promotes violent behavior is justified if your only experience with the activity comes from television or movies. In fact, many defensive styles teach kids peaceful, non-violent conflict resolution skills and emphasize the importance of avoiding a physical altercation.
TIGER BELT 8
IMPROVING LISTENING SKILLS!! In order to master the skills one is being taught and advance through the belt ranks, your child will have to exercise superior listening skills. Kids who are not always adept when it comes to paying attention to what they are told can benefit from the verbal instruction and one-on-one.
TIGER BELT 9
DEVELOPS TEAMWORK SKILLS!! Whether they are breaking boards to get a new belt or sparring in a practice setting to master a new maneuver, there are a few things that your child does in their martial arts classes that will be done on their own. Working together to learn new things and accomplish goals is an important life lesson for kids to learn. Instruction in the martial arts can help your child learn that lesson.
TKD BELT ORDER AND THEIR MEANING
WHITE BELT
“Pure and without the knowledge of Songahm Taekwondo. As with the Pine Tree, the seed must now be planted and nourished to develop strong roots.” The student has no knowledge of Songahm Taekwondo and begins with a clean (pure) slate. Purity is often signified by the color white.
“The sun is beginning to rise. As with the morning’s dawn, only the beauty of the sunrise is seen rather than the immense power.” The beginner student sees the beauty of the art of Taekwondo but has not yet experienced the power of the technique. Orange is found among the many colors of the sunrise.
ORANGE BELT
YELLOW BELT
“The seed is beginning to see the sunlight.” The student begins to understand the basics of Taekwondo. The sun appears to be yellow.
“The sapling is hidden amongst the taller pines and must now fight its way upward.” The student begins to realize his/her place in the world’s largest martial art. The student must now begin to spar in order to promote in rank. Camouflage (greens) is used to hide among the trees in the forest.
CAMO BELT
GREEN BELT
“The pine tree is beginning to develop and grow in strength.” The student’s technique is developing power. The components of the basic techniques are beginning to work in unison. As the pine tree develops, it sprouts green pine needles.
“Coming to the mountain. The tree is in the mid-growth and now the path becomes steep.” The student has crossed over into a higher level of Songahm Taekwondo. The techniques, poom-sae (forms), and level of gyeo-roo-gi (sparring) becomes more difficult, creating a “mountain” that must be overcome. Mountains are often depicted as being purple.
PURPLE BELT
BLUE BELT
“The tree reaches for the sky toward new heights.” Having passed the mid-way point, the student focuses his/her energy upward toward black belt. The sky appears as blue.
“The tree is firmly rooted in the earth.” At this point the student has mastered the basics and developed deep roots in Taekwondo. Brown is known as an earthy color, such as dirt.
BROWN BELT
RED BELT
“The sun is setting. The first phase of growth has been accomplished.” The first day (the period of time from white belt to red belt) of growth is coming to an end. The physical skill has been developed but lacks control; therefore, physical and mental discipline must now be achieved. Variations of red are found among the many colors of the sunset.
“The dawn of a new day. The sun breaks through the darkness.” The previous day has ended, giving way to a new dawn. The student must begin a new phase of training; that of being a black belt. The red is the sun (in a sunrise) as it breaks through the black of night.
RED/BLACK BELT
BLACK BELT
“The tree has reached maturity and has overcome the darkness… it must now ‘plant seeds for the future.’” The color black is created when all the colors of the light spectrum have been absorbed into an object. That object has “taken control” of the colors and retained them. If one color was to “escape”, the object would no longer be black but would appear as that color. The student has mastered the nine geup (grades) of Taekwondo. He/she has “absorbed” all the knowledge of the color ranks and overcome or “mastered” that level or training. The colors of the spectrum are bound together and are not reflected off an object, resulting in the absence of color which we call black