armstron@sjuvax.UUCP (armstrong) (09/24/84)
HELP! (Please) This is the only net I thought I could send this to without getting flamed. My problem is this: I need to know what the symbolisms are for the colors of yellow, blue, and red in the TAE KWON DO (Korean style karate) belt system. The advancement of belts in TKD goes accordingly: 9th Gup - white 8th-7th Gup - yellow 6th-4th Gup - blue 3rd-1st Gup - red If anyone could tell me what red, blue, and yellow represent, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanx. -- Len Armstrong St. Joseph's University {astrovax | bpa | burdvax | allegra }!sjuvax!armstron
bae@fisher.UUCP (The Master of Sinanju) (09/28/84)
>I need to know what the >symbolisms are for the colors of yellow, blue, and red in the >TAE KWON DO (Korean style karate) belt system. The advancement of belts >in TKD goes accordingly: > > 9th Gup - white > 8th-7th Gup - yellow > 6th-4th Gup - blue > 3rd-1st Gup - red > >If anyone could tell me what red, blue, and yellow represent, I'd greatly >appreciate it. Thanx. Well, the various colours represent the typical American's desire to have external evidence of his progress. Without the many-coloured belts (orange, puce, chartruese,...), it would not be possible to keep up the interest of your basic American long enough for him to learn anything. Also, in Tae Kwon Do, the various belt colours are an excuse to force the student to purchase a new gi top with a coloured stripe, at a 'bargain price' from the dojo. Of course, this usually only happens with the more disreputable schools... But then again, I wonder about anyone who feels a strong compulsion to throw kicks two feet above their head... Although I suppose it works great on giraffes who are making intimidating gestures. -- Brian A. Ehrmantraut {ihnp4, twg, decvax, ucbvax}!allegra!fisher!bae
joe@zinfandel.UUCP (09/29/84)
Hi. I've studied a lot of martial art styles, or at least had some exposure to them, and the belt colors used to signify progress are almost as many as the number of disciplines. If one examines the history belts were either white or black. Nowadays colors are carrots to give pupils near term goals, and there is no intrinsic symbolism in any of the fruit flavors between the two originals. That isn't to say that there isn't any information to be had by noting the color of someone's belt, but that one would also have to know the dojang or dojo or what as well. Some tai kwon do schools use colors that others don't, like purple, orange orange, green etc. Have fun. Joe Weinstein