[net.misc] Belt colors in TAE KWON DO

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