Meaning of the Belts
White Belt - Winter
(Meaning - Emptiness, innocence, hidden potential, purity.)
As a white belt you represent Winter. Your potential and skills are hidden under the pure white snow. As you begin your journey, through training and time your skills and potential will begin to appear.
Orange Belt - Time between Winter & Spring
Orange belt was originally added by Grandmaster Hwang Kee in 1975, this level was designed as an extra stage of encouragement and motivation. As an orange belt you represent the time between winter and spring. Through your training, some of your skills and potential are beginning to appear like the stalk of a plant pushing up through the snow.
Green Belt - Spring
(Meaning - Growth, spreading, advancement.)
As a green belt you represent Spring. Through hard work and training your potential and skills are becoming much more visible, like the new growth of a plant in spring. Just like a new plant your skills must be nurtured through continued hard work and practice so they will continue to grow and blossom.
Red Belt - Summer
(Meaning - Ripening, "Yang," active.)
As a red belt you represent Summer. With much hard work, your skills and potential have blossomed and are visible like the petals of a flower. Your training has provided you with strong roots and foundation in Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan. You are able to accept life's challenges with confidence and a positive attitude.
Midnight Blue - Autumn
(Meaning - Maturity, "Um," passive, harvest.)
As a Dan you represent Autumn, "Maturity and harvesting the crops". The time spent training has provided you with the skills and maturity to better understand and use Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan. This knowledge allows you to continue to grow physically & mentally as well as lead a healthy and disciplined life.
| Rank | Belt | Time before eligible to test |
| Gup member - "Grade" Holder | ||
| 10th Gup | White Belt | First Class |
| 9th Gup | White Belt w/ Blue Stripe | 3 Months Minimum |
| 8th Gup | Orange Belt | 3 Months Minimum |
| 7th Gup | Orange Belt w/ Blue Stripe | 3 Months Minimum |
| 6th Gup | Green Belt (Green Trim on Lapel) | 3 Months Minimum |
| 5th Gup | Green Belt w/ Blue Stripe | 3 Months Minimum |
| 4th Gup | Green Belt w/ Two Blue Stripes | 3 Months Minimum |
| 3rd Gup | Red Belt (Red Trim on Lapel) | 3 Months Minimum |
| 2nd Gup | Red Belt w/ Blue Stripe | 6 Months Minimum |
| 1st Gup | Red Belt w/ Two Blue Stripes | 6 Months Minimum |
| Dan Member - "Degree" Holder | ||
| 1st Dan (Cho Dan) | Midnight Blue Belt (Blue Trim on Uniform) | 1 Year Minimum |
| 2nd Dan (E Dan) | Midnight Blue Belt w/ Two White Stripes | 2 Year Minimum |
| 3rd Dan (Sam Dan) | Midnight Blue Belt w/ Three White Stripes | 3 Year Minimum |
| Ko Dan Ja - Senior Dan Holder (Master) | ||
| 4th Dan (Sa Dan) | Midnight Blue Belt w/ Red Stripe in center of belt | 4 Year Minimum |
| 5th Dan (O Dan) | Midnight Blue Belt w/ Red Stripe in center of belt | 5 Year Minimum |
| 6th Dan (Yuk Dan) | Midnight Blue Belt w/ Red Stripe in center of belt | 6 Year Minimum |
| 7th Dan (Chil Dan) | Midnight Blue Belt w/ Red Stripe in center of belt | 7 Year Minimum |
| 8th Dan (Pahl Dan) | Midnight Blue Belt w/ Red Stripe in center of belt | 8 Year Minimum |