The Grit & Glory Belt Progression
Taekwondo uses a belt system to mark student progression. At Grit & Glory, students earn each rank in this order:
| Belt | Geup / Rank |
|---|---|
| White Belt | Starting belt |
| 8th Yellow | Geup 8 |
| 7th Yellow | Geup 7 |
| 6th Blue | Geup 6 |
| 5th Blue | Geup 5 |
| 4th Red | Geup 4 |
| 3rd Red | Geup 3 |
| 2nd Brown | Geup 2 |
| 1st Brown | Geup 1 |
| Black Belt | Poom (under 15) or Dan (15+) — see below |
This is Grit & Glory's own curriculum. It is not the same color sequence every school uses — some schools include orange or green belts, or a red-black belt; ours does not.
Poom vs. Dan: How Black Belt Ranks Actually Work
Poom and Dan are the official black-belt rank classifications set by the Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters). The difference between them is the practitioner's age, not their skill level — both tracks sit the exact same technical tests.
| Poom (Junior Rank) | Dan (Adult Rank) | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | Under 15 years old | 15 years old and older |
| Meaning | "Grace" / "dignity" — junior potential | "Stage" / "degree" — expert rank and maturity |
| Belt | Split horizontally, half red and half black | Solid black |
| Levels | 1st Poom to 4th Poom | 1st Dan up to 9th Dan (Grandmaster) |
Conversion: when a Poom holder turns 15, their rank converts automatically to the equivalent Dan (1st Poom becomes 1st Dan, and so on) — no retesting required.
Requirements: Poom and Dan candidates take the exact same technical skills tests (forms/poomsae, sparring, breaking). Higher Dan ranks simply require longer time-in-grade waiting periods and older minimum age thresholds.
How Gradings Work
Frequency: Usually every 2–3 months at each branch, with no fixed calendar dates — a coach puts a student forward only when they're genuinely ready.
Requirements for each grading:
- Minimum attendance (typically 80% of scheduled classes)
- Instructor recommendation
- Written application (submitted 2 weeks before)
- Performance on grading day: forms (poomsae), techniques, basic sparring (colored belts and above)
What happens on grading day:
- Students arrive in full uniform (dobok)
- Groups are called by current belt rank
- Examiners score technique, stance, power, and focus
- Results announced same day; new belts awarded in a brief ceremony
How to Support Your Child
Before grading:
- Practice the required form at home (ask the instructor to send a video)
- Maintain a calm, positive attitude — your anxiety transfers to your child
- Focus on effort, not outcome
After grading:
- If they pass: celebrate the process, not just the belt
- If they don't pass: affirm the effort, discuss what to work on, and commit to the next grading
Remember: A child who fails a grading and comes back anyway is learning something more valuable than any technique.
