Parent's Guide to the Taekwondo Belt System

The Grit & Glory Belt Progression

Taekwondo uses a belt system to mark student progression. At Grit & Glory, students earn each rank in this order:

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.

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: Every 2–3 months at each branch.

Requirements for each grading:

1. Minimum attendance (typically 80% of scheduled classes)
2. Instructor recommendation
3. Written application (submitted 2 weeks before)
4. 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.