Grading and Belt System

The Belt System

At DOS Taekwondo, students progress through a structured series of coloured belts known as the Gup ranking system. Each belt represents a stage of development in both technical ability and personal growth.

Belt Progression

Rank	Belt	Description
10th Gup	White Belt	The beginning - a blank canvas
9th Gup	White Belt with Yellow Tag	First foundations established
8th Gup	Yellow Belt	Basic techniques taking root
7th Gup	Yellow Belt with Green Tag	Growing confidence and control
6th Gup	Green Belt	Skills developing, greater control
5th Gup	Green Belt with Blue Tag	Intermediate understanding
4th Gup	Blue Belt	Reaching toward higher levels
3rd Gup	Blue Belt with Red Tag	Advanced technique developing
2nd Gup	Red Belt	Powerful technique, increased responsibility
1st Gup	Red Belt with Black Tag	Final preparation for Black Belt
1st Dan	Black Belt	Mastery of fundamentals

After Black Belt, practitioners continue through the Dan ranks up to 9th Dan. After achieving 6th Dan, a practitioner is recognised as a Master of Taekwondo.

How Gradings Work

Gradings are held regularly at all DOS Taekwondo locations. Students are assessed on:

• Warm-up and technique drills - Demonstrating correct form and control
• Patterns (Poomsae) - Set sequences of movements specific to each grade
• Free style sparring - Controlled sparring demonstrating practical application
• Set “one step” sparring - Pre-arranged attack and defence combinations
• Board breaking - For higher grades, demonstrating power and technique

Your instructor will confirm when you are ready to grade. There is no pressure to rush. Gradings are open for family and friends to attend and support.

Timeline to Black Belt

The journey from White Belt to Black Belt is individual to every student, but here is a general guide based on training 2-3 times per week:

• Green Belt - Approximately 1 year of training
• Red Belt - Approximately 2 years of training
• Black Belt (1st Dan) - More than 3 years (many students take 5 or more years)

The progression is typically 3 to 6 months per Gup rank, depending on the student’s dedication and frequency of training.