Ranking System in Tae Kwon Do

Like all uniform units in the world, Tae Kwon Do emphasizes on discipline and moral ethnics as well as skills of combat. Thus the Ranking system in Tae Kwon Do is quite unique for it is determined by the colors of the belt that the practioner wear and each color of the belts represents a meaning as well as stages of life.

White Belt

White belt symbolizes innocence, it is wear by the beginners, symbolizing them white as a paper and are ready to accept new knowledge.

Yellow Belt

Yellow belt symbolizes Earth, where all life begins. Here it is a symbol where the beginners' foundation of Tae Kwon Do has been laid.

Green Belt

Green belt symbolizes the growth of a plant, meaning the skills of the one is slowly developing.

Blue Belt

Blue belt symbolizes the vast blue sky, it also signifies the heaven, towards which the plant matures into a towering tree as training in Tae Kwon Do progresses.

Red Belt

Red belt symbolizes danger, it gives the warning to others to stay away as well as cautioning the students to exercise their power with caution.

Black Belt

Black belt's color meaning is the opposite of white, therefore, signiflying the maturity and proficiency in Tae Kwon Do. It also indicates the wearer's imperviousness to darkness and fear.

Even though you have reach the ranks of Black Belt, it does not mean that it is the end of your journey in Tae Kwon Do. There is also another ranking system in the Black belts as well. The black belt scale starts with the first degree and end with the ninth degree. 

In the degree scale, the number 9 was chosen because it was the highest single digit number. It is also the number 3 multiplied by 3. In the orient, the number 3 carries high esteem. In China the number 3 is written as three horizontal lines, one above the other. The upper line symbolizes heaven, the middle line symbolizes mortals, and the bottom line symbolizes the earth.Also, in regards to the number 3, the degrees are devided into three distinct groups. The first through third degree are novice stages of the black belt, the fourth through sixth represent puberty while the seventh through ninth degree represent mastery of the art.

Reference: http://www.willtaekwondo.blogspot.com/search/label/%28G%29%20SYSTEM