Grades

The ITF ranking system consists of six solid color belts; white, yellow, green, blue, red, and black.

Coloured belt ranks are defined as follows (from lowest to highest rank):

	Grade Level	Description
	10th Kup	White - Signifies innocence, as that of the beginning student who has no previous knowledge of Taekwon-Do
	9th Kup	white with yellow tag
	8th Kup	Yellow - Signifies the earth from which a plant sprouts and takes root as the foundation of Taekwon-Do is being laid.
	7th Kup	yellow with green tag
	6th Kup	Green - Signifies the plant's growth as Taekwon-Do skills begin to develop.
	5th Kup	green with blue tag
	4th Kup	Blue - Signifies the Heaven towards which the plant matures into a towering tree as training in Taekwon-Do progresses.
	3rd Kup	blue with red tag
	2nd Kup	Red - Signifies Danger, cautioning the student to exercise control and warning the opponent to stay away.
	1st Kup	red with black tag
	1st "dan"	Black - Opposite of white, therefore signifying the maturity and proficiency in Taekwon-Do, also indicates the wearer's imperviousness to darkness and fear.

The reason for nine black belt degrees is that the number nine is not only the highest of the single-digit numbers, but also is the number of three multiplied by three. In the Orient, three is the most esteemed of all numbers. The Chinese character for 3 is three horizontal lines, one above the other. The bottom line represents earth; the middle line represents mortals; the upper line represents heaven. It was believed that a man who could unite the three realms in himself, would aspire or be reborn into a king.