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NAVIGATE
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Grade (Gup) Ranks :
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All new students begin their training as White Belts.
Nine (9) different colored belts must be achieved to be considered for candidacy to test for 1st Degree Black Belt.
Each of these colored belts is called a 'Gup' rank (10th Gup being the lowest).
It takes months for the average student to advance through each of the Gup ranks.
10th Gup White Belt...
Beginner level
The color White represents Purity and Innocence
Philosophically, it means Rebirth; To be born into a new environment
of knowledge with an open mind and no preconceptions.
9th Gup Yellow Belt...
Beginner level
The color Yellow represents the Rising Sun.
Philosophically, it means the dawning of a new day...a new beginning. The first achievement of rank and knowledge.
8th Gup Blue Belt...
Beginner level
The color Blue represents the vast Sky.
Philosophically, it means that as the sky appears to be vast and never ending, so too is the knowledge of the martial arts.
A student never learns all there is to know.
7th Gup Green Belt (1 stripe)...
6th Gup Green Belt (2 stripes)...
Intermediate level
The color Green represents Growth.
Philosophically, it means that as the green grass grows and leaves blossom, so too does the student grow and evolve with the knowledge gained.
5th Gup Purple Belt...
Intermediate level
The color Purple represents Transition.
Philosophically, it means that as the student grows and evolves mentally, spiritually and physically as a result of his/her training, a point is reached
where the student becomes more technically substantial and makes a transition from Beginner/Intermediate level to Advanced level.
4th Gup Brown Belt (1 stripe)...
3rd Gup Brown Belt (2 stripes)...
2nd Gup Brown Belt (3 stripes)...
Advanced level
The color Brown represents Mother Earth.
Philosophically, it means that as the Earth is the foundation upon which we live, so too has the student established a solid foundation in the basics
and fundamentals upon achieving this rank level.
1st Gup Red Belt...
Advanced level/Probationary Black Belt
The color Red represents the Setting Sun.
Philosophically, it means that as the setting sun marks the end of the day, so too does the achievement of this rank level mark the end of preliminary
and preparatory training.
Black Belt :
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There are three (3) individual Poom (Child) Black Belts that can be
achieved in Lewis Tae Kwon Do for children 15 years of age and under,
within three specific age groupings. The embroidery on a Poom Black Belt
is Red. Poom Black Belts are temporary and expire on the holder's
16th birthday. In order to achieve Dan (Adult) Black Belt, Pooms must
take a Dan re-certification test within one month after their 16th
birthday.
There are eight (8) individual Dan Black Belts that can be achieved in Lewis Tae Kwon Do for
adults 16 years of age and older. The embroidery on a Dan Black Belt is Gold.
Each individual belt is called a 'Degree' of Black Belt (1st Degree being the lowest).
Each Degree is represented by an embroidered stripe on one tail of the holder's belt.
It takes the average student years to achieve each of the Degrees of Black Belt.
The color Black represents Unification and Darkness or Night.
Philosophically, it means the unity and blending of all the colors and the accumulation of knowledge of all of the gup ranks. It also signifies the darkness
of the night prior to the next day, which marks another beginning of learning and evolution at a much higher and more disciplined, individualistic level.
Master Judeth M. Lewis, 6th Degree Black Belt (black top)
Senior Instructor Maureen Soeder, 3rd Degree Black Belt...
Bo (6' wooden staff) versus Sais (pronged daggers) Interactive Weapon Combat Training
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