"It is impossible to be a martial artist only on the mats. So, if you are thinking of your practice only as techniques you perform, you are just training to be a fighter, and not yet a martial artist in Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan."

White Belt - Winter. Meaning: emptiness, innocence, hidden potential, purity. As a white belt you represent Winter. Your potential and skills are hidden under the pure white snow. As you begin your journey, through training and time your skills will begin to appear and your potential will begin to be realized.

Orange Belt - time between Winter & Spring. Orange belt was originally added by Grandmaster Hwang Kee in 1975. This level was designed as an extra stage of encouragement and motivation. As an orange belt you represent the time between winter and spring. Through your training, some of your skills and potential are beginning to appear like the stalk of a plant pushing up through the snow.

Green Belt - Spring. Meaning: growth, spreading, advancement. As a green belt you epresent Spring. Through hard work and training your potential and skills are becoming much more visible, like the new growth of a plant in spring. Just like a new plant, your skills must be nurtured through continued hard work and practice so they will continue to grow and blossom.

Red Belt - Summer. Meaning: ripening, "Yang," active. As a red belt you represent Summer. With much hard work, your skills and potential have blossomed and are visible like the petals of a flower. Your training has provided you with strong roots and a foundation in Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan. You are able to accept life's challenges with confidence and a positive attitude.

Midnight Blue - Autumn. Meaning: maturity, "Um," passive, harvest. As a Dan you represent Autumn, "Maturity and harvesting the crops". The time spent training has provided you with the skills and maturity to better understand and use Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan. This knowledge allows you to continue to grow physically and mentally as well as to lead a healthy and disciplined life.