How to Identify Karate Belts

Red, blue, green, yellow. What are all the belts, and what do you have to accomplish to reach that level? An easy, simple guide to tell all those belts apart.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. WHITE BELT: Beginner level. A person just entering karate would be at this level.
2. ORANGE BELT: Requirements for testing and passing to next level include the ability to correctly perform these movements and techniques: Chunbi, Horse Stance, Front Stance, Back Stance; Horse Stance Center Punch with Single, Double, and Triple Punches; Kicking Motion; Center Kick, Reverse Crescent Kick, and Crescent Kick; Basic forms 1-6; Palgay One (1st eight moves); Basic Self-Defense Techniques.
3. YELLOW BELT: Requirements for testing and passing to next level: Horse stance, Front Stance, Back Stance; Horse Stance Center Punch with Single, Double, and Triple Punches; Kicking Motion: Center Kick, Reverse Crescent Kick, Crescent Kick; Basic Forms 1-12, Palgay 1; Basic Self-Defense Techniques.
4. GREEN BELT: Requirements for testing and passing this level include: Basic Forms 1-32; Side Kick; Sparring; Palgay 2; Ippon Kumite Techniques 1-5; History of American Kang Duk Won Karate.
5. BLUE BELT: Requirements for testing and passing this level include the ability to correctly execute this techniques: Palgay 3; Turning Kicks; Roundhouse Kicks; Skip Kicks.
6. PURPLE BELT: Requirements for passing this level include: Palgay 4; Flying Kicks; Advanced Self-Defense Techniques; Ippon Kumite Techniques 6-10: Participation in AKDWK Tournament: Attendance at AKDWK Camp
7. BROWN BELT: Requirements for passing include: Palgay 5; 500 Word Written Paper* on, "What American Kang Duk Won Means To Me" (Essay Guidelines), Self-Defense against Weapons.
8. BROWN BELT (1 BLACK STRIPE): Requirements for passing include: Palgay 6; Self-Defense against more than one opponent.
9. BROWN BELT (2 BLACK STRIPES): Requirements for passing include the ability to demonstrate: Palgay 7; Sparring more than one opponent.
10. BROWN BELT (3 BLACK STRIPES): Given to persons who are being considered for Black Belt Testing.
11. BLACK BELT (1ST DEGREE): Requirements for black belt: Palgay 8; Old Koryo; New Koryo; Chulgi 1; Martial Arts Weapon Form; Position Paper on Karate* (1,000 words) (Essay Guidelines); Sparring multiple opponents; Knowledge of the history of the martial arts.

Tips & Warnings

• Some of these guidelines may vary depending on where you attend.