McLaughlin's Taekwondo of Texas BELTS

MTT White Belt
MTT Color Belt Rank
MTT Black Belt Rank
MTT Belt Test Etiquette

Students shall show respect for the countless hours and effort to attain each rank by NEVER letting his/her Dhee touch the floor.

9^th GUP
WHITE BELT

PURITY
One who is learning by practical experience under skilled martial artists.

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8^th GUP
YELLOW BELT

ADAPTABILITY
One who brings one move into correspondence with another.

7^th GUP
ORANGE BELT

PATIENCE
One who is steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity.

6^th GUP
GREEN BELT

FOCUS
One who concentrates attention or effort.

5^th GUP
BLUE BELT

INSIGHT
One who is capable of apprehending the inner nature of their surroundings, or seeing intuitively.

4^th GUP
PURPLE BELT

DISCIPLINE
One who has control gained by enforcing obedience or order.

3^rd GUP
BROWN BELT

PERSPECTIVE
One who's appearance to the eye of objects is in respect to their relative distance and positions.

2^nd GUP
RED BELT

INTEGRITY
One who has a firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values.

1^st GUP
RED/BLACK BELT

CONFIDENT
One who exercises one's own powers or judgment.

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Poom ranks are converted automatically to Dan rank on the student's 15th birthday.

1^st POOM / DAN
BLACK BELT

1^st Poom
Under 15 Years of Age

1^st Dan
15 Years or Older

2^nd POOM / DAN
BLACK BELT

1^st to 2^nd Poom
1 Year Experience Required
Under 15 Years of Age

1^st to 2^nd Dan
1 Year Experience Required
16 Years or Older

3^rd POOM / DAN
BLACK BELT

2^nd to 3^rd Poom
2 Years Experience Required
Under 15 Years of Age

2^nd to 3^rd Dan
2 Years Experience Required
18 Years or Older

4^th DAN
MASTER BLACK BELT

3^rd to 4^th Dan
3 Years Experience Required
21 Years or Older

5^th DAN
MASTER BLACK BELT

4^th to 5^th Dan
4 Years Experience Required
25 Years or Older

6^th DAN
SENIOR MASTER BLACK BELT

5^th to 6^th Dan
5 Years Experience Required
30 Years or Older

7^th DAN
SENIOR MASTER BLACK BELT

6^th to 7^th Dan
6 Years Experience Required
36 Years or Older

8^th DAN
GRAND MASTER BLACK BELT

7^th to 8^th Dan
8 Years Experience Required
44 Years or Older

9^th DAN
GRAND MASTER BLACK BELT

8^th to 9^th Dan
9 Years Experience Required
53 Years or Older

10^th DAN
GRAND MASTER BLACK BELT

9^th to 10^th Dan
60 Years or Older

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Belt tests are a way of recognizing a student's skill and commitment to the MTT Dojang. These tests help students to set intermediate goals on their path to a Black Belt and instill in them a desire to reach the Black Belt. This desire will show itself in other areas of a student's life as he/she strives to meet and surpass all the goals they set in their lives. The main purpose of a belt test is to build self-confidence.

Belt test etiquette is an integral part of MTT Dojang protocol. Etiquette is a person's actions that express their respect of another person. Etiquette is a lofty and valued attitude and is a source of harmony and solidarity. To maintain order in a group of students, especially minors, there must be strict discipline and enforcement of the rules of etiquette. A moral and modest attitude is important in etiquette. Etiquette is an essential part of Taekwondo training.

Students must constantly be guided by a deep respect for Taekwondo, the MTT Dojang, and all members of the Dojang. Good manners, politeness, courteous behavior, and maintenance of formal etiquette are part of training. Students must know the MTT Dojang belt test regulations and always obey them, which are as follows:

Belt testing is a privilege and a sign of achievement. Only the MTT Chief Instructor is qualified to make the decision in which a student's ability is capable to advance (i.e., tenets, trinity, performance, attendance, participation, support, etc.).

Belt testing will start promptly as scheduled and will last up to several hours. Students shall arrive no later than 30 minutes before test time to:

Pay for Test (nonrefundable)
Deliver "Teacher Comment Form" (juniors only)
Stretch
Prepare

Juniors are responsible for their TCF (Teacher Comment Form). At no time may the TCF be accepted before the day of testing. Junior students that don't present their TCF on the day of testing will forfeit the privilege of testing.

Students shall wear appropriate Dobok (cleaned and pressed) and have all the necessary equipment for gyoroogi.

Students arriving while the test is in progress will forfeit the privilege of testing.

Test etiquette follow the same rules as a normal class in which students and their guest(s) must provide the utmost respect by remaining silent at all times during the exam.

Pagers must be placed on vibrate mode.
Cell phones should be turned off.
Outgoing calls should be made outside of testing area.

The format of the belt test may vary, but is generally given in three parts:

Q&A, Stances, Punches, Blocks, Kicks, Combinations, Poomse
Gyoroogi
Kyepka

Students should never approach the Black Belt Board, nor ask questions of the Chief Instructor during test. Students may ask to have a question repeated, if:

Student didn't hear the question.
Student has made a mistake on a technique during testing, in which the student may respectfully ask the Chief Instructor for permission to do the technique over again.

Students are required to answer questions loudly and kihap appropriately.

Breaking boards are required in most tests (not all). The size and thickness of the board will depend on the age, size, and belt level of the student as well as the difficulty of the breaking technique. After a board is broken, the student will be handed the broken pieces. Accept the boards with two hands and respectfully bow to that person.

Students may keep the boards they break and should quietly give the boards to his/her guest(s) to hold, or put them with their shoes and sparring gear, returning to the training area immediately, to provide the next student their full attention.

Parents may want to mark the date, belt level, and breaking technique on the boards.

The decision of the Chief Instructor is FINAL. No appeal or correspondence will be entertained.

After belts are awarded and students are dismissed, students may ask the Black Belt Board to sign their broken board. Place the boards with two hands on the table in front of the person accepting your request, bow, step away from the table, and stand in joonbi. Accept the boards with two hands and respectfully bow to that person.

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