The Belt Rank System of Moo Sa Do Kwan (T.M)

The Belt ranking system in Moo Sa Do Kwan (T.M) is very unique and a reflection of its natural philosophy. In Moo Sa Do we have 24 Gup (Beginner) ranks before Dan (expert level). The 24 Ranks represent that we are martial artists 24 hours a day. After the Gup levels we have seven Dan (expert level ranks) representing we are martial artists seven days a week.

The gup levels count from 1 to 24 with white belt being number 1. Once Dan (Midnight Blue level) is reached we again begin from one to seven. The first rank is called ‘Cho’ Dan literally means new beginning.

It takes approximately three years to get to Dan (Midnight Blue) level. Then each Dan has an opportunity to test every year until Master Level is reached provided they fulfill the requirements for each rank.

Gup levels in Moo Sa Do represent the five seasons (five in Korea) Winter (white belt), Early Spring (Orange), Spring (Green), Summer (Red), and Fall (Midnight Blue).

Black Belt verse Midnight Blue

Moo Sa Do does not have a ‘Black Belt’ in its system. First, in the ancient Korean martial arts Indigo was used not black. Indigo is a very dark blue (navy). It was a very expensive dye and was only worn by royalty, warriors and scholars. Second, Black is a color that cannot get darker therefore it is perfect. Humility is one of the tenets of our art and we realize we are not perfect and although we can attain a certain level of mastery we must always realize we can always learn more. Black also represents death whereas Blue represents life, in Moo Sa Do we believe life is precious. We train to improve the quality of our lives and to protect our lives and the lives of others. Although Black belt is a popular cultural term, it is not part of the Moo Sa Do Kwan philosophy.

The Dan (Midnight Blue) Levels

Dan levels represent the five elements; Cho Dan (Water), Ee Dan (Metal), Sam Dan (Earth), Sa Dan (Wood), Oh Dan (Fire).

Master Levels

Master Levels in Moo Sa Do are represented by the Midnight Blue belt with a red stripe through the center. This symbolizes Neh Gang Weh Yu, which means inward strength and outwardly gentle. There are three Master Level Ranks. Oh Dan (Master level), Yuk Dan (equivalent to a Doctorate) and Chil Dan (equivalent to a Professorship) it takes three years to go from 5th to 6th and four more to go from 6th to 7th.

So it takes seven years of dedicated and consistent training to go from beginner to Master (Ko Dan Ja) then an additional seven to reach the higher levels of Ko Dan Ja.

The Dan levels have stars representing each level and the seven levels of centeredness in Moo Sa Do.

1- 天 Heaven White
2- 山 Mountain White Orange
3- 地 Earth Orange
4- 澤 Lake Orange Green
5- 風 Wind Green
6- 雷 Thunder Green Red
7- 火 Fire Red
8- 水 Water Blue/red
9- Water Solid Navy Blue

10-Metal Navy Blue white stripe
11-Earth Navy Blue Orange Stripe
12-Wood Navy Blue Green Stripe
13-Fire Navy Blue Red Stripe

There are eight different colored belts before Midnight Blue representing the eight elements, and there are five Dan colored belts. Together totaling thirteen representing the 13 universal energies called the Ship Sam Seh in Korean.

The actual origin of Martial arts belts

Since armies wore uniforms belts were part of it. Belts were used to hold ones sword in place for easy access and other implements as well. Belts were however not used to denote rank before the 1800’s.

The systematic use of belt color to denote rank was first used by Kano Jigoro, the founder of Judo (Yudo Korean), who first devised the colored belt system using obi (Dee Korean), and awarded the first black belts to denote a Dan Rank. Initially the wide belt was used; as practitioners trained in kimono, only white and black obi were used. It was not until the early 1900s, after the introduction of the judogi (Do bok Korean), that an expanded colored belt system of awarding rank was created.

Other martial arts later adopted the custom or a variation on it (e.g. using colored sashes) to denote rank including in arts that traditionally did not have a formalized rank structure. Later on Korean styles and even Kung Fu styles adopted this original idea. Ranks in the military up to that point had used  uniform colors and designs to denote different military branches. Occasionally the sash/belt matched the uniform color (see photo left)  but that was simply for aesthetics and did not denote rank or sub ranks.

Terminology of belt ranks;

Dee – Belt in Korean

Gup – Beginner. Literally means to follow someone closely.

Dan – Midnight Blue Belt holder

Yu Gup Ja – Beginner

Yu Dan Ja – Expert

Ko Dan Ja – Master