People new to Tae Kwon Do often ask themselves this question: How long will it take me to earn my first black belt in Tae Kwon Do? Everyone’s journey may vary; this article should give an approximate timeline as to when your training should lead up to earning that first belt.
Beginner Taekwondo Belts
As your taekwondo journey continues, new belts will be awarded each time you pass a grading. Each belt represents different levels of knowledge, experience and expertise in this martial art form. On average it takes about 2-3 months for beginners to advance from white belt to yellow belt and another 6 months after that until reaching green belt status; eventually four years are needed before reaching black belt status.
Coloured Belts Taekwondo uses a colored belt system to help students track their levels of achievement and progression within its disciplines, including Taekwondo. Kup Grades in Taekwondo is its equivalent, and regular test-for-promotion opportunities occur every three months at club locations – these tests (also called ‘gradings”) will assess your knowledge and skills with specific patterns, kicks, strikes and self defense techniques; at certain clubs this grading may also include tests covering rules related to martial art rules or general understanding.
Black Belt Levels mes Once students have earned all coloured belts in taekwondo, they may progress onto black belt levels – the highest ranking possible and signifying that you are master in your discipline. Achieve this level requires dedication, skills and perseverance – an impressive feat indeed!
Time taken to achieve black belt level will depend upon which school and academy you attend, with each academy setting its own criteria for advancement. Students typically must show at least one pattern, two sparring forms and free style forms as well as the ability to break two three inch boards before being evaluated for black belt advancement. It may also be necessary to demonstrate being able to defend against holds, clubs, knives and unarmed attacks before advancement is granted.
Your time in Taekwondo training depends on the effort, commitment, and dedication you put into each session. Beyond simply becoming an extremely skilled martial artist, it is also crucial that you show respect to instructors, fellow students, rules and etiquette of martial art discipline as a whole as well as contribute back to community support of Taekwondo practice and help push it forward.
No matter the martial art school you attend, your timeline for earning your black belt should take no more than four years if you regularly train at twice weekly classes year-round. Most importantly, remember to enjoy every step along your journey and always remember why you began training initially!