Belts and Stripes

Belts, and stripes, and rainbows–oh my! Belts can be confusing, so we put together a guide just for you! Karate, Tae Kwon Do, and Arnis each have a separate ranking system.

Family belt collection; what a rainbow!
Family belt collection; what a rainbow!

Any rank that has an age next to it is a rank we add for younger students to give them extra scaffolding in their journey to black belt. Adults and older students will skip those ranks.

Karate Belts

  • White
  • Advanced White (6 & under)
  • Red (6 & under)
  • Yellow
  • Advanced Yellow (6 & under)
  • Orange
  • Advanced Orange (up to 12 years if needed)
  • Blue
  • Advanced Blue (up to 12 years if needed)
  • Purple
  • Advanced Purple
  • Green
  • Advanced Green
  • Brown Level 3
  • Brown Level 2
  • Brown Level 1
  • Provisional Black
  • 1st Degree Black

Tae Kwon Do Belts

  • White
  • Advanced White (ages 6-10)
  • Yellow
  • Advanced Yellow
  • Green
  • Advanced Green
  • Blue
  • Advanced Blue
  • Brown
  • Advanced Brown
  • Provisional Black
  • 1st Degree Black

Arnis Belts (have red stripe through the middle)

  • White
  • Yellow
  • Green
  • Blue
  • Brown
  • 1st Degree Black

Stripes are awarded when a student demonstrates that they know the required item for their level. Stripes are given at the instructors’ discretion. Poor attitudes or insufficient technical progress may cause the instructors to hold off on giving stripes, even if the student knows the techniques.

Our striping system allows any instructor to see what a student needs to work on, and provides an incentive, as well as a visual check, for students when they are deciding what to practice.

Stripes: Karate

  • Black stripes: counting (white, red belts), partner drills (yellow & up)
  • Blue stripes: kicks
  • Yellow stripes: blocks and hand techniques
  • Green Stripes: forms (1 stripe for current, 1 stripe for old)
  • Red Stripes: has passed pre-test

Stripes: Tae Kwon Do

  • Black stripes: mental requirements
  • Blue stripes: kicks
  • Yellow stripes: partner drills, self-defense, fighting combination
  • Green Stripes: forms & form basics
  • Red Stripes: has passed pre-test