To familiarize new students with important introductory information concerning their Hapkido training, we have prepared a two-page PDF file. Please read this material in its entirety. The information you have selected (Rank System) is one of several topics contained in this file. Other topics can be viewed online via the Classes>Orientation menu at left. To download the PDF file, click on the link at the bottom of this page. In most Korean, Japanese, and Okinawan martial arts, level of skill (rank) is designated by a colored belt worn around the waist. Colored-belt ranks below black belt are called grades (kup in Korean). The ten black-belt ranks are referred to as degrees or dans. Fourth-degree black belt or higher usually refers to a master-level practitioner. The ranks from lowest to highest are: white, yellow, green, blue, red, and black.

Ranks in Hapkido are awarded based on skills and the amount of time spent in training at one’s current rank. Promotion from one rank to another usually occurs through formal testing, which assesses a candidate’s skills according to specific rank requirements. At the discretion of the instructor, ranks may also be awarded based primarily on training time. This is usually done for individuals who exhibit extreme dedication but possess specific physical limitations that make it impossible for them to do certain techniques. Further information on Hapkido’s rank system and rank requirements can be found via the Resources menu at left.