Belts and ranks
WT and Kukkiwon Belt Order: Gup Ranks and Taegeuk Forms
How the ten gup ranks work in World Taekwondo and Kukkiwon schools, which form goes with which rank, and why belt colors differ from school to school.
Reviewed by Daniel Reyes, 4th dan Kukkiwon, 18 years teaching | Last checked: October 20, 2026Schools that follow World Taekwondo (WT) and Kukkiwon count down through 10 gup ranks, from 10th gup (beginner) to 1st gup, then test for 1st dan black belt. Taegeuk forms 1 to 8 are usually taught from 8th gup to 1st gup. The belt colors for the gup ranks are set by each school, so your chart may not match the one below.
What WT and Kukkiwon each do
World Taekwondo is the international federation that runs the sport side, including the Olympic events. Kukkiwon, in Seoul, is the headquarters that issues dan and poom certificates and keeps the official Kukkiwon poomsae (forms). A school that teaches the Kukkiwon curriculum and registers its black belts there is often called a WT-style or Kukkiwon-style school.
Neither group publishes one fixed color chart for the ranks below black belt. That is why two good WT-style schools can use different colors for the same gup.
The 10 gup ranks and the form for each
| Rank | Belt (one school’s layout) | Form usually learned |
|---|---|---|
| 10th gup | White | Basics: stances, blocks, kicks |
| 9th gup | Yellow stripe | Basics, first kicking combinations |
| 8th gup | Yellow | Taegeuk 1 (Il Jang) |
| 7th gup | Orange | Taegeuk 2 (Ee Jang) |
| 6th gup | Green | Taegeuk 3 (Sam Jang) |
| 5th gup | Purple | Taegeuk 4 (Sa Jang) |
| 4th gup | Blue | Taegeuk 5 (Oh Jang) |
| 3rd gup | Brown | Taegeuk 6 (Yook Jang) |
| 2nd gup | Red | Taegeuk 7 (Chil Jang) |
| 1st gup | Black stripe | Taegeuk 8 (Pal Jang) |
The belt column is one school’s example, not a rule. The form column follows the common Kukkiwon pattern, where Taegeuk 1 starts at 8th gup. Some schools add a short form for the lowest ranks or move forms up or down by a rank.
Gup ranks count down. A white belt is 10th gup, and the closer you get to black, the lower the number. See taekwondo belts in order for the same ranks in ITF and ATA schools.
What the eight Taegeuk forms are
| Form | Korean name | Trigram | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taegeuk 1 | Il Jang | Keon | Heaven |
| Taegeuk 2 | Ee Jang | Tae | Lake |
| Taegeuk 3 | Sam Jang | Ri | Fire |
| Taegeuk 4 | Sa Jang | Jin | Thunder |
| Taegeuk 5 | Oh Jang | Seon | Wind |
| Taegeuk 6 | Yook Jang | Gam | Water |
| Taegeuk 7 | Chil Jang | Gan | Mountain |
| Taegeuk 8 | Pal Jang | Gon | Earth |
The trigrams come from the I Ching, the same source as the four symbols on the South Korean flag, and each form has its own theme. You do not need to memorize the meanings to pass a test. Your instructor will teach the movements first.
After 1st gup: the black belt forms
Black belt (dan) students learn a different set called the Yudanja forms. Per the BSTF list of Kukkiwon forms, the order is Koryo for 1st dan, Keumgang for 2nd, Taebaek for 3rd, Pyongwon for 4th, Sipjin for 5th, Jitae for 6th, Chonkwon for 7th, Hansu for 8th and Ilyeo for 9th. Waiting times between dan grades are on our black belt ranks page. Students under 15 usually get a poom belt first. Read what a poom belt is.
How to read your school’s chart
Ask the front desk for the written belt chart and compare it with the table above. These five questions clear up most confusion:
- How many gup ranks does the school use, and does it add stripes between colors?
- Which form is required for each test?
- How many classes or months are expected between tests?
- Are black belt certificates registered with Kukkiwon, and what does that cost?
- Who teaches the test, and what dan rank do they hold?
Frequently asked questions
How many belts are there in WT taekwondo?
There are 10 gup ranks before black belt and 9 dan ranks for black belt. Many schools add extra colors or stripes, so you may pass through more than 10 belts.
What is the first form in Kukkiwon taekwondo?
Taegeuk 1 (Il Jang) is the first Kukkiwon form for gup ranks. It is usually taught at 8th gup.
What is the difference between WT and Kukkiwon?
WT runs international competition. Kukkiwon certifies black belts and sets the official forms. Many schools follow both.
Is there an orange or purple belt in WT taekwondo?
Some schools use them and some do not. The colors between white and black are not fixed by WT.
What are Palgwe forms?
Palgwe is an older set of eight forms. You may still see them at some schools, but Taegeuk is the current Kukkiwon set for gup ranks.