Black belt degrees, called dan, are the ranks of a Tae Kwon Do black belt, and they count up, so a higher number means a higher rank. At Chung TKD in New Hyde Park, Grandmaster Howard Chung is a 9th Dan, a ninth-degree black belt. He has taught Tae Kwon Do since 1970, opened the school in 1984 and trained in the direct lineage of Supreme Grand Master Jhoon Rhee.
Chung TKD teaches Tae Kwon Do, a Korean martial art, to children ages 2 to 13, in three programs by age: Pee-Wee, Children and Youth. This guide is by Master Chris J. Chung, 5th-degree black belt.
What does dan mean on a black belt?
Dan, pronounced dahn, is a black belt rank, also called a degree. Color belt ranks, called geup, count down toward black belt, so each new color belt has a lower geup number. Black belt degrees count up from there. Our glossary of Tae Kwon Do terms explains more of the Korean words, and our guide to the belt colors in order lists the color belts.
How many black belt degrees are there?
In most Korean martial arts, black belt degrees stop at the ninth dan, though a tenth dan has been given on some occasions, as Wikipedia's entry on dan ranks explains. That entry also notes that in Kukkiwon-style Tae Kwon Do, a child under 15 cannot test for a dan. Instead, a child holds one of four junior grades, called poom, and can change a poom to the matching dan at 15.
Titles come with the degrees, and each organization sets its own, as Wikipedia's Taekwondo entry lists. In ITF Tae Kwon Do, the fourth to sixth degrees are called sabum, meaning instructor, and the ninth degree is called saseong, meaning grandmaster. In Kukkiwon schools, the fourth to sixth degrees are master instructors, and the seventh to ninth are grandmasters.
This is general Tae Kwon Do background, not Chung TKD's own rules. Ask the school's instructors how ranks work for your child.
What does it mean that Grandmaster Chung is a 9th Dan?
It means he holds the ninth black belt degree. He has taught Tae Kwon Do since 1970, and he runs every belt test, where the school's instructors demonstrate.
Who is the Grandmaster at Chung TKD?
Grandmaster Howard Chung, 9th Dan. He opened the school in 1984 and leads it, and the school's professional instructors teach the classes. He has taught at Quantico and Langley and instructed members of Congress. The About page has more on him, and our guide to choosing a martial arts school lists questions to ask about who teaches.
What is Grandmaster Chung's lineage?
He trained in the direct lineage of Supreme Grand Master Jhoon Rhee. A lineage is a line of teachers and students. Jhoon Rhee is widely known as the father of American Tae Kwon Do and as a teacher of Bruce Lee and Muhammad Ali.
How do the ranks at Chung TKD fit together?
Here are the ranks this guide names, in order, from a child's first color belt to the top of the school's lineage.
- Color belts. A child earns a stripe for each class in which they review their curriculum, and earns each new belt at a belt test.
- Black belt. Kwang-Gae and Koryo are the black belt forms, and black belt tests are big events that the school's past black belts come back for.
- Master Chris J. Chung, 5th-degree black belt, who wrote this guide.
- Grandmaster Howard Chung, 9th Dan, who leads the school and runs every belt test.
- Supreme Grand Master Jhoon Rhee, in whose direct lineage Grandmaster Chung trained.
How does a child earn a black belt at Chung TKD?
A child earns each new belt at a belt test by performing correctly, from the first color belt up to black belt. Below brown belt, a child tests when their instructors say they are ready, and from brown belt on, tests are on set dates. Grandmaster Chung runs every belt test, and families have a seat and watch. Our guide to how stripes work explains how a child gets ready for a test.
What comes after black belt?
The path keeps going. For some black belts, the Masters Club follows, with leadership training by invitation.
Where is Chung TKD?
Chung TKD is at 1527 Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park, NY 11040.
How do we get started?
Start with the two free trial classes. A parent or guardian stays for both, and kids wear something comfortable, sweats or shorts. Book a free class online, and our guide to a first Tae Kwon Do class covers the first visit.
Questions parents ask
What are black belt degrees in Tae Kwon Do?
The ranks of a black belt, also called dan. They count up, so a higher number means a higher rank.
How many black belt degrees are there in Tae Kwon Do?
Wikipedia's entry on dan ranks says most Korean martial arts stop at the ninth dan, though a tenth dan has been given on some occasions. Each organization sets its own titles and rules.
What does it mean that Grandmaster Chung is a 9th Dan?
Grandmaster Howard Chung holds the ninth black belt degree. He has taught Tae Kwon Do since 1970 and leads Chung TKD in New Hyde Park.
Who is the Grandmaster at Chung TKD?
Grandmaster Howard Chung, 9th Dan. He has taught Tae Kwon Do since 1970 and opened the school in 1984.
What is Grandmaster Chung's lineage?
He trained in the direct lineage of Supreme Grand Master Jhoon Rhee, widely known as the father of American Tae Kwon Do.
What are the black belt forms at Chung TKD?
Kwang-Gae and Koryo.