Law may be a strong word when referring to the requirements surrounding black belts in tae kwon do. No legal authority governs these requirements, and no legal sanctions exist for those who break them. However, the organizations that grant a tae kwon do black belt often hold exacting standards to earn, and keep, black belt rank.
No Central Authority
There is no centralized authority that governs rank in tae kwon do. Instead, different organizations set their own guidelines as to what is required to earn and keep black belt rank. These requirements can vary widely, and also vary in regards to how rigorously they are enforced. Two of the largest, most unified organizations setting these rules are the American Taekwondo Association and the World Taekwondo Federation.
Earning a Black Belt
The first set of laws of the tae kwon do black belt is the list of requirements a student must pass to earn the belt. This usually includes proficiency with basic and advanced strikes, blocks and kicks, as well as memorizing several formal tae kwon do katas. Weapons work, sparring and physical conditioning are other common requirements. In many programs, a black belt is also expected to demonstrate a degree of citizenship or ethical development to advance to black belt rank.
Advanced Black Rank
Tae kwon do training doesn't end at black belt rank. Black belt simply represents a comprehensive knowledge of tae kwon do. After earning that rank, students continue to train to actually understand the art. Each degree of rank above black belt requires a minimum years of study equal to the rank pursued. A third-degree black belt would train for four years before being eligible to test for fourth degree. With each successive advanced black belt rank, the laws and guidelines progressively emphasize mental development, ethical maturity and contribution to tae kwon do over physical ability.
Losing Black Belt
Most tae kwon do organizations will have a set of rules governing how a black belt might be stripped of that title. Some offenses that might cause this include leaving the organization, committing a violent crime or being extremely disrespectful to senior practitioners. Stripping rank is rare in tae kwon do, and often not enforced, even if a black belt commits a listed infraction. Rather, the black belt is often just disinvited to attend further meetings, classes and functions of that organization.
Black Belt and the Law
The actual law in the United States doesn't differentiate between black belts in tae kwon do and other citizens. However, enforcement of the law sometimes will. A tae kwon do black belt may be held to a higher standard of self-control than somebody without training, and an untrained person in a fight with a black belt might be given more latitude out of a perceived fear for his life.
References
- Ben Cohn; Tae Kwon Do Instructor; Aloha, Oregon
- "Personal Protection Handbook"; Tom Patire; 2006
- Dave Coffman; Martial Arts Historian; Hillsboro, Oregon
Member Comments