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Basically, first through fifth degree black belts are awarded based on what the person can do, and sixth through ninth degree black belts are awarded on what the person has done for Taekwondo and the certifying organization.

Ranks below black belt range from 9th (or 10th) gup (lowest) to 1st gup (highest). In contrast, black belts range from 1st dan (lowest) to 9th (or 10th) dan (highest). This means that gups descend from 9 to 1, whereas dans ascend from 1 to 9. This inverted progression stems from the eastern belief that all life develops in, and descends from, heaven; lives on the earth; and then returns to heaven. Nine is the highest single integer in the decimal system and, in some eastern cultures, it represents the highest attainable goal, heaven.

In the Orient, three is the most esteemed of all the numbers. The Chinese character for 3 contains three lines: the upper line symbolizes heaven; the middle line symbolizes mortals; and the bottom line symbolizes earth. Eastern belief was that a king was one who could link these three things (God, mankind, and country) so the Chinese character for three and the one for king are nearly synonymous. As mentioned above, there are three groups of Taekwondo lower belts and three groups of black belts. When the number three is multiplied by itself, the product is nine, the highest integer. Therefore, the numbers three and nine are important in the Taekwondo belt system.

The number nine is interesting in another way. When it is multiplied by any of the integers, and the individual integers of the product are added together, the answer is always nine, for example 9 times 1 equals 9; 9 times 2 equals 18 and 1 plus 8 equals 9; etc. Nine is the only integer having this property. 

Belt Colors

The origin of the colored belts, as well as the significance of the particular colors, is shrouded in mystery and may be permanently lost to history. While Jigero Kano left no documented reason for the various colors he used, he did believe that, if someone achieved a stage higher than tenth dan, then "one transcends such things as colours [sic] and grades and therefore returns to a white belt, thereby completing the full circle of Judo, as of life." The Kodokan decided the belt worn by such a person should be about twice as wide as the ordinary white belt to prevent any novices from mistaking the significance. Kano is the only person the Kodokan ever awarded twelfth dan, or shihan. Therefore, Kano's belt would be a double wide white belt.

As to the white belt being selected as the first belt, the Japanese people have considered white as symbolic of cleanliness and sacredness since ancient times. Therefore, it symbolizes the innocence and virtue of beginners. The white belt may also be related cotton being used to make the Judo uniform. After frequent washing, the natural cotton material tends to turn white. 

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