Does Hapkido have a ranked belt system?

Hapkido is a Korean martial art that uses a variety of styles that are taken from various other martial arts. It has a mixture of striking, grappling, weaponry and all sorts of other techniques thrown in. However, one commonly asked question is whether Hapkido has a ranked belt system? The answer to this is yes it does. Like most other forms of martial arts, Hapkido uses a colored belt system and like the majority of arts, it starts with white belt and ends at black belt. In total there are 6 belts to go through and on average it takes around 5 years or so to achieve the black belt. With this in mind, it roughly takes around 1 year at each belt from white onward which is quite typical across most martial arts.

How long does it take to get a black belt in Hapkido?

For most regular people that train a few times a week, you can achieve your black belt in around 5 years. Of course, there are some exceptions to the norm. Some people take time off or barely train, whilst others will train often and be incredibly committed. Ultimately, there’s no rush but at the same time people will have differently paced journeys.

As said though, the black belt roughly takes 5 years to get which is quite normal. Remember, certain schools will have differing criteria though so the 5 year example isn’t set in concrete and it may differ from place to place. Ask yourself this though, would you rather be a poor black belt, or a great red belt who is superior in skill? This shows that belt colors are important but they’re not everything and don’t always determine skill.

White belt

The white belt is the beginning of your Hapkido journey. As this color is blank, it indicates that you’re still very new and lack any significant knowledge. Obviously, there’s a big skill gap between a brand new white belt and one that’s almost promoted. Overall though, there’s very little expectation on a Hapkido white belt other than turning up and having a good attitude.

Yellow belt

The yellow belt is still considered a beginner rank but is held in higher regard compared to the white belt. Very little is still expected from yellow belts, but the level of knowledge should be noticeably different compared to a white belt. When it comes to sparring, size and strength are still very apparent at this level.

Green belt

The green belt is the middle child where belt colors are concerned and therefore there’s a level of maturity attached to this rank. In this sense, it’s considered the first step towards becoming accomplished and skilled in Hapkido. Green belts should be knowledgeable of many moves and have a baseline of understanding of what Hapkido is.

Blue belt

The blue belt is one of the more established belts in Hapkido and usually, this means you’ve put in the work and trained for a few years at least. This means that most people that reach this belt typically reach the black belt.

Red belt

The red belt is the last of the belts that leads up to black belt. Often, a skilled red belt can feel like a black belt and have similar knowledge. Especially when compared to newer black belts. In other words, this is a mature rank that should be treated with respect. This means a real dedication to Hapkido, which results in an understanding of its moves and techniques.

Black belt

This is the final belt in Hapkido and as mentioned, it can take around 5 years to make. In other words, this shows that someone has put the effort in and trained hard to get there. It should be noted that whilst the black belt is held in high esteem, it’s often only the beginning in terms of learning. This philosophy is also adopted by other martial arts such as Karate and Judo.

In total, there are 9 dans to achieve on your black belt and these can take years to achieve. In other words, some of the later dans take longer to get compared to the entire journey from white to black belt. Technically, there are 10 degrees to a Hapkido black belt, but the last dan was reserved for the founders of Hapkido, so for most people this isn’t easy to obtain.

How do you get promoted in Hapkido?

Of course, every dojo is different but in Hapkido most of the time you will be subject to a belt requirement test. This often means showing your teacher certain moves that are required for each belt. Other factors such as time and general ability in typical training sessions will also be taken into account. However, the point of belt testing is to see whether you’re worthy of a promotion or whether you’re miles off. There is no shame in failing a promotion test either, as there’s always next time.

Often, these tests can be a cause for celebration though and teachers will do it knowing beforehand that their student is good enough. The point is that it serves as a demonstration that not just shows the skills of the student, but also the bond between the teacher and student. In general, this means that you shouldn’t fear a belt test and it’s a technicality as much as anything.

Do kids have different belts in Hapkido?

In Hapkido, kids will often have a different set of belts compared to adults. Again, this isn’t something that is exclusive to Hapkido and can be found in other martial arts. Basically, this will often be done at the discrepancy of the school and certain gyms have different kid’s belts. Generally, there’s less of a consensus when it comes to kid’s belts in Hapkido and each place is different.

For instance, it’s common for some gyms to give out belts with a stripe in them to show the practitioner is a child or teen. Usually, the Hapkido grading system does not offer black belts for kids either, as this can be seen as disrespectful towards adults who have earned them. This may be another reason why the belt system is different for kids.

Conclusion

Overall, we’ve established that there certainly is a belt system in Hapkido. It should be noted though, that due to the nature of Hapkido – sometimes gyms will use their own grading system. This is because Hapkido is somewhat random in its approach, and does not always follow strict guidelines unlike certain other martial arts.

With this in mind, if your belt promotion does take longer than first anticipated, fear not and trust the process. Remember, it’s the journey and not the destination that you should be focusing on when training martial arts. Hopefully, this article acts as a rough guide though and shows the path from a complete beginner to a veteran black belt.