In order to develop the skills, discipline, and self-control necessary for the proper use of Taekwondo techniques, ATA uses a rank system. Such a system serves several purposes, including: Chain of Command: The ascending order of rank carries an increasing level of authority and responsibility. The student learns to assume responsibility gradually as he/she moves up the ranks. He/she also learns to accept and properly use authority that accompanies the higher ranks.

Measurement of Progress:
The most obvious advantage of the rank system is that it provides a visible measurement of the student’s progress. As he/she learns the basic techniques of Taekwondo and tests successfully, he is awarded the colored belts that signify the rise in rank. He/she feels accomplished; and he/she is encouraged to learn the next set of new material with renewed enthusiasm.

There are nine ranks, called “grades,” in the colored belt series, and nine ranks, called “degree,” in the Black Belt series. Because it is the highest number in a single digit, the number nine, in Oriental culture, represents the highest attainable goal of any measurable endeavor