Uniform

The color of the uniforms worn thousands of years ago by martial artists was based on the ying/yang philosophy. Ying and yang symbolizes the opposites that exist in nature and society, like good and evil, darkness and light, future and history.

For centuries, there were only two divisions in martial arts: the black belt and the white belt. The instructor wore an all white uniform with a black belt. The student wore just the opposite. In the last 30 years, martial arts have acquired many colored belts between the white and the black. In the American Martial Arts TukongÒ Moosul classes, students begin as they did thousands of years ago with a black uniform and a white belt.

The uniform's color represents your body. When you begin, your uniform is black, symbolizing your body's impurities and weaknesses. As you train and work your body, you sweat and must wash your uniform. The more you train, the more you must wash your uniform. As your body grows stronger, faster and more coordinated, your uniform fades, symbolizing the purification of your body through training. Your uniform gradually turns lighter and lighter, until one day you are awarded a completely white uniform to show your progress.

The belt's color represents your knowledge. Originally, a martial arts student had one white belt until they reached black. As they trained their belt would get darker from sweat and dirt. Every time the student tied his belt, oils and dirt from his hands, and sometimes blood, would stain the belt. Eventually the belt would turn a brown color, showing that the student had trained a long time and should have learned a lot. This belt was one day replaced with a completely black belt. You should never wash your belt. It would be like washing away your knowledge.

Students and instructors of The American Martial Arts TukongÒ Moosul classes follow this tradition. Students start with black uniforms and white belts, while the instructors have been awarded completely white uniforms and completely black belts. There are, however, eight colored belts before a student reaches the black belt level. Each level before black has a junior and senior level. Starting at the white belt level, their are 18 levels to black.

For more information on the TKMSA Belt Progression System Click Here

Beginner - White, Orange, Yellow

Intermediate - Green, Blue, Purple

Advanced - Red, Brown, Pum Dan (Red Black)

Instructor - Black