Andy Cap said:
I have a really simple question here.
What side you your dans where their stripes? For example a 2nd dan has two stripes on teh end of their belt, on the left or right?
I noticed this thread from awhile ago, and there was only one answer given, which is contrary to my to my answer (sorry Terry
), so I wanted to add my response.
In all of the Taekwondo Organizations I have trained, and taught with (from ATA in the 70s, to Jidokwan in the 80s and 90s, to Chung Do Kwan since 2000), the rank stripes on a Black Belt are always displayed on the wearer's right-hand side. Some don't use stripes or any writing on belts. Some ony write the words in Korean, or their native language. Others will put the stripes on both sides, but typically, throughout the Taekwondo community, I believe it is most common to wear the stripes only on the right-hand side.
Sometimes white tape is placed near the end of the belt ("Dhi" 띠 or "Dhee" - one stripe for each degree), or white or gold stripes are embroidered on the belt. I have seen embroidered gold stipes used for degrees on one side, and white tape used for interim tests between degrees on the left. If Degree stripes are only worn on one side, it is of preference for students to be uniform and consistent, so one side should be designated.
In Martial Art custom, the right side of the room is considered senior, and the left junior. The right is dominant over the left (as in the Taegeuk of the Korean Flag). Top is dominant over bottom, and front over back. In a military format, higher ranks line up in the front, and to the right. The senior ranking student (seon bae 선배 or "seon bae nim" - pronounced "suhn bah neem"), should be able to look to his/her left at their junior ranking student (hu bae 후배 or hu bae nim - pronounced "who bah neem") and see their stripes on the right hand side.
Some people might say, "what does it matter?" In my opinion, there is more to Martial Art education than physical skills. Philosophy is of great importance. A student who wears a belt hung uneven, besides needing to learn neatness, shows a lack of balance in their life, and perhaps in their Martial Art training. When students ask their teachers, "Why do the ends of the belt need to be even?", or "why do the stripes go on the right?", or "why do we wear belts at all?", it shows the student's interest in learning the "meaning" behind things. This opens up a dialogue leading to a larger understanding of Martial Art philosophy, and eventully to the students enlightenment. For children, I explain the philosophy; for an adult, an instructor could simply answer, "the shadow of the Earth is not square. Ponder that for a few days, then when you think you understand its meaning, come and talk to me again.
"
As for the stripe on the right-hand side, this has been the approach that I am familiar with, and seen more often in Taekwondo Dojang around the world over the past three decades - - not to say that other ways are wrong.
Senior Master Eisenhart
