As in many other Vietnamese martial arts, Qwan Ki Do does not have a system of colored belts. Rather, it focuses on levels, each of which is an expression of the student’s technique, knowledge and experience.
The three levels used are:
SO Dang or NHAP man – the inauguration
Trung Dang or Trung man – medium level
Thuong Dang or DAI man – high level
Within each level, however, belts are used as a symbol of progression.
SO Dang – White belt
The student is at the beginning of his initiation. He wears a white belt, which symbolizes his absence of knowledge.
Bach Dai – white belt – VO Cuc – (beginning, purity, emptiness)
Cap Mot – blue bar on white belt – Thai Cuc (genesis, the student has a good knowledge of the first basis)
Cap Hai – two blue barrets on white belt – Luong Nghi (attraction, duality, balance between high and low level, Am Doung (Yin Yang))
Cap Ba – three blue barrets on a white belt – Tu Tuong (4 celestial directions for the four main parts of the body)
Cap Bon – four blue barrets on a white belt – Ngu Hanh (the 5 elements, the body’s capacity, the difference between the body’s strength and weakness)
Trung Dang – Black belte
After completing exams in Cap Bon, the student can prepare for the black belt exam. The age limit here is 18 years. The student is tested in technique and spirit. After receiving the black belt, the student continues his studies, focusing on individual training, as well as studies in philosophy and psychology. From black belt 1. Dang has a thin red edge (Huyen DAI).
The student must focus on breathing techniques and individual training, in addition to general technique.
Thuong Dang – 6th to 8th Dang
The belt is red and white with a yellow border.
CHUONG man DAI – Grand Masters belt
This belt is passed down from generation to generation, and has in recent time been transferred as a testamentary gift from Chau Quan Ky to Pham Xuân Tong.
his belt stands above all other degrees within Qwan Ki Do, and is a guarantee of ethics and authenticity of style.
It consists of four colors that represent the traditional virtues of Qwan Ki Do:
BLUE – on the edge of the belt – it represents goodness and determination
YELLOW – second line after the blue color – it represents clarity and intuition
RED – covers the belt – represents courage and initiative
WHITE – at the center of the belt synthesis of all colors represents purity.