Hwa Rang
Hwa Rang is named after the Hwa Rang youth group which originated in the Silla Dynasty in the early 7th century. The 29 movements refer to the 29th infantry Division, where Tae Kwon Do developed into maturity. The 29th was organized by General Choi who later became acclaimed as the founder of modern Taekwondo. Hwa Rang translates to ‘Blossoming Flower’ or ‘Blossoming Manhood.’ The Hwa Rang Do warriors were a group of young men trained by Silla province to defend from the rival Korean provinces of Paekche and Koguryu. These young men were not only skilled in the combat arts but also trained in poetry, writing, painting, reading, music, and other intellectual pursuits. Hwa Rang is done at the brown and high brown belt level. The color brown represents the healing process. As bruises heal, they change from purple to brown. This is a reminder that perseverance and dedication have brought you to this point. You did not give up when you got hurt or faced a challenge but kept going. Also, brown symbolizes a tree. We see the trunk and leaves of a tree but just as important are the roots which support the tree. The Kyu ranks serve as the roots of your martial arts training to support you as continue your journey through the degrees of black belt. The high brown belt has a black stripe through the center. This stripe is a reminder of the goal to achieve black belt and a reminder that training in the martial arts is a continuous journey.