What Does
Standardized Uniforms of Oom Yung Doe Practitioners
The tiger is symbolic of the physical world and the dragon signifies the mental or spiritual world. Together they represent a harmony between the two worlds. The Chinese symbol Yin/Yang (Oom Yung) in the background stands for the balance of life.
The right hand is a reminder to accept a good or right challenge in life. The two swords stand for the Chinese symbol for balance and harmony: Yin/Yang (Oom Yung).
The Original Oom Yung patch found on uniforms for higher belts represents balance and harmony.
Uniforms and ranking
Beginning Oom Yung Doe practitioners are ranked into “sections” until reaching first degree black belt. Beginning students receive a white belt, sections of which are dyed black at each promotion until the rank of first degree black belt is achieved, at which point the entire belt is black. Higher-level instructors have a gold belt as part of their uniform trim, although their rank continues to be that of “nth degree black belt”.
Oom Yung Doe instructors are likewise promoted through a series of instructor positions. Rank generally indicates skill and ability, while position generally indicates a practitioner’s involvement with teaching. The two are independent, although there’s a typical correspondence between them as indicated on the chart on the right.
All Oom Yung Doe practitioners wear standardized uniforms while practicing in the school. Students and beginning instructors wear white uniforms, and main instructors and higher-level practitioners wear black uniforms. Practitioners at 3rd degree black belt and below wear Korean-style uniforms similar to Karate. 4th degree black belts and above wear Chinese-style (“Kung Fu”) uniforms which button together at the front (similar to a button-down shirt).
This belt system is a centuries old convention. Initially, a student’s belt would blacken from sweat during earnest practice. The gradual darkening of the student’s belt is symbolic of the effort and concentration a student uses in his or her practice and of the increase in skill and understanding gained as a result.
Beginning at fourth section, the student wears black trim on his or her uniform, which increases with each rank advancement through First Degree Black Belt. Black symbolizes knowledge. The chart below shows the progression of uniforms from white belt through sixth section.
First Degree II Dan, or full First Degree Black Belt, is earned upon satisfactory completion of the probation. A First Degree II Dan has a single black stripe, replacing the gray stripe on the outside of each pant leg.
As a student or instructor progresses past the First Degree level, a stripe is added to the pants at the successful completion of the respective rank test. For example, Second Degree is represented by two stripes on the outside of the pants; Third Degree has three stripes and so on through Fifth Degree. The uniform top remains the same throughout the progression of ranks.
About the Author
oomyungdoe teaches a combination of East Asian martial arts that allows students of all ages to benefit from a wide variety of movements (hard, soft, long and short forms). The practitioners’ of oom yung doe, has specific martial art dress code – a uniform, standard uniform to practice the art form.
Praise Is What I Do – William Murphy
