My family studies the art of Tae Kwon Do through the ATA. That stands for American Tae Kwon Do Association. When you start the learn you wear a white bellt. White stand for purity and lack of knowledge. As you progress through the program you earn different color belts. It take 2 years to earn your 1st degree Black belt. It also takes 2 years to earn your 2nd degree blk blt. So to be a 2nd degree you now have 4 years of study. To progress further you spend as many years in a rank as your last promotion. so a 2nd degree must spend 2 yrs as a 2nd degree, 3rd degree , 3 years and so forth. All total, we have been going to ATA for 10 years. My older son is now the oldest or longest in the school student for our school. He is now eligable to test for his 4th degree.