netfundu - belts

You may think that a black belt is the ultimate mark of proficiency in a martial art form but did you know there is no standard belt-ranking system among the martial arts?
Yes, this means that various types of martial arts or even different schools and styles of the same art may give a rank or belt based on different criteria.

Did you know?

The more traditional practice of ranking skill in Japanese martial arts is not the belt system but the granting of scrolls indicating various levels of abilities.

The belt system as a formal way of showing the rank of a practitioner was popularised by Professor Jigaro Kano, founder of Kodokan Judo, around the beginning of this century. The practice was adopted by Karate, when it was brought into the mainstream of Japanese martial arts. Many other forms of martial arts have also adopted the belt system of ranking but till date there is no central body for giving these.

Any rough guide to the belt system will tell you that a 'white belt' almost always indicates beginners, a 'brown belt' is widely used for advanced rank while a 'black belt' indicates expert proficiency. Many systems use blue, yellow, orange, green, and purple belts in varying patterns of progression for intermediate levels.
The colour scheme and the importance of different belts vary from system to system and school to school. A given colour will frequently signify different ranks in different arts. Also some martial arts or particular teachers may be liberal in awarding belts while others may be stingy.

An often-heard story explains the belt system as follows: a trainee's belts, which, traditionally, were never washed, became progressively dirtier with time (starting out white, becoming yellow with sweat, green with grass stains, and so on), finally changing to black over the years. Of course, this is just a good golee!!

Another reason why a coloured belt awarded in one school or system should not be compared with a different system lies in the manner in which belts are awarded. In some systems belts are awarded solely through competition while in others by demonstration of technical skill in a series of fluid, dance like movements called 'kata'. Still other systems require contests and formal demonstrations for ranking. Belt-rank promotions and demotions can sometimes be made at the discretion of the instructor, the 'sensei'

Did you know?

In some arts ranking may be given in "kyu" and "dan" from beginner to most 10th kyu, 9th kyu….1st kyu, 1st dan, 2nd dan, ..., 10th dan. 1st dan and above frequently wear black belts.

Rather than rank or belt colour, what will determine an individual's skill are how long and how intensely they have studied, the quality of instruction they have received, and (to a lesser extent) their 'natural' ability.