The Significance of Belt Colors

[TKD_McGee]

In any Martial Art ive done, I am always told that the Belt colors were used to signify the chaning of time. In the old days the color would go from white to yellow to green and so forth because it would get dirty. But now we have Purple and all sorts of crazy colors. I think that some clubs are trying to take advantage of people, making them jump through hoops to get more money out of them so to say!

 

 

[Jack]

In the old days, they were just there to hold the trousers up

[SBN Doug]

Honestly, I didn't need what few colors we had. Although they have expanded since KSW started from just student, instructor, and master.

 

For the kids, though, I don't have a problem with it. As anyone knows that has kids (and I mean small kids not teenagers), there are few that are long term benefit oriented. As they accomplish a new belt level, it helps keep them motivated. Helps to keep them interested. In the long term, they reap the same benefits, but attain it through smaller steps.

 

Adults, on the other hand, shouldn't need the same type of "pampering" that the children require.

[Prodigy-Child]

well in some clubs purple belt and all the other crazy colors are just buffer belts to break up the curriculum a bit more for $$$$ purposes and learning processes

[SaiFightsMS]

Jack I believe in Okinawa, Japan and Korea belts were worn because they had not buttons. Their belts kept the top layer closed. The pants had drawstrings.

 

Yes, belts are often carried to an excessive amount of commercialisation. But tell me now. will anyone not admit to feeling pride when warded a new belt, particularly one they worked very hard to get?

 

 

[Jack]

Sai of course you feel hard, since you've been working long and hard to progress that official step

[Joecooke007]

TKD,

 

You have a very interesting outlook on things. A karate belt sets you apart from the rest of the class and It earns you respect from other. It is also a symbol of knowledge and power.

 

 

[KickChick]

The color of the belts indicate the rank of the student but it is also symbolizes other aspects of eastern philosophy. Belt colors are steeped in tradition. The colors of black, red, and blue show the various levels of Korean hierarchy during the Koguryo and Silla Dynasties. Red represents the highest ranks and positions of officials in politics, government, military, and religion. It is the "king's" color and the color of Popes and Cardinals. Diplomats wear red bands across their shoulders and red is used on flags of different nations and on ribbons used for military awards.

 

Some martial art styles consider the red belt as the highest color of achievement, such as the 10th degree belt of Jigero Kano, the founder of judo.

 

In some religions, a white garment signifies a sinless life. The color white symbolizes birth or beginning, and the color black symbolizes the end. The colors white and black are are also linked to the philosophy of Yin - Yang: the theory of opposites opposing each other while still working in harmony, such as the sun and moon, day and night, and beginning and end. YinYang is the ultimate explanation of cosmic order. It explains how everything in the universe both acts and reacts to everything else.

 

White belt students are the opposite of black belt students in knowledge and ability but they work together to increase each other’s knowledge and ability.

 

In TKD the colored belts between white and black belts attempt to link the two together in a meaningful way.

well in some clubs purple belt and all the other crazy colors are just buffer belts to break up the curriculum a bit more for $$$$ purposes and learning processes

 

...actually our school has just white, gold, green, purple, blue (1st&2nd), brown (1,2 and 3 for 16 and under), and black (all dans) When a student learns their kata/form 100% they are given a special stripe. The instructor now knows that student is proficient in that area and it makes the student proud to feel he at least knows his form (but he may not be ready to test just yet!) We give out stripes for amounts of lessons attained. When the number of stripes add up to required lessons to test, you are then pretested (no fee) to see if you are ready. It is only at that point and totally at master's discretion that you advance to next color.

 

 

 

_________________

 

KarateForums Sensei

 

1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF)

 

Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr.

 

[ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-06-18 15:25 ]

[rabid hamster]

I think belts are alright for little kids like someone else said(and for adults there should just be levels like begining advanced, etc), but i think it should be explained that just because you have a higher rank doesn't mean your better and all that and stuff... cuz there's this one kid that's younger then me, and just because he's one rank higher he bosses me around. i find it pretty funny watching the little guy do that, but it gets annoying sometimes when you're trying to do you're on stuff.

 

and kickchick, so basically yin and yang is a way to explain balance or something? im not very good with chinese philosophy and stuff like that.

 

[ This Message was edited by: Hiya on 2002-06-18 16:34 ]