How does the belt system work?

[Monkeymagic]

There is a thread on this forum called 'coloured belts' here is a link to it:

http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=12114&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=50

Basically, there are so many forms of the belt system. Some only have Black and white or Black, brown and white. Others, like mine (as you should see here) have 10 belts grades before black.

Some people agree with the system, others don't. I beilive it is a way of giving those starting an incentive to continue and something to aim for. make your own mind up.

[karateka477]

in the shorei kai we have 11 belts.

white

gold

yellow

orange

green

blue

purple

brown1

brown 2

brown3

shodan ho(preblack)

black belt

we have to get 8 stripes per belt till black belt i dont know about shodan ho but i believe to move up in black belt u haft to get 10 bars which are like stripes. i bleieve

[username9]

Ok - Shukokai karate has recently added a red belt into the system. It goes like this:

White (no grade)

Red

Yellow

Orange

Green

Blue

Purple

Brown 1st tag (One horizontal white stripe round the end of the belt)

Brown 2nd tag

Brown 3rd

Black

As far as I know - the colours started when nobody had different coloured belts. because it was considered bad luck o wash the belts, the more you trained - the darker your white belt became cos of the blood, sweat and tears of training! hehe

Hence the further development of the colour system.

But I also heard that Judo was the first Martial Art to develop the colour system of belts?

In TaeKwon Do it is very interesting. the belt lifecycle is similar to a plant lifecycle.

White symbolises innocence.

Yellow is the Sun nourishing the seed planted (new martial artist)

Green is the first shoots (representing the leaves)

Blue is growing towards to sky - as skill develops.

Red (different) but symbolises danger of nearly being black belt.

Black symbolises proficiency!

So that's my 2cents!

[UsagiYojimbo]

My understanding is that, in the modern belt systems, the colors are supposed to represent the progression from white to black, going to darker and darker colors as you approach black. No 2 schools seem to agree what's considered "darker", though; therefore, you get some schools placing orange before yellow, or vice versa. But I was discussing this with one of my senseis last night, and she said that most systems have at least the white, green, brown and black belts as markers along the way.

[Bloke]

From what I can gather from a little net research the original reason behind progressively darker belt colours came about as students would dye their belt to the next colour. This was obviously cheaper than buying a new one each time. These days there is generally more disposable income so buying new belts for each grade is not an issue - perhaps that may explain why different schools have moved belt colours around ie darker before lighter.

Osu!

[mlee]

my school

White

Yellow

Orange

Green

Purple 1

Purple 2

Brown 1

Brown 2

Black (several levels)

[unknownstyle]

white

blue

1 stripe

2 stripes

green

1 stripe

2 stripes

brown

1 stripe

2stripes

black 1st through 5th dan

checkered red and white 6th through 8th dan

red 9th and 10th

[patusai]

White

Green

Brown

Black

Not very flashy but it works

[saishu]

Saishu Ryu Karate Jitsu's belt structure is like this.

Kukyu - White

Hachikyu - White /w 1 stripe

Sichikyu - White /w 2 stripes

Rokukyu - Green

Gokyu - Green /w 1 stripe

Yonkyu - Green /w 2 stripes

Sankyu - Brown

Nikyu - Brown /w 1 stripe

Ikkyu - Brown /w 2 stripes

Shodan - Black

Shodan through Judan can be black belts, however at 6th degree you can wear a red/white panel belt, and at 9-10 dan you can wear a red belt.

Tomo

[karatekid1975]

In Jujitsu, we have only 3 colored belts (I love this idea ) before black. There are 2 kyu grades for each though.

white, 6th kyu (me)

white 5th kyu

green 4th kyu

green 3rd kyu

brown 2nd kyu

brown 1st kyu

Then the dan grades.

In TKD, we have 8.

white

orange

yellow

green

purple

blue

brown

red (me)

senior Red (or high red)

Then the dan grades