You will think this is very ignorant!

[Broanne]

Hi there,

My son has been taking karate lessons for about 15 weeks, and was graded the other night.

His mate received his yellow belt, 1 black bar (that's what it said on their website!) and my lad's just said yellow belt. What does the 1 black bar mean? I know it's a bad time of year to be asking this question, hence not being able to find an answer all day. Just hoping someone reads and can answer, as my boy is wondering why he didn't get a black bar! Erk!

[bushido_man96]

Well, welcome to KF, first of all!

To answer your question: In my experience, there are what are called "recommended" and "decided" grades given out for ranks. I have seen this with some systems in their colored-belt ranks. It usually has to do with the scores on the grade card. Let's say the instructors/judges grade on a 90, 80, 70, 60 scale. Those who score in the upper half (90, 80) would receive a decided rank, indicated by the black bar on the belt. Those that receive grades in the lower half (70, 60) would receive the recommended rank, indicated by the lack of a black bar on the belt.

What this will affect is class orientation; for example, those with the black bar would most likely line up before him, and be acknowledged as a slightly higher ranking student than those without the black bar.

It is possible, that on his next grading, he could work up to the black bar. However, he would have to demostrate some improvement above and beyond that which he performed before.

Keep in mind, that this is just my experience, and to get a completely accurate answer, you should direct your question to the head instructor at the school. If this is the case, then you could also ask the instructor what you and your son could work on together in order to achieve a belt with the black bar on it in the future.

Let me know for sure what bar represents! I would love to know if I am guessing right!

Hopefully, this information helps you out!

[shinnekodo]

Most styles have different ranks or grades. These grades are represented in different ways. Most follow some type of color scheme.

In the style I practice we have 12 color belt ranks or kyu grades. All start at white, then go to advanced white, yellow, advanced yellow, ETC all the way to black belt. Yellow is a plain yellow belt, advanced yellow is a yellow belt with a black stripe thru it. Sometimes, there would be a black stripe at the tip of the belt, or black bar, as you seem to have described.

It sounds like your son's class mate is one grade further along than your son if his yellow belt has a black bar or stripe on it.

Every school is different however, so this is just a guess based on what you said & what I have seen in the martial arts.

[bushido_man96]

In the style I practice we have 12 color belt ranks or kyu grades. All start at white, then go to advanced white, yellow, advanced yellow, ETC all the way to black belt. Yellow is a plain yellow belt, advanced yellow is a yellow belt with a black stripe thru it. Sometimes, there would be a black stripe at the tip of the belt, or black bar, as you seem to have described.

I have seen this as well. Both are very likely scenarios. In my current system, each belt has a "hi" and a "lo" rank. The lo rank is a belt with a white strip through it; the hi belt is a solid color.

[Broanne]

You've been really helpful!

Merry Xmas!

[lordtariel]

In our school, the strip signifies that the student is ready to test for the next belt. You usually only see them when there's a large gap between testing days and mostly with the younger kids.

[ps1]

In the Shotokan school where I studied, Sensei would sometimes give out a stripe (black bar) to the students who knew some extra things. More than anything, it was just a reward for practicing hard and doing extra. It's just good motivation for kids.

I never liked it because the other kids (and parents for that matter), who may or may not have worked hard too, could get disappointed by it. It's tough for kids to understand that martial arts is an individual thing. Sometimes our friends are promoted a little faster than we are and that doesn't mean we are bad at what we are doing. It's an important role of the parent to help the instructor teach them this.

Happy Holidays

[bushido_man96]

In the Shotokan school where I studied, Sensei would sometimes give out a stripe (black bar) to the students who knew some extra things. More than anything, it was just a reward for practicing hard and doing extra. It's just good motivation for kids.

I never liked it because the other kids (and parents for that matter), who may or may not have worked hard too, could get disappointed by it. It's tough for kids to understand that martial arts is an individual thing. Sometimes our friends are promoted a little faster than we are and that doesn't mean we are bad at what we are doing. It's an important role of the parent to help the instructor teach them this.

Happy Holidays

This a great explanation, ps1. It is important to realize that everyone in the martial arts moves at their own pace, and not that of others in the class. Excelling in the martial arts is about overcoming personal obstacles; not about competing with others in the class.

[jaymac]

It is always best to talk with the head instructor in regards to your childs training. Every school varies on the ranking system and although everyone here has given great suggestions why your child did not receive the black bar, your instructor can explain it even better. Parents and instructors have to have open communication about the child's training, or feelings get hurt and the student leaves over something that could have been easily avoided through talking.