| ave probably already realized that martial artists | | | | laugh cynically at the belt rainbow or you may |
| use different colored belts to designate rank. Has | | | | welcome modern innovation and a source of |
| it always been this way? Is there a specific order | | | | positive rewards and reinforcement. |
| to the belt colors? What about all of these stripes | | | | Most people, including myself, lie somewhere in |
| that you keep seeing? What do the different | | | | the middle. I believe colored belts are a good thing |
| colors really mean? Stand by for the answers to | | | | for today’s world, especially the children, |
| all your questions about colored belts. | | | | but let’s keep it real and not get carried |
| Different colored belts used to designate rank are | | | | away and award 3rd degree gold belts with a |
| a relatively modern innovation created by Master | | | | green and purple stripe and a |
| Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo back in the early | | | | “focus” achievement patch just for |
| 1900s. Master Kano felt that there should be a | | | | showing up to class four times that month! If |
| visual progression of the belts as a way to tell | | | | your club has more than ten different colored |
| what level a practitioner was and also as a way | | | | belts with multiple stripes and patches all within |
| to implement a specific hierarchy within each Judo | | | | the same age group’s program then |
| club. | | | | you’ve probably entered a “belt |
| Before the invention of the colored belts there | | | | factory”. |
| was simply a white belt and a black belt and | | | | It’s OK to have different belt systems for |
| nothing in between. It was not uncommon for a | | | | different programs, such as a kids 4 – 6 |
| master’s disciple to study for years while | | | | Tiny Tigers program, a kids 7 – 12 Junior |
| wearing a white belt until one day out of the blue, | | | | program, and the real deal premier martial arts |
| the master awarded the student a black belt and | | | | program for teens and adults but to cram about |
| that was that. The common myth of starting out | | | | 20 different belts into a two or three year |
| with a white belt that gradually gets dirtier the | | | | program is simply ridiculous and is quite frankly, |
| longer you train and finally becomes black and | | | | mostly about the money. |
| then over a longer period of time fades again and | | | | It seems that nowadays we have more belt |
| becomes a murky grey, designating advanced | | | | colors than ice cream flavors and consequently |
| rank is nothing more than that – a myth! | | | | there are no real benchmarks that we can |
| It is highly unlikely that anyone would wear the | | | | compare different belts to from one school to |
| same belt for years on end through hours of | | | | another. So don’t even try. Essentially the |
| intense training and lots of sweat and probably | | | | belt that you wear around your waist only means |
| some blood from time to time. That belt must | | | | something to you and to the person who gave it |
| have been pretty stinky to say the least. The | | | | to you. Usually you have to go and perform |
| fact of the matter is that back in the old days a | | | | certain requirements in order to receive your belt, |
| karate session was a private affair between the | | | | but the requirements differ so greatly from |
| master and his student and there wasn’t | | | | school to school that there is no universal |
| even a need for a belt at all. The student would | | | | standard. |
| practice in comfortable pants and a bare top and | | | | This is another one of the reasons why you |
| that was it. | | | | should do your research beforehand and check |
| So what is the big deal with all of these colored | | | | out the different martial arts schools in your area. |
| belts? | | | | Ask them about their programs, about their |
| Well it has been a gradual progression to our | | | | ranking systems, about their grading fees and |
| current situation. First no belts, then white and | | | | about their style. Then decide whether what they |
| black, then the addition of brown, then green, | | | | offer is something that would benefit you or your |
| then the other fillers of yellow, orange, blue, | | | | child. |
| purple, red, and recently we have seen many | | | | If you need more help with this or any other |
| other additions that are varying shades of all of | | | | karate subject, please be sure to download my |
| the above colors with multiple stripes, | | | | FREE Report “Beginners Guide to |
| achievement bands and patches, all for the | | | | Karate”. You will find out how to download |
| purpose of encouraging students. Depending on | | | | it at |
| which end of the traditional versus modern | | | | Good luck and best wishes on your journey in |
| continuum that you place yourself on, you may | | | | karate. |