Belt colors for karate?

Question

What does each color mean and what are the rankings?

Answer 1

Originally, Karate training did not involve any notions of rank. After introduction to Japan, some adopted only 3 obi (belt) colours. White, Brown and Black, with several ranks of each. Here is the original belt system, still used by Shotokan Karate of America

Ungraded - white
8th kyu ~ 4th kyu - white
3rd kyu ~ 1st kyu - brown
1st dan and above - black
As karate became more widespread, a decision was made by some karate organizations to add more colors and ranks to the system.

One example is given below, but these vary among organizations.

8th kyu - white - one stripe
7th kyu - white - two stripes
6th kyu - white - three stripes
5th kyu - yellow
4th kyu - purple
3th kyu - green
2rd kyu - blue
1st kyu - brown
1st dan ~ 10th dan - black

Answer 2

The myth of belts is that they changed colours do to use...The old and true systems had no belts. Because America is the "I want it now" society, belts were created to help students set goals and feel a sense of success as each belt was retired and a new one attained.
That said, it also allows instructors to expect a certain level of knowledge at each belt. However, I have seen low ranking individuals beat much higher ranks in fights --- sometimes because the lower rank had a high rank in another system or was a better skilled fighter.
The colour means differant things....eg. Green in mine is earth, solid, blue is stregth, yellow is warning, orange is caution, black is death.
Also, a 1st dan is not a master of the art but has mastered learning the art. Not until one reaches 3rd dan is one considered skilled and 6th or 7th dan to be a master.

Answer 3

My Dojo (Shito-ryu Karate) goes

White
Red (for under eight)
Yellow
Orange
Blue
Purple
Green
Green with 1 Brown Stripe
Brown
Brown with 1 Black Stripe
Brown with 2 Black Stripes
Black 1st
Black 2nd
and so on.

The notion of anyone becoming a "Master" at a certain rank (6th or 7th dan) is absurd. Almost as absurd as the belt colors having meanings. They are just benchmarks to get to so that you feel accomplishment. Holding a belt rank doesn't mean that you are better than a lesser belt. It simply means that you have acquired the knowledge to learn the next step. It doesn't mean that you have mastered the previous info.
I have met many Black belts that are higher in rank than me who couldn't punch their way out of a wet paper bag, and I know a few lesser belts who I think are better than me.
You should look upon belt rank as a personal marker for you, not as a Gage to compare yourself with others.

Answer 4

Like everybody else said - it depends on the school. I train traditional Japanese, and it goes:
White
Yellow
Orange
Blue
Green -3, 2, 1
Purple
Brown -3, 2, 1
Black 1, 2, 3, etc.
I was taught that in the old Dojo's in Japan when you started training you were given a white belt - you retained that belt all through your training, never washing it. As you continued on with your training, the belt became darker from being soiled from training. The longer and harder you trained, the darker it got. If my Sensei finds out somebody washed their belt - finger & knuckle pushups - lots & lots! All in all, though - it's not about the color of the belt - it's about your knowlege and application of your art. I've seen green belts put a hurtin' on some black belts - it helps keep you humble and grounded.

Answer 5

Belt color meanings:

White light appears pure and brilliant, but when you direct the light through a prism, you can see the white light is compose of all the colors of the spectrum. it represents the beginner, with a vision pure and pristine. When the beginner is directed through the prism of training with sincerity and effort, you can see his potential. He is the seed hidden beneath winter's snow.

Yellow (or Gold) represents the warmth of the winter's sun that melts the winter's snow and allows the seed to germinate. This is the birth of consciousness and purpose of action.

Green is the color of the sprout and represents the spring when growth and activity abound.

Blue is the color of youth, ambition and rapid growth. The seedling is now reaching for the blue sky.

Red represents the summer's sun that swelters with the intensity of the flowering arts.

Black is the color of mastery. No color added to this color can change or improve it. This completes a cycle that is now begun again.

Answer 6

Each colour represents the level of the person in karate. In shitoryu, the belt orders are as follows:

10th kyu-white
9th kyu-yellow
8th kyu-orange
7th kyu-green
6th kyu-blue
5th kyu-purple
4th kyu-red
3rd kyu-brown(3 white stripes)
2nd kyu-brown(2 white stripes)
1st kyu-brown(1 white stripes)
1st dan-10th dan-black

from 10th kyu to 8th kyu is the beginner's level, 7th kyu to 5th kyu is the intermediate's level and from 4th kyu onwards are the senior or advanced level.

Answer 7

As my sensei said "Belts hold your trousers up" in other words dont get hung up on what colour belt your wearing and concentrate on what you are learning.

Answer 8

it depends on your style of karate i am in kenpo and my belt colors are: white, yellow, orange, purple, blue, 1st degree green, second degree green, 1st degree brown, 2nd degree brown, 3rd degree brown, 4th degree brown, black and there are 10 degree's in black

hope this helps!

Answer 9

it depends on the style but mine is kempo and the belts are no belt, white, adv. white, yellow, adv. yellow, orange, adv. orange, purple, adv. purple, blue, adv. blue, green, adv. green, red, inter. red, adv. red, brown, inter. brown, adv. brown, 1st degree black belt, 2nd degree blackbelt, 3rd degree black belt, 4th degree black belt, 5th degree black belt, 6th degree black belt, 7th degree black belt, 8th degree black belt, 9th degree black belt and 10th degree black belt but the rank a person is doesnt matter but the actual person like one of my friends has his christmas belt (in other words the adv. green) and im a yellow belt and i can beat him any day

Answer 10

Which belt?