what are the belt levels for martial arts?

Question

What are the belt levels for various martial arts? Krarate, Taekwondo, and any other martial arts that have belt levels.

Answer 1

There are many fanciful stories relating to the origin of the belt system. So one story goes: In the early days of martial arts, all students trained outside and, as now, wore a white belt. Because the belt was never washed as a symbol of hard work put forth into ones training (as is still today), the belts got dirty. Training on grass made the belts green, eventually they became dirty (brown), then very dirty (black). Fighting over time left blood on the belt, hence the red belt of masters and grandmasters. Great story, but only a story.
Early practitioners of martial arts in China, Okinawa and Japan, did not wear specified uniforms let alone a belt to hold it together. Before the introduction of the belt or ranks in martial arts, many of the traditional Japanese arts between 1600 and 1868 used a complicated Menkyo ranking system to license their students with a certificate or letter to practice and teach the skills of a specific art. These arts ranged from martial arts to calligraphy to the traditional tea ceremony.
During the 1880’s, Professor Jigoro Kano developed Judo. In his new martial art style, he borrowed the ranking system used by the Japanese public schools where belt ranks were used by different athletic groups, most notably for ranking swimmers. The use of belt ranking for the swimmers is deeply rooted in Japan's martial arts mystique. The origins of the swimmers belts came from the samurai who, in addition to their training, needed to know how to swim and fight with and without their armor – 3 different swimmer ranks. Thus, in Professor Kano’s first Judo school, the beginnings of the Kyu/Dan (pronounced: q/don) belt ranking system popular today started. Initially, only black or white belts were used to signify rank amongst his students. The belt colors were to recognize which students could take part in which activities. For example: “Best not to throw a student who doesn't have the proven ability to handle being thrown.”
The transfer of belt ranking from Judo to Karate came later. Belt colors were very simple in the early days. Students started out as white belts signifying purity and equality among beginners, next came a brown belt and then a black upon Dan ranking. This signified their readiness to begin serious training. The blue, yellow, orange, green, and purple belts that intermediate students wear are thought to have originated in Europe and were at some point imported into the United States martial arts systems during the 1950's. Today, most martial art styles have some form of recognition in belts. The number of belts available and the order of color depends on the karate style. Some things haven't changed; beginners generally start out as white belts followed by green, brown, and black. Colors in between may vary. Some systems don't use all of these colors, and others use colored tape to mark degrees of rank.
For whatever reason the wearing of colored belts evolved from, the wearing of the black belt still represents a significant achievement in both technical skill and in some cases competitive ability. Whatever color your belt is, wear it with pride, dignity and most of all honor, because it represents a long line of tradition, the lineage of the roots of your teacher and your school and your dedication and commitment to yourself and learning martial arts.

Answer 2

Martial Arts Levels

Answer 3

depends on the style and school.

Also some martial arts have alternatives to belts if they even bother with them at all like muai thai or chines martial arts.

The only system that belt ranks are what they are (you don't have black belts that have no fighting ability, as is common in many many martial arts) and if someone is a particular rank then you know they earned it is brazillian jiu jitsu.

EDIT: There are both sides of an argument for or against ranking systems.

It can be good because it gives students a sense of accomplishment so they stay.

It can be bad because the school can be pushed into giving ranks to undeserving students to meet quotas or make the school look better by having more black belts or higher ranking belts.

Personally I don't like the ranking Idea and have refused to test in the past in virtually all my arts beyond a certain point because If I ever get into a fight and it is uncovered that I take martial arts and am ranked, It could legally be used against me that I had "more" knowledge and should have shown restraint, when in reality, in a real fight, who knows what the hell can happen and I don't want to be the victem of the misconception that a martial artist can take on a raging army of 50 giants and not be hurt (thanks hollywood).

Answer 4

Rank Structure for Adults Aikido

Rank Belt Color Training Days Age
White 6 months

Yellow 6 months

5th Kyu Green 6 months

4th Kyu Blue 6 months

3rd Kyu Blue 3 months

2nd Kyu Brown 6 months

1st Kyu Brown 3 months

1st Dan Black 6 months 15

2nd Dan Black

3rd Dan Black

4th Dan Black 22

5th Dan Black 5 years

6th Dan Black 6 years 33

7th Dan Black 12 years 45

8th Dan Black 15 years 60


Rank Structure for Juniors and Children (ages 6 - 13)


Rank Belt Color Training Days Age

10th Kyu Purple 20 6

9th Kyu Yellow 20 7

8th Kyu Orange 30 8

7th Kyu Blue 45 9

6th Kyu Green 60 10

5th Kyu Green 60 11

Answer 5

There is a lot of hype of earning a black belt. And in today's world of the McDojo's, it means even less than it once did. Yes, it is a goal all aspiring martial artist have when the start out. And when you get there, you do have such a feeling of accomplishment. However, you also come to realize (if you are wise), that it really is only the beginning. A black belt doesn't mean you become an all knowing, wise "master" and it does NOT mean you become "ten feet tall and bullet proof". All it really means is you've graduated from Kindergarten. And now the real learning begins. Be well.

Answer 6

It varies from school to school . Most start with white as the first belt and advance to other colors . Black is not always the final belt either . Here are two examples .

White _ /_ White
Yellow _/_ Purple
Purple _ / _ Blue
Green _ / _ Blue / Green
Blue _/_ Green
Red _/_ Green / Brown
Brown _/_ Brown
Black - 1st through 9th _/_ Brown / Black
Red Sash _/_ Black - 1st through 5th
_________ /_ Red / White
_________ /_ Gold

Answer 7

it first varies by the discipline and then by the organization that the school is affiliated with since they all have a small amount of confliction as to how the discipline should be taught. while some schools follow a strict or "traditional" code for ranks, others may have a more loose interpretation of it.

some schools will use a number of stripes for "in between" belt ranks for more seinor to junior belt ranks while others may just use the next color belt as the rank. the stripes in between usually mean that they are more advanced than the color they are currently wearing but not quite ready for the next rank (ie they may wear a yelloew belt with one orange stripe, meaning they are slightly more advanced than that of someone wearing only a yellow belt)

Most of the disciplines out there have some kind of ranking system to seperate the more advanced students from the junior ranks.

Answer 8

Belt levels are the American method of separating YOU from YOUR MONEY.

In Japan, they have three belts, White, Brown, and Black. It has been alleged that the Japanese belt system actually had more to do with the belt getting dirty over the years.

Regardless, in American systems, you take your belt test, you pay, you get your next belt.

That's another reason I like San Soo, you get your belt after time in rank, not by test.

Answer 9

Belt levels are different in every form of martial arts. They may even be different from school to school even though the forms are the same. The purpose is to show and encourage progress.

Answer 10

It depends on the School and not all WTF Taekwondo or similar schools use the same belt system. My school we do a lot more forms than most Taekwondo Schools (40 + forms to get to black belt) So we need more Belts.

White
White Yellow Stripe
White Black Stripe
Yellow
Yellow White Stripe
Yellow Black Stripe
Orange
Orange White Stripe
Orange Black Stripe
Purple
Purple White Stripe
Purple Black Stripe
Green
Green White Stripe
Green Black Stripe
Blue
Blue White Stripe
Blue Black Stripe
Brown
Brown White Stripe
Brown Black Stripe
Red
Red white Stripe
Red Black Stripe
Black

Plus its usually on the average 4-6 months between testings so it takes a long time to get to black. I remember when it took me 2 1/2 years to get from White Belt to Orange Black Stripe and at most schools (McDojangs) they have promoted someone to black belt by then. But that is the average time for my school. That must be the reason we dominate at tournaments.