Traditionaly their was only Whit & Black and Later brown added.?

Question

Why do we need all these other colored belts?

Answer 1

The biggest reason for the belts is due to Americans, yes it was started in Judo first and the rest followed in suit.

It gives a student a feeling of proggression and moving forward, especially when it is children.

On another spectrum it also has to do with marketing and making more money. the more tests you can give the more you can earn.

SO to me it was half political but still helps the minds of the students and will more likely to stay in MA than leave.

Answer 2

The colored belt system idea was an invention by Jigorno Kano, the originator of modern Judo. Before the belt system, Martial artists started out with a white belt, and when they learned all the basics of their system, they earned the black belt. The black belt used to mean in many systems that the indvidual had learned all the basics and were now qualified to begin learning the higher techniques in their system. That is why black belt is only the beginning of the learning process, not the end, and also why there are up to 10 Dan, or black belt ranks in many systems.

Some systems, like the original Okinawan karate systems, had no belts at all. They just trained in whatever they were wearing.

The original idea behind awarding colored belts was to approximately rank the individual according to their system. In modern martial arts, however, the belt system has gone astray. There is no unification in the arts between styles or even within the same art to be able to properly rank. One individual with a blue belt in a particular style, may be just as knowledgable and experienced as a brown belt in a completely different style.

The problem lies in the fact that there are so many different styles these days. Along with that there are so many teachers who come from different backgrounds of experience and thought about what constitutes each rank, and what qualifies one for a particular belt rank. The whole belt system has become pretty convoluted.

The answer is on the shoulders of the individual martial artist. An individual starts gaining the highest place in martial arts when they FORGET about what rank they are and simply train each day, as well, and as hard as they can.

Answer 3

1) Commercial. It allows for more testing fees.
2) Pedagogic. It gives students a visual sign of their progress.

In Korean tradition, there are 9 Keups before black belt & 9 Dans of black belt. 9 is s acred number. There is Heaven, Earth & you. 3*3=9 so 9 is considered special. Any more than 9 levels before black belt is a sign of a McDojang or McDojo. whether these 9 levels are all different belts, or fewer belts with stripes added doesn't matter.

Answer 4

Originally there were only white belts, with time the belts would change colors, also training was done outdoors. As you are never supposed to wash your belt, you can see your progress when it gets worn and the color fades/changes.

As to why we need them, there are 2 main reasons: for one schools neeed revenue in order to operate, belt testing helps this purpose. Also you need to see your progress as you traing, belts sets a ranking system

Answer 5

Belt color's came from the Judo system.

Answer 6

It's simple...MONEY! Mmmm, more belts more test and that means more money, more levels in a given color means more belt test and that = $$$

White, Yellow, Green, Brown and black..simple.

White, Yellow, yellow with one stripe, Blue, blue with stripe, Purple, purple with stripe, Green, green with stripe, Brown 3rd dan, 2nd and 1st dan brown.

Welcome to Sport Karate? I don't know but what I do know is I keep it simple for my students and, my testing fees are very low.

Answer 7

My niece and nephew started karate in elementary school and they were really proud to get a yellow belt, then orange belt.

Maybe it gives shorter term incentives to stick with it.

Answer 8

There were no belts, and the crap about starting white and never washing, blah blah is just a myth. The first link below explains about the myth.

http://www.gojuryu.net/readarticle.php?article_id=43
http://www.gojuryu.net/readarticle.php?article_id=44

Answer 9

We westerners are goal oriented we want to see ourselves and our children progress. Belts are like report cards.I don't like the belt ranking system. But I know that it's necessary today just to stay in business.

Answer 10

in japanese karate it was added as a means of keeping track of childrens progress. it was a popular exercise in schools to teach martial arts.