Why have a belt system?

Question

I am just curious why have a belt system? out in the styreet it doesn't mean sh*t. there are alot of people i know who are "instructors" and alot who are black belts but when it becomes more serious other than "sport" orientated they just freak out and cant fight all there know how for the last 10 yrs is out the window doesn't it just give you a false sense of security ?

Answer 1

The reason should be obvious, money. MA schools need rank tests to generate revenue for the school. The origin of the system follows.
The systematic use of belt color to denote rank was "invented" by Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo, who first devised the colored belt system using obis, and awarded the first black belts in the 1880s. He only used white and black belts, and it wasn't until the early 1900s that the colored belt system of awarding rank was created. Many modern martial artists, however, mistakenly believe that the belt ranking system is an ancient aspect of traditional martial arts.

Answer 2

Historically, the belt system came in rather late. People used to train outdoors. The belt was the part of the uniform you didn't wash. So it would get darker with time. Having a black belt meant somebody had been training hard for some time and had spent a lot of time rolling in the dirt.
Today, they have become recognition. The problem is there is no central governing body. So what one school might consider a black belt might well be only a green belt at others, etc... Also, people are expecting belts every period of training. If people don't fill the entire requirements, they shouldn't have the belt and should be concentrating on whatever it is they're not grasping. But so many people have trouble accepting that and they feel after a certain time, they are simply entitled to the belt and if they don't get it, it's the school's fault.
Ironically, the best schools are the ones that are slow at handing out belts. Parents are as much a part of the problem as children. If little Billy next door has an orange belt and little Johnny is still stuck at yellow, there must be something wrong with little Johnny's school. Except little Johnny probably has a better school, one that will only give him the orange when he's properly earned it.
Some schools of aikido have recognized this and came up with an interesting solution; they have only two belts - white and black. When you've mastered all of the aspects of the art, you get your black belt. In the meantime, it's white. This encourages the student to focus on what they're learning, and not what's around their waist. Naturally, not many children attend these classes, where you get no special recognition for 10 years or more.

Answer 3

Most people have already answered why have a belt system. (AnaMomof5 gives a very good answer too.)

A belt system in and of itself is not bad. It's just a way to gauge your progress and give you something to work toward.
However, in lieu of how common the black belt has become, I think it's important to remind students that a black belt is really more like a high school diploma than actual mastery of the arts.

I want to go a step further with your comments about black belts and the street.
I may be a black belt, but I am by no means a street fighter and I do not claim to be able to do so. On that same note, I do not train for street fighting either. Why should I? Even if you win a fight, it's still painful, and there is always the possibility of arrest and/or retribution from the guy you beat up. It's really better to avoid a confrontation in the first place.

I train for physical fitness and competition. And guess what? There is nothing wrong with that. Actually, I would prefer fighting in a tournament to fighting on the streets; at least I know I won't be killed, hospitalized, or thrown into prison.

The problem comes when people confuse one with the other. I *strongly* believe each insturctor has a responsibility to his students to clarify just what he teaches- self-defense, competition, fitness, etc., and to make it clear to those students that what works in a tournament may/will not work in a violent situation.
It is also the instructor's responsibility to not mislead his students into thinking they are unstoppable killing machines, and to help them realize that the training behind a belt is far more important than the belt itself.

Answer 4

A belt is a belt... period. It has little if any value other than a fashion accessory. All it shows, or is supposed to show, is the amount of knowledge you have. Most people have some crazy idea in their head though that getting a "black belt" means something.... therefore if they have one.. it MUST mean they have really done something. The truth is it should work the other way around. It is given AFTER you know and do.. not instead of. A real martial artist doesn't care about the belt. When he gets a new rank he simply bows, says thank you, and takes his place, attracting as little attention as possible.

Answer 5

There are two main reasons for belts. MONEY, MONEY, MONEY and EGO, EGO, EGO. there they are. There are no other reasons for such a thing. They are big money makers. The more belts you have in your system the more tests you can have. The more tests the more fees you can charge. As far as Ego go's It makes this person feel better or higher than that person. Now on the other side of that coin it gives people something to work for. some people need some kind of reward at various points during their trip down the road of what ever they are doing, belts are those rewards down the road of martial arts. They mean nothing in real life, but people seem to give them meaning. In America people have their idea what an instructor in martial arts has to be and that belt around his/her waist is the most important thing, for most people. That's all nice and dandy if you want a style were Kata is the most important thing to you. I've been training in various martial arts for over 28 years, fought in MMA cage fights, have had jobs were using this knowledge was first and formost. I'm sure I don't need some colored cloth around my waist to feel secure that I know what I can do and that I can handle myself. I find it sad that people will look at your waist to determine your skill level, not at your skill.

Answer 6

ABSOLUTELY. That's because martial arts has become so commercialized and made fun that it has been watered down and so have many of the schools and their promotion standards. Also sport karate is different than street fighting and self defense. I know a number of great sport karate fighters whose skills are not equal to the challenge in a street situation just as there are some tough martial artists that earned their promotion and can more than adequatley defend themselves but can't fight in a tournament and who could usually care less about the sprot karate aspects. The belt system does offer a built in goal system though for motivating students and also is supposed to signify their ability in that particular martial art. So you have to look beyond the belt rank these days and you can usally tell the real deal from the fake one when you have the opportunity to compare them side-by-side.

Answer 7

From everything I've learned the belt system really didn't start until the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the advent of group instruction in western society. And things such as rankings appealed to us achievement oriented westerners.

Sadly this led to the "McDojo" Franchised schools more oriented toward selling a fashion accesory rather than actual martial arts training. Be wary of any school that promises you a black belt in X amount of time or cranks out 8 year old blackbelts by the truckload. Usually to meet this contract they dumb down the testing to the point where virtually anyone can pass.

Answer 8

Most martial arts have a belt system as a way to learn the history and growth of the sport. Mainly you start off as a white belt which signifies a seed first starting off and innocence. the yellow belt is the next step (in most MA) it signifes the sun giving the seed the warmth it needs to grow ( still a beginner). as you get more belts you learn more about the art and how far you have come from a white belt. as for the guys talkin about money and ego, thats a buch of crap. the schools already make enough money off monthly dues and tournaments, not to mention private lessons and special classes. im a black belt with the ITA and ill admite it gets expensive but its all worth it for all the knowlege i can get from it. as for ego i dont think im a hot shot just because im a black belt and i dont think im better than anybody else. being a black belt is a privlage not a right.

Answer 9

I cant really disagree with you on this. I am a Black Belt myself. Belts are used mainly for, in my opinion, to give the students something to strive for, to show progress. And in tournaments, make it a more even match between people. In the very old styles of martial arts, there were only two belts, White and Black. There were no in between belts. But as I said, it is more for giving the person something to aim for. IF a person trains right and hard and makes it like a 2nd nature, then there should be no false sense of security. They should be very confident in their abilities. But I can see your point in a sport based style going into a street fight. They have not been given the techniques and knowledge needed for that type of situation. What many people dont realize about martial arts is that it is not to hurt others, but to keep them from hurting you. That is why style that I teach incorporates many different aspects and several styles. And I do include street situations in it. For what is the point in learning, if it comes down to a fight, you cant defend yourself. This is my opinion and thoughts on it. But one should avoid a fight at all possible costs, ONLY fight if there is no other option.

Answer 10

Just because you think something does not mean you are right. I know a karate instructor w/ a black belt and he could easily kill people, this does not mean that they all could, but is learning a martial arts necessarily about fighting. No, it is more about being prepared to handle a given situation which could be anything from running or knocking someone out. Chances are a girl who has been studying martial arts all her life still could not beat me up but that does not take anything away from what she has learned. It's like if I play the piano, and I spend 100 bucks a month getting lessons for 5 years, but I still can not play like Barry Manilow so whats the point. I guess it's better then nothing. So basically I disagree with you and think you are one of these I am better then you a s s holes. Learn how to think.

Answer 11

I've been studying Karate for about 5 months.. and i am still a white belt (the lowest rank).
I can probably compare the belt system to military rankings. The higher your rank is, the more respect you get, the better in the sport you get, and the more opportunities you get for winning contests. If there wasn't a belt system, then there would be no way for one to know if he or she has indeed improved or not. Until now, i am still training as often as i can, so i can be promoted to the next rank.