Belt divisions when at an open tournament?

Question

I noticed that Purple blue and green are always in the same division at open tournaments which is ok...most of the time. Because there are alot of TKD schools that use the same system along with the Kenpo systems in terms of rank. However anyone that is familiar with Traditional Japanese Karate systems and the Ranking system knows that Purple and green belts should probably not be in the intermediate division especially the purple belts at these open tournaments, Purple and green belt alot of times with these systems are the rank before brown.

Am I the only one that even when I was an underbelt felt like I was doing something unfair by sparring and competing kata/forms with the TKD Purple belts and Green belts? In Karate Purple and Green is the Equivalent to Red belt and a TKD brown belt...Shouldn't these kids be in the advanced division!? I saw a TKD green belt go up against a Goju-Ryu Purple belt and the green belt at this tournament did not stand a chance!

Answer 1

The belt system as it is as well as those levels competing at competions are because inbetween the orange and brown belt you have a set of criteia that must be learned before moving on to advanced. The training classes rotate based on what you learn, you test and move on to the next level... in other words what you learn as a purple belt this time someone else will learn as a green. the intermediate and advance ranks are like that. But by the time you get to advance you will have learned all forms and applications needed in intermediate. Hope that helps.