How Many Belts Are In Karate?

So how many belts are in Karate? We all know that belts are simply a piece of cloth and are part of the uniform and we shouldn't place a lot of importance on what color we are wearing. It is however, also a milestone and measurement of achievement and even more interesting the belt color schemes vary greatly from one art to the next.
In this video we're going to explore the history of how the colored belt system came into place, and see some of the different ways a handful of arts will use them for progression.
If your art is not listed here or if you have a different belt system than what we showed in this video, please leave a comment and tell us about it!
Attributions:
_______________________________
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Dan Belt icons by Buddy23Lee
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Location Provided by C's Kenpo Karate
cskenpokarate.com/
Music and Stock Footage From
www.videoblocks.com/
www.audioblocks.com/
fotolia.com
videohive.net
Video Productions by: Fade 2 Black Productions, Inc
f2bpro.com
#martialartsinfo
#KarateBelts
#BeltTesting

[@MisterTutor2010]

Belt become darker over the course of training? So when you're a black belt, your journey to the Dark Side is complete :)

[@ArtofOneDojo]

Only if you let the hate flow through you by learning Sith Kata!

[@MisterTutor2010]

@@ArtofOneDojo In Sith-Do, you get your black belt when you take it off your instructor's corpse. Come to think of it, running a dojo like that might not be the best business model :)

[@ArtofOneDojo]

True, you'll only have 2 members. A teacher and a student.

[@cat_goose9592]

The course of karate is never complete, there’s always more to learn

[@ProjectCarthage2004]

I just joined the dark side

[@taekwondomaster4609]

In some martial arts the red belt is the highest. For example Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and some forms of Japanese Jiu Jitsu.

[@mindbreak666]

because the creator of the bjj scam never got to black in the japanese version...

[@MesserTAMU]

@@mindbreak666 lol ok

[@cheung8958]

True

[@barrettokarate]

@@MesserTAMU He is right, Carlos Gracie never did receive a black belt from Mitsuyo Maeda. When he and his brothers first began teaching they used white, blue and dark blue as their ranking system. The current belt system used in Brazilian jiu-jitsu didn't come about until the late 1960s when Carlos, Helio, Carlson and several others formed the first jiu-jitsu federation in Brazil and was based on the belt system used by judo schools in Brazil.

[@MesserTAMU]

@@barrettokarate not disputing anything in your comment. Just that the red belt is the highest as a direct result of none of the Gracies recieving a black from Maeda, as well as the scam comment.

[@silvertigeronthewall]

I like that you brought up the Tang Soo Do system and even threw in the bit about the original smaller rank list. GM Ho Sik Pak's manual does mention that some colors were eventually added in to help motivate students.

[@TheKentuckyPatriot]

My boy 5 and my girl 9 took their belt test today. They both train in Tang Soo Do. They are in different classes because of the age difference but both achieved their yellow belt and were so excited. Thanks for the video and I hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas :-D

[@ArtofOneDojo]

That's awesome! Tell them congratulations for me and to keep up the hard work! And thank you for the Christmas wishes, I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday as well!

[@paveschooloftheartsdances7999]

Same I do the same form

[@douglasjordao8447]

When you got something about Brazil in any kind of video: Brazilians: Who summoned me?

[@RaysOfPivot]

I train American Kenpo, and we use that same belt system mentioned. We also add 3 stripes of the next belt's color using electrical tape to mark more incremental progress towards the next rank We do this only up until black. Afterwards we use the stripes and bars system laid out

[@richardimmell5688]

Enjoyed the video! I am impressed with the variety of organizations you included. There are so many that it would be impossible to get them all, but I think you did a good job of covering different styles. It will be interesting to see what other systems share information. Maybe fuel for another video?

[@opinionantropologica7639]

Excelent video... I train shotokan and the belt system is as you described it... I think belt system is an excellent tool for learning and for a sensei to keep track of his or her students

[@hermanehrentraut4956]

I saw belt ranking as pass keys, when i ranked up that now meant I had access to techniques that I did not before. In the first two styles I learned each one had 9 colors white-yellow-orange-blue-green-purple-brown-red-black which including the stripe one levels was 17 ranks in total. The belt systems were almost identical except in the first style included White II and in the first style was blue then green but in the second style it was green then blue, both included red belt before black belt. Both styles used black electric tape on belt tip to show intermediary rank say as White I or White stripe. In the third style I learned it went white-yellow-orange-green-blue-purple-brown 3-brown 2-brown 1- black (no stripe levels). I wanted to add despite having reached rank of black belt when I do solo training I always wear my white belt as a reminder that I should never forget the basics and I'm always a student of the style.

[@tonywya]

For my classes our belt colors in order went as following. White Yellow Orange Green Blue Purple Red Brown Striped Brown (1 - 3) Black Striped Black (1 - 4) (stripes were white) Took about 4 years for someone to reach the base brown belt. For the lower ranks (up to purple) early progression was awarded based on performance during some tournaments we had.

[@mikeyork3093]

Exactly how our belt rank work at my former Shotokan school and very similar to the shidokan school I attended except no red belt

[@omargillespie9209]

Really good video! I got my brown belt w/ black stripe in Shobu Kai Karate last week. We go from white, white w/green stripe, green, blue, purple, red, red w/ brown stripe, brown, brown w/ 1, 2, 3 stripe and 10 Dan ranks.

[@henriquebvcunha6129]

Awesome video! Very instructive! I practice WTF Taekowndo in Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil and my instructor changed the second white belt by an orange belt... just to motivate students...

[@Soldier-of-God.]

This was as always of excellent and formidably, outstanding quality Sensei Dan! I truly liked how you and your team, managed to piece together, the ranking system of a wide range of martial arts systems. No doubt that those colours of each belt, utilised for each designated rank level, are used with a specific meaning and purpose. You are absolutely correct about Brazilian jiu-jitsu, being an art with vastly strict guidelines, when it comes to awarding its various belts, that correspond to each level of their ranking system. In general and apparently, it takes around ten years minimum, for a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu exponent, to be awarded their first degree black belt! I do find Tang Soo Do's midnight blue belt, being its chosen colour, for its highest ranked, dan levels, as an interesting colour choice, in comparison to the more widely used black belt in most styles. I can see why in Tang Soo Do they omitted the usage of the typical black belt, as black indeed represents a colour that cannot be overcomed by other colours, which as you pointed out in your narrative, means that you cannot add to it. In other words absolute perfection of which it is near impossible to achieve by any human being. I like the methodical and practical ranking belt system, of your Kenpo Karate style, as it is very well organised like our Kyokushin Karate style as well. From what I remember as a youngster, oh yes influenced by my childhood hero Bruce Lee, I went to do a few Wing Chun Kung Fu lessons. There at the World Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy, at least that is what Grandmaster William Cheung used to call it, here in his hometown of Melbourne, Australia 🇦🇺. He himself wore a red (though it looked almost like a slight dark purple) sash. While his top student and senior instructor under him, Master Dana Wong, originally from Boston, USA, wore a golden sash! As such I have seen that in most Chinese Kung Fu, as well as Wu Shu, grandmasters tend to wear red sashes, while teachers (Sifus), on the other hand tend to wear golden sashes from what I have seen, in the vast majority of Kung Fu organisations as well as styles that I have encountered. Interestingly enough my previous Kyokushin Karate instructor, who also teaches kickboxing/Muay Thai, here in Melbourne, Australia also. He incorporated the Kyokushin Karate ranking and grading system, that is to say the exact belt colours. However to award a rank to his kickboxing/Muay Thai students. While in Kyokushin Karate we use as you mentioned the coloured belts being white, orange (red in some schools), blue, yellow, green, brown and black, he used the same colours to award the ranks of the Muay Thai/kickboxing students. The only difference is that instead he would award them a coloured singlet, with the corresponding colour to the Kyokushin Karate belt system. So the colours for those singlets would be: white singlet, red singlet, blue singlet, yellow singlet, green singlet, brown singlet and finally black singlet! Other kickboxing or even Muay Thai schools have begun to adopt the same ranking system, or in the case of former eight time, World Kickboxing and Muay Thai champion, as well as former K-1 World Grand Prix fighter, Stan 'The Man' Longinidis, he awards his students, different coloured (Mongok) ceremonial head pieces, usually worn by Muay Thai fighters, traditionally before their fights. I definitely agree with your perspective, that one should train humbly, for the respect, good health, self defence aspects, as well as dedication to one's art, not for the sake of getting different coloured belts, dans and so forth. That being said however, as you mentioned those coloured belts, do assist in helping track and keep awareness of each individual's training progress, in a more organised and systematic fashion. I myself as an instructor with my own students, or those at my master's school, allows me to know what specific techniques they need to know, learn be taught, or even what to assess them with, during gradings, in accordance to their rank. If a new student joins as a complete new white belt, or as coloured ranked belt, from another Kyokushin Karate school, coming as a new student, into our school, that also allows me to know at what level they are at, more or less. So in general while some katas might be slightly different, in terms of a few techniques, moves and their applications here and there. Generally world wide in Kyokushin Karate we practice pretty much 99% of the same things. So again if for example I visit another Kyokushin Karate school be it here in Australia, or overseas for example, they know that as a third dan black belt I am a teacher, highly ranked, also where I should line up, in comparison to those in dan levels higher than myself, or lower in rank then me, when it comes to lining up in class during training. As a visiting teacher (Sensei) at another Kyokushin school, the Sensei or Shihan (master) of their school might ask me to assist or teach their class, to their students, while they walk around correcting and assessing each student, during that class' training session. Ultimately of course rank and their corresponding belt colours, cannot be a substitute for real, practical, self defence ability. The important thing is to truly train with passion, dedication and a true desire to succeed and aim to excel on a personal level, for one's own self improvement and benefit. Thank you immensely, for producing such a video, yet again to shed light and wisdom on the various ranking systems, belt colours of the many different martial arts styles. As always looking forward to your next educational and informative video, Osu! 👍 ☺ ✌

[@n8trsho]

Excellent vid.

[@ricardo.pedraza]

I studied Goju Ryu in the early 80s with a school affiliated with Goju-Kai Karate-Do, USA and the ranks went White, Green, Brown, Black with 3 stripes between. Meaning White, White with one green stripe, two green stripes, three green stripes then Green Belt, etc. Currently studying Judo and Kung Fu. The ranks at my Judo Dojo are White, Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue, Two Browns and Black. For Kung Fu we had to test to get a white sash and the ranks are White, Yellow, Green, Blue, Orange, Purple, Brown, Red and Black. Nice video!

[@jaybullfannumber1]

The karate i take at Presti's karate center in Lewiston I'm a Red Belt, the belt I went through were "White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Green with 2 red stripes/ tips, and then I got to Red Belt with 1 black strip or tip and the next test I get a whole new red belt with a black strip down the middle of the red belt, and then I get black belt", Chuck Norris is a 10th degree Black Belt and a grandmaster who works with my teacher Mr Presti who is a 9th degree Black Belt.

[@qKitti]

My belt system is: White Red Red with black stripe Yellow Yellow with black stripe Orange Orange with black stripe Green Green with black stripe Blue Blue with black stripe Purple Purple with black stripe Brown Brown with black tip (represented with tape) Brown with two black tips Black I’m not sure what each Dan level is represented by, probably because I haven’t done karate since the beginning of quarantine and I haven’t asked my sensei.

[@Masterchief0521]

At my Jiu Jitsu school we use a system our sensei developed from when he served in vietnam and later as a state trooper, he took parts of several arts to develop Toori Booshi or "Street Warrior" the belt levels are White-Yellow-Yellow with green stripe-Yellow with two green stripes, green, brown, brown with black stripe, two stripes. Three stripes, black, and for the head masters they use Coral belts like in Judo and BJJ

[@user-kr1jh1wi4w]

Very good 👍

[@laztoth3104]

☯️🙏👍🏼. Merry Christmas

[@okinawanwarrior8689]

Also USMC has Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) with colored belts of Tan, Gray, Green, Brown and Black. Some of those colors has stripe on it if a Marine is instructor qualified. Wished MCMAP was available when I was in the Corps in 80's. "One Mind Any Weapon" Semper Fi BTW the belts are actually used to hold up the pants.

[@joshuaa.ramostoro7464]

Nice informative video! Kajukenbo has the same rank system has Kenpo, also some lineages use Kung Fu sashes, but in the same color scheme.

[@christophervelez1561]

This was cool

[@wizloreandgaming]

I studied Kenpo from ages 8 to 11, and I remember the system exactly as you showed, except I don't exactly remember if there were 1 or 3 levels of brown belt. I was a green belt before I stopped. Now I am studying a style of Shotokan, and I am currently a white-yellow belt (white with a yellow stripe running across the middle) and I am almost 16. I'm not exactly sure of the order of the belt system in this style though (to be specific, it's Budokan Shotokan)

[@argoshikan]

Belts are cool. Glad so many arts use them still.

[@live2win4freedom82]

White belt & when your Sensei knows you are ready then black belt

[@tidimalomokgoko3222]

boring

[@shoe421]

@chaosfactor333 I have friends in isshin ryu. It's a very fun style to spare with. I personally do shorinryu from okinawa.

[@shoe421]

@@tidimalomokgoko3222 it's a much more humble way and actually more healthy way of progressing

[@shinobidragon999]

Thanks for the tip I’m glad I’m still part of Bujinkan

[@psychedashell]

My teacher was fairly good about belts and told us they were for his benefit - It is so much easier to group people by ranking than by name.

[@jeredsizemore3108]

I practice a mix of taekwondo and kempo. My belt ranks are just like shotokon but with the addition of red belt after 3rd brown and before black. There's also a red belt with gold lettering for masters. Right now I'm a red belt trying to achieve my black belt.

[@mauri9289]

Some Kung fu martial arts started using color sashes, capoeira uses rope, Muay Thai started using colored prajioud (armbands) for ranks, savate use boxing 🥊 gloves

[@Texasmilitarydepartmentvid9654]

Kawei uses different color trunks.

[@Mastermind263]

Informative video in my adult class I don’t have rankings i tell the adult students belts are just symbolic more about their time in the training but in my kids class i have ranking system and my system is hybrid of Aikido, jujutsu, judo, ninjitsu and karate

[@barrettokarate]

In American tang soo do (pre-1990 version of Chuck Norris' system) it was originally 10th white, 9th white, 8th blue, 7th blue, 6th green, 5th green, 4th green, 3rd red, 2nd red, 1st red and black belt (1st-10th Dan). At the "junior" level they had yellow, orange and purple belt. I'm not sure when, but at some point after 1973 they changed the belt system to only one level of white and added the "junior" belts to the adult rankings in between white and blue belt. Also at the Dan level we traditionally only use regular black belts no special "master" or "grandmaster" belts like the ones used commonly in Korean tang soo do. Although one group has started using "master" and "grandmaster" belts and even a "great grandmaster" belt, but for the most part most of us don't.

[@patmccrotch5373]

I also took Tang Soo Do, Master Perian was my instructor, Grandmaster Giacobbe oversaw my dan testing. I was 7 years old when I started, however, everyone received the same belts/ranks. My belt rankings went.. White, yellow, orange, orange with 1 white stripe, orange with 2 white stripes, green, green with 1 black stripe, green with 2 black stripes, red, red with 1 black stripe, red with 2 black stripes, red with 3 black stripes, then black. Midnight blue was actually the color I earned after completing my "black belt" initiation. While we did receive actual black belts, the midnight blue belt (as well a white dobok with midnight blue trim) for instance, would be worn for things like.. attending another groups black belt testing for support and encouragement (as a dan member of Tang Soo Do), or if a specific all dan class was held by Grandmaster Giacobbe. Otherwise, a black belt and a white dobok with black trim was worn for normal classes.

[@Typhoon911]

The three belt system makes the most sense to me.

[@kobe51]

I had a judo instructor (in his 70s) who wore a red belt.

[@yenna6146]

In my dojo (with Shito Ryu style) we have exams twice every year, in summer and in winter, and junior kyu belts are different from adult kyu belts. Junior have, in order: White (can't remember if it's considered a kyu level or not, I think it is) White-yellow (half-and-half) Orange Orange-green Green Green-blue Blue Blue-brown Brown Now here it changes depending on the child's age. If they're younger than 16, they can't achieve the black belt just yet, keeping with the brown belt. If they're 16 but younger than 18, they can get a black belt but are still considered of kyu level until they're 18 minimum. After than of course they can attempt the first dan black belt. Adult kyu levels are: White Yellow Orange Green Blue Brown And then they have to wait a year minimum until first dan black belt, which is extremely difficult. And with every dan we have to train the same number. For example, two years for second dan, three years for the third dan, etc. I have a friend who's gonna take the fourth dan exam and she's been training for almost three months now. Dan systems are no joke. Regardless, my sensei agrees with you that while your belt gives you motivation, it doesn't fully indicate your progress. She likes to give the example of a white belt in our dojo catching a third dan off-guard and giving him a kick in the no-no spot 🤣

[@Razakie1]

I competed at the Canadian national level in SKIF Shotokan until 1994. When I started, the system was white - yellow - orange (each of which had 4 sub-levels, denoted by 0-3 small black loops sewn at the end of the belt) - green - blue - 3 levels of brown (not visually differentiated on the uniform) - black. Around 1992 or 1993, a purple belt was added between blue and the first brown belt. Of note is that at the time to my knowledge, no one under 16 years old could be awarded a black belt, even if they met the technique prerequisites. The early nineties was a period of significant change in that system; I ended up stopping (which I still regret to this day) following one of the greatest disappointments of my life - a change in minimum age to enter the tournament prevented me from attending the 1994 World championship in Japan because I was 1 year too young; the tournament was held every 4 years, and I had been training since I first started in a dojo with multiple medalists from the previous world tournament in Mexico city in 1990. My sensei fully expected me to repeat my fellow student's feat from Mexico of winning 2 gold medals in the u-12 category. Such a shame. On another note, just discovered the channel. Love the content, I'm totally geeking out over here and enjoying every minute of it. Thanks for this and please keep up the amazing work!

[@stevenbrideau3741]

When I took Chito Ryu we went White, Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue, Brown, Black then red came later on. I am not doing TKD and my Grand Master has mixed ITF/WT. Belt system is White, Orange, Orange Yellow Stripe, yellow, Yellow green stripe, Green, green Blue stripe, Blue, Blue Red stripe, red, then deputy black so black with white stripe. Its a bit weird too me personally. But I enjoy the focus on the Art ans not just for thr sport of TKD which a lot of schools tend to do.

[@williamw1332]

...woah Dan... I'm going blind with all the color combinations! Especially since being around martial arts for so long, and realizing that there are so many different ranking systems. In Ninjutsu alone, some have between 25 to as many as 50 Dan ranks, in part due to all the different weapons they train with. Also should be noted that a Dan rank only means that the Kyu rank skills have been "qualified" for further development and cultivation.

[@ArtofOneDojo]

You're going blind??? Try staring that this graphics close up for hours editing them at all hours of the night lol!

[@williamw1332]

@@ArtofOneDojo oh my God I can only imagine... Must be like looking at a pride Day Parade all the time 😜

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

​@@williamw1332 I know someone who has a Pride Flag patch over their left arm on their gi!

[@DarkStarFox]

It always fascinates me how two schools teaching the same art can have wildly different belt systems. For example; my Isshin-ryu color order went White, Orange, Green-1, Green-2, Brown-1, Brown-2, Brown-3 and then your Dans. My Taekwondo was more colorful and went White, Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue, Purple, Red-1, Red-2, Red-3 OR Brown (student’s choice if they wanted a change), Red-Black and then your Dans. I’ve noticed that this color scheme for either art is never repeated when I check out other schools. I’ve some that have come close, but never exact.

[@MarioUcomics]

In my Japanese AikiJujutsu, we go by the menkyo system which mastery is really from the certificate and we stay white belts until black. But I know a lot of even Daito Ryu school have also which to color belt in recent times

[@dwightdhansen]

The Isshin Ryu dojo I train at has the full kyu belt system for children. Adults are white untilSensei hands you a green someday. Green until he hands you a brown. Brown until testing for Shodan. Black after that. There is a red/white belt at 6th dan but I've never seen my Sensei wear his. Our Kobudo system has a full range of belts but most people just test for 1st kyu & then for shodan after a few years.

[@Fratm]

When I studied East-West Kempo, the colors were the same as your school, but red belt was a junior instructor belt, you wore your red belt when you were teaching, and your regular belt when you were training.

[@ArtofOneDojo]

Actually we had something very similar at the VERY beginning. Our assistant instructor when I just started classes, was a green belt, but he was really good and helped teach class but he wore a red belt that said "assistant" on it when he taught. That guy later became my second instructor and I learned a ton from him. Of all the systems, I am finding that American Kenpo and BJJ seem to have the best consistency in belt rank colors between schools.

[@dakentaijutsu2010]

Great video, I do Kyokushin, and the belt colors in our dojo is White, Orange, Red, Light blue, Blue, Yellow, Light Purple, Light Green, Green, 2nd kyu brown, 1st kyu Brown, and 1st Dan Black!

[@ArtofOneDojo]

That's interesting! That's a bit different than I've usually seen. That's cool though.

[@TheGlobalNetworkOfficial]

Im a kyokushinkai myself. In our dojo we follow the system that Dan described in the video. Im a 7th kyu Blue with 1 white stripe myself. What about you?

[@SamCobb]

I study american kenpo also, and after I passed my black belt test I had to take a leave of absense after my mother died, and it ticked me off alittle when I was told I wasnt a true first black belt. Thank you for reminding me that it's just a piece of fabrick, and I still consider myself a full first black even if I dont have the stripe on myne. And no matter what the rules at my school I go to say. This needs to be said more often at more kenpo schools.

[@SamCobb]

I get extremely frustrated becuase I see other people earning belts seemingly faster, and I work harder and train harder then anyone else, and I often train to the point of not feeling well for hours everyday. Earning belts is a very slow and frustrating process. I know Mr. Michil got a questionable reputation in the past, but I can kind of see why he promoted upper level belt alittle faster. I try remembering what you said, its the quality of the training and the hard work, Not the belt. Thank you again for stating that.

[@sirdeetoh]

Currently for the international Judo Federation kyu grades are white, yellow, orange, green, blue and brown. Some schools in latin america add a light blue one between white and yellow. For kids you can also find half grades, usually half belt is the lower rank color and the other half is the higher one (again in latin america sometimes you can find only the tips of the belt colored, ie. white with yellow tips instead half white and half yellow). Then 5 dan levels all black with some mark (narrow color strips at one tip or something like that), 3 white and red belts (not longitudinally along the belt, like kids' bets, but in a series of red, white, red white each 6 or 8 inches), then 2 red belts. Some people thinks there is a 11th dan that is empty and a 12th dan, white color awarded to the founder Jigoro Kano, this is not true by the way, Kodokan sources said Jigoro Kano has no rank since he is the founder, and accordingly to the meaning of the belt ranks if some day somebody maters the art and shows skills above the 10th dan he could be rewarded with an 11th dan, but this is quite impossible since 6th and above ranks are rewarded as symbol of a lifetime of work in the art. This modern rank system was developed by Mikonosuke Kawaishi in the mids of XX century in europe (French Judo Federation) and then was used by almost all martial arts, as said in the video in the beginning there was only white, brown and black belts, and maybe purple for women. For the WTF (World Taekwondo Federation, the olimpic one) we have the same system as judo, white (half white - half yellow), yellow... and brown called gup or kup, then for kids there are 3 pum grades half red half black if they aren't old enough (under 15 or 16 old) the get the first dan, all black, then 5 more dans which you can get passing and exam, and if i don't recall wrong 5 more you get as a reward for your work in the art. This is quite standard maybe because those are the only martial arts present in the olympic games (WTF is ITF, ATA... are not), one of the requests from the IOC to ITF Taekwondo to be part of the olympic sports is kind of unification of the different branches into something more normalized in relation of rules and styles (something similar to the NBA and european federations of basketball, same sport but different rules that must be unified every time they play an international game). Anyway this is another subject to discuss.

[@starwarsmaster9191]

Thanks for another great video, we in American kenpo need to go back to the original Parker ranking system white, brown,and black that’s it!! To many systems including my own get caught up in belt colors, and from a buisness point of view I get it, keep the $$$ coming in testing, but from a reality standpoint I’ve literally seen yellow belts beat the heck out of Black belts no joke!! When it comes down to it in a street fight the color of your belt means nothing !!!!😎😎😎

[@jadekayak01]

That is notthe original belt(kyu) ranking system. Judo-kano jigaro-exactly as the video says

[@theslimemolds5099]

We still have white brown black. Punches elbows knees kicks, then after very proficient at those its brown and studies of all else begins. It's up to the sensei to decide on what's around your waist not what comes out of your pocket. It's time put in with perfect practices hands on sparring and teacher student relationship attention to details. I love your point

[@arlenesprovach1007]

I would like to hear more about Wado Ryu Karate please!

[@casualtom82]

In the Hapkido schools I trained in, they also had orange between yellow and green, then purple followed by brown between blue and red. But even those have since added more, such as red with the black stripe. Shorinji Kempo only used to have white, 3 levels of brown, then black. But the tests were very academically demanding, with a written portion and even homework required to be submitted before applying. Children's curriculums had more ranks, with 3 levels of green below brown and, for really young children, two more levels of yellow before that. Several years ago, the curriculum was revised and green belt levels were added to the adult's curriculum. This not only allowed for the required knowledge and amount of techniques to be spread out over twice as many kyu levels, but also for additional techniques usually learned in higher dan levels to be moved down and learned earlier. Plus depending on the schools, many students were working their way up from brown to black way too quickly, particularly in Japan where everyone is more competitive.

[@ArtofOneDojo]

Yea, Kenpo originally had the white, brown and black as well. It's really interesting to see how systems have expanded and grown and all of the different combinations that are out there.

[@ninjadane9365]

The story of the coloured belt system, which I was told, were that when Kano had his students introducing Westerners to judo they only used white and black belts. This did not sit all that well with the mindset of Westerners. ("I've been training for 3 years and still am a white belt. Now this guy shows up and also is a white belt"-type of mindset) So they introduced the colours of kyu grades. Back then the belts were made of silk and each new rank were done with a ceremony where the belt (which was expensive) was coloured a darker shade. This also gave birth to the notion of never washing your belt, not because it would ruin the coloured silk belt, but because you then would wash out the knowledge. This is also why the grades starts with white and goes towards darker colours and ending with black.

[@milos.8705]

I do American Kempo and my belt system is white, yellow, orange, purple, blue, green, four levels of brown, and black. But our school does things differently with the brown belt levels. Our school’s brown belt levels are brown, brown black, black brown and red black.

[@Brandon_Knight_]

Where I took Jeet Kune Do the belt system was white, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, brown with a black strip, red with a black stripe, and then black. The other styles I have trained in did not utilize the rainbow like this dojo did.

[@soloban81]

I went to a Wado Ryo school that had 20 Kyu. White was unranked. You went White, Blue, Green, Purple, Brown, Black. Blue through Purple each had 5 bars so Blue was 20-16th Kyu. Green was 15-10th and so on.

[@sliderx1897]

The shotokan system i came up in was white yellow orange green blue purple brown black. There used to be 2 yellows and 2 purples but they later added orange and blue in their place. And of course there are 3 browns

[@standupmackan]

I was actually never ranked before I had my black belt. At my club we have belts for kids, but not for adults. (Submission grappling. Mine is in jiu-jitsu). I also do boxing (no belts) and have done FMA (no belts).

[@DMF716]

I started in 1972, training in Isshinryu and Chito ryu. There were only white, green, brown and black.

[@jakesizer6483]

The way our Shito Ryu organization belt ranks goes (jr) Is white, yellow, yellow one stripe, yellow 2 stripes, purple, purple 1, purple 2, blue, blue 1, blue 2, red, then red with name. Yellow is 9th kyu all the way to red with name which is jr. Shodan. Adult ranks are white, white, white 1 stripe, white 2 stripe, 3 greens, 3 browns, black (shodan ho), black with yellow name (shodan), same with nidan, black with red name (sandan), same with yondan, black with white name godan and above.

[@klinkfamilybluegrass]

My father's school is based on ITF TKD, but has a mixture of Shotokan, Kenpo, and others. Our belt order is: White, Yellow, Gold, Orange, Green, Green w/ black stripe, Blue, Purple, Red, Brown, Brown w/ black stripe, Black.

[@RonGervais]

An interesting add to this topic is how long of a grading process typically each style has and what the syllabus for grading requirement would be.

[@barrettokarate]

Once again I was watching the Japanese movie "Kuro Obi" ("Black Belt") and it got me thinking about certain rituals in the martial arts that could be an interesting video. The particular "ritual" in that movie was the awarding of a teacher's belt to his successor. The use of belts in Japanese karate isn't even 100 years old and in Okinawa it wasn't widely accepted till around the 1950s, so no one can honestly claim that its an "ancient" tradition. One of the earliest records of this happening was in the early 1960s when Chojun Miyagi's family presented Meitoku Yagi with Miyagi's belt and uniform. The late Joe Lewis had a student who passed away and at his funeral placed one of his own black belts in the coffin. Ed Parker was known for having given away several of his personal black belts to various people and many in turn gave those same belts to others. So the question is, when did this ritual begin or who started it? A friend of mine just messaged Jesse Enkamp that question, but hasn't heard from him yet (time zones). Hopefully he has some insight as to this "tradition".

[@Knight2682]

At the Kung Fu school I train at we wear sashes instead of belts, but it's the same concept as belt rank in other martial arts. Our order goes white, yellow, blue, green, 3 levels of brown, and then 10 black sash degrees

[@eteienne]

My karate belt ranking goes White, Red, Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue, Purple, Brown, Brown with one black stripe, Brown with two black stripes and then Black

[@theshotokanchronicles]

In the JKA, ISKF and IKD the red belt is only used during tournaments.

[@jaypeve]

Love your videos, sometimes I use the info and advice or training in my Taekwondo classes, do you or would you consider doing a seminar to teach and train with us here at Odessa, Texas, do you know, talk, or collaborate and train with Jesse Enkamp, Chloe and Grace Bruce, Alex Wong or Samery Moras

[@ArtofOneDojo]

If the opportunity took me to Texas I would certainly consider it. I would love to work with some of the other channels, hopefully one day that will happen :)

[@modkfmartialarts8663]

I train in zan shou quen style of shoalin kung fu along with xing yi and tai chi in terms of belt rank in the old days kung fu didn’t have belts but now they do just so teachers have a easier time keeping track of progress

[@jbslittleshop2897]

Gizmo of Shaolin Kung fu,, there are no rankings! Been teaching hung ga and Choy lee fut many years. Us Kung fu instructors had to implement sash colors in order to compete in the karate tournaments. Just so the judges would understand beginner, intermediate and advanced students. I tried to go back to no sashes and only giving them out for tournaments. But of course attendance dropped and lost a few students. Don’t understand why we here in the US need something around our waist to make us feel good about what we are doing. Either you know what you have been taught or not. No need for a sash to tell you that you know your art. Went a little over on my comment but this sash and belt thing is a pet peeve of mine. Lol

[@modkfmartialarts8663]

JB 981 yeah I completely agree I don’t think we should need belt’s boxing ,Muay Thai and wrestling don’t have em so why should we but it’s the same in my kung fu school we don’t have physical belts it’s just to keep track of progress and if we compete we wear them

[@modkfmartialarts8663]

Also I think people just like belts because it’s something to brag about

[@Texasmilitarydepartmentvid9654]

Wrestling goes by Trunk Color , Muay Thai goes Monkgol & Parijouds. The Ranking System for Sambo Shorts is White , Blue , Red , Black. Boxing uses different color gloves .

[@alfiemeek820]

Can you tell me anything about uechi-ryu, the nearest school to me is uechi-ryu and I wanna learn a little bit about it before going

[@Aviraj837]

Nice video also I just wanted to say I am a karate student and I got my blue belt yesterday itself

[@ArtofOneDojo]

Congratulations!

[@richnielsen4465]

I train in 2 systems that don't have traditional belt ranks. In Hung gar kung fu we use sashes. White, 2 golds, 2 blues, 3 greens, 3 reds, 5 blacks. In kalaripayattu we have student and teacher.

[@thomasenright5282]

Not certain if you know this or not? But John Conway, who was one of Ed Parkers students, formed his own association either just before or after Mr. Parker passed away as far as I know he was graded a 7 dan by Mr. Parker, his belt system is only slightly different after that break-up. It is the same up to brown, but after that comes red and then red and black and then black itself of course hope this was of some interest to you.

[@ArtofOneDojo]

The Brown, Red, Red/Black is a common substitute for the 3 brown belts. Our first school did that. It's also common in some Tracy schools as well.

[@clivewakeham7239]

The style I did in my 20s, the grades were white, yellow, green, blue, brown and then black, and with a half grade in between. ie between the two solid colours is the lower colour solid and the a thin strip of the next belt level.

[@breakingboardrooms1778]

Yeah, I know of two Shotokan Karate schools. At the local one, my next rank would be yellow. At my college one, it's blue.

[@ryanrpggamer3902]

The Singapore kempo I’ve trained in the past used a shotokan belt ranking because shotokan northern style king fu kali Silat and wing chun were blended together then when it came to my area in the 60’s they called it karate-Kung fu it was a good few years of my life training I moved to a different art then another then another then I stopped training in classes and practice on my own time

[@ryanhouk3560]

I think the Kyu Dan system, however you want to show it with belts, is important to track progress and skill. Its a motivator for students and roughly approximates who is a good training partner in class that either through skill or time served. You can show someone on their first day who is about to go up for black belt, and who is just barely started themselves, so you can gauge who to go to for what questions. Its also important to note that 1 Dan denotes something akin to a highschool diploma. Its not that theyre a master, but that the tutorial is done.

[@isenmileshamson4603]

Yeah it was Kanō Jigorō's idea but Gichin Funakoshi stumbled across this belt system and he instantly admired the color belts thus adopting into shotokan karate!! Mr.Funakoshi's students were a major source to spread belt ranking system to other variants of karate and then to other japanese martial arts!! Korean martial arts adopted this due to Japanese influence when korean penisula was under japanese occupation!! After the japanese occupation the 5 Kwans or the 5 schools were responsible for creation of Taekwondo and Hapkido!!! These 5 Kwans majorly introduced the color belt system to modern korean martial arts!!

[@hawkman5846]

For my style Shorin -Ryu it's white - 5 green stripes , green -5 brown stripes , brown -5 black stripes , than black

[@craigparrott828]

I study Wado Ryu karate in UK. We have White Red stripe (or yellow stripe if you do well in your first grading) Red (solid) Yellow Orange Green Blue Purple Brown Brown with white stripe Brown with black stripe Then 1st dan

[@z00zyyt94]

Mine is different my belts go white, red, orange, yellow, green, purple, purple with white strip, brown, brown with white strip, brown with 2 white strips, and then dan 1 to Dan 7

[@z00zyyt94]

None ever likes my comment :(

[@ArtofOneDojo]

I totally clicked "like". I'll even "love" this one , just for you :)

[@douglaskurtz8357]

TKD I grew up in had I think; white, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, 2 browns, red, then black. For kids under 6 they had white-green with black stripe as intermediary ranks, black belt had 10 degrees I think, and you earned degrees only by teaching, they also had a red and black belt as the 2nd degree they called it "master jr. black"...funny story when I trained Bujinkan they just pointed at me one day at the end of the class and said "oh by the way...9th kyu" then they all applauded and I was so confused because I didn't know what that even meant, so I got a green belt from the back room, I didn't know about the red belts for girls there were no girls in that class for some time, and the class was almost exclusively Dans (typical ninjas keeping secrets and springing surprises on me)... the tkd I grew up in was highly Americanized and only called the belts by their color...Shorun Ryu I'm currently in I think has 10 kyu and 10 Dan ranks, with red-white belts for the masters (colloquially known as "candy-cane belt), but I think only the Soke himself wears red

[@Bravedog1100]

This is really interesting, I took Kenpo in Ventura, Ca. Have an Ed Parker patch ,but I'm wondering why our belt system was different? White, Orange,purple,blue,green 3-browns, black, etc.. my great instructor Paul Wagner has passed on or I'd ask him, thinking about it maybe because we were under the Tracy's jurisdiction.

[@ArtofOneDojo]

Ahhh, when did you train in it? Ed Parker changed the belt list around a bit during the early Kenpo days, originally it was just white, brown and black, but when he and the Tracy's split directions Ed Parker expanded to White, Orange, Purple, Blue Green, Brown, and Black. He added yellow later on when he found a lot of people were dropping off early because of the massive curriculum. So you may have trained before he changed that, or your instructor trained in that style and he kept the belt ranking order. What you listed and what I listed are pretty much the same expect for the yellow rank. My school in the first few years was also a Tracy school and we also still wore the Parker patch (which is weird because the two families of Karate hate each other generally), but I guess there is a lot of crossover. How long did you train in Kenpo? Did you like it?

[@Bravedog1100]

@@ArtofOneDojo hi,I trained or started training in the 70's, I know Paul Wagner trained with the Tracy Brothers he had 3 studio's, & when Paul sold them he took 5 students to personally train,lucky for me I was one of the 5. Paul took me to 1st Dan shodan, I also have a 1st degree blk in white tiger combat karate association. They are also kenpo motivated, and they actually incorporated some of what Paul taught me. I opened a studio here in Oregon for years still under the direction of Paul Wagner. Back in California Joe Lewis came to our studio and demonstrated a lot to us.all great memories, I'm almost 70 but in good shape I feel because of self defense. One last thing I'm really surprised of the many studios who don't understand what closing the gap really means. Anyway thanks for the reply.

[@aarav6963]

I got a very short system for my Shotokan Karate: White Yellow Blue Green Brown Black then degrees

[@ProjectCarthage2004]

In Greece you get White Half white,half yellow Yellow Half orange,half yellow Orange Half green,half orange Green Half blue,half green Blue Half brown,half blue 3 Browns Half black,half brown Black Btw I just got my black belt after 10 years :D

[@oskarnava623]

In taekwondoín Mexico who’s is modukuan we call advance example yeelowbelt advance green belt advance etc and when we reach green we change the color our v in our uniforms

[@michaeldasalyaget7828]

Another good video, each one is like a thesis. Well put together and informative, however, in this video it seems like the audio changed from when you were being shown to when the belts were like you were put behind a wall to do the talking. Whats up with that?

[@roboi8403]

I think for me it would be more like a motivational pull.

[@ryanhouk3560]

I've seen three main systems in my experience. Karate/TKD which is some pattern of white, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, brown, red (sometimes switched) black. Judo/BJJ White, sometimes yellow or green, blue, purple, brown, black. ... It's important not to go off too far from their standard one since it's mostly for competition. Ninjutsu; Which I've had the one you described, described to me before, But I've seen no standardized one from school to school. I think the one you described is at bujinkan in Tokyo taught by hatsumi himself. His satellite schools do what they want. I would love to see your take on alternative systems in kids classes, added belts, Jr black belts, or other deals. Mostly there I see, low Kyu belts high standards for adults, high Kyu belts low standards for kids, and their highest rank usually translates to like "an advanced beginner" in the adult class. Green/blue ish

[@ryanhouk3560]

The ninjutsu school I trained at, wasn't Buj And did two of each- white (second white only for kids), green, blue, purple, brown, red, 5 black.

[@TheOctabreaker]

I do Tang Soo Do. I also did it as a kid. As a kid I was in a school under the world moo duk kwan tang soo do federation and our belts were: white, yellow, orange, purple, blue, green, red, black, and each rank had multiple stripes before you could move on. my current school is under the world tang soo do association and for adults (kid and teen ranks are different) its white, orange, orange/green, green, green/brown, brown, brown/red, red, red/blue, blue (called cho dan bo and is neither a gup (kyu) nor dan rank), then black and various levels of black. My original school from childhood is still open but has changed their rank system as well. I agree that a belt system can be both good and bad. Some schools use it as a way to keep students coming back, and as long as you show up, pay your fees, you'll always get the next belt. My current school wants you to show up, and stay current on fees and all that, but if you don't pass the test, you don't get the belt and you try again next time. As a kid i got frustrated when I wasn't moving up fast enough, as an adult, I'm enjoying learning new and different things, and I'm not stressing about rank.

[@niny_tigga]

The school I’m at is under the WTSDA and I’m a red belt

[@TheOctabreaker]

@@niny_tigga mine is WTSDA as well! You’re one rank ahead of me (I’m an adult, not sure about you, I know kids and teens belts are a little different than adults). I’m advanced brown.

[@niny_tigga]

@@TheOctabreaker I’m 11 but we kind of combine different arts into it but we mostly do kids classes

[@TheOctabreaker]

@@niny_tigga it’s good that you’re in it so young! I don’t know how the younger belts work but you still are a higher rank than me. Have you done any tournaments? I’m going to the worlds tournament next week.

[@niny_tigga]

@@TheOctabreaker I’ve done on tournament and it’s different but cool also thanks for replying. Good luck at your tournament let me know how you do.

[@chiefzach7418]

My school does White Orange Blue Green Brown then black. With 3 stripes needed to progress.

[@FryedSaw]

In the way I was growing up as a child was that the color of the belts has a lot to do with the oath of the routines you have to explain to another person as well COMMENT OF MINE HAS BROUGHT ME HERE....... Thanks

[@fiddlegirl79]

I took martial arts when I was younger - when I was 10 through 14. My dojo taught hybrid. Like a mix of a little bit of everything it seemed. The belt system was white, yellow (we called it gold), purple, blue green 3 levels of brown and black. The brown levels were brown, 1st degree (brown belt with a black stripe) and 2nd degree (black belt with a brown stripe...looks like a brown with 2 stripes). I stopped at 2nd degree brown because I had so much music stuff going on. I want to get back into martial arts, but right now it needs to wait (going through chemo at thE moment).

[@ArtofOneDojo]

Oh wow, I sincerely wish you a quick and healthy recovery!

[@fiddlegirl79]

@@ArtofOneDojo thank you. Luckily I have 3 more to go and will finish treatment early November. Of course I first need time for my body to get back to normal and heal (especially my hysterectomy scar - early stage ovarian cancer).

[@ArtofOneDojo]

@@fiddlegirl79 Oh I am so sorry to hear you had to go through all that. Hopefully November comes along and you'll be feeling better and can get back to training to bring more positive into your life and leave all this nastiness behind you.

[@fiddlegirl79]

@@ArtofOneDojo thank you. I hope so too. It has been 20+ years since I have had training and it will be a different art form since I live in a different state. My sister and some of her kids do ATA and I might do that with them.

[@IAMAGENT49]

Wow dang wid😊🎉

[@mfelts001]

For us it’s: White Yellow Orange Purple Blue Green Brown Red Black. *Each belt with the exception of Black/White have three belts i.e Yellow/White, Yellow and Yellow/Black. So, by the time someone earns their black belt they would have gone through approximately 22 other belts.

[@kyodairiker]

I do BJJ and seeing red below black is very wierd

[@nataliaxd3777]

I just started doing American kenpo about 3 weeks ago I been doing lot practice on katas and blocking I have question how long does person notice if the arts for them

[@ArtofOneDojo]

I would say at least get to yellow belt and start to see how the material can blend and meld together. Get some sparring experience in there and experiment a bit.

[@pedromontalvojr4585]

Songahm Taekwondo uses white, orange, yellow, camouflage, green, purple, blue (2 levels), brown (2 levels), red (2 levels), half red half black (called first degree black belt recommended) and 9 degrees of black belt.

[@cobuspotgieter4671]

My son is doing Goju_Ryu Karate and their belt ranks are, White, Red, Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue, purple, Brown 3, Brown 2, Brown1, Brown with a Solid Back Stripe through its called (Shodan-Ho) and then Black. To move to the next colour belt you need 4 red stripes.The Goju Ryu Club not far from my house has a different set - White, Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue, Brown 3, Brown 2, Brown 1 and Black. To move to the next colour belt you also need 4 red stripes. So it means that my son will take much longer to get to Black Belt - 10Kyu before Black. The other club is 7Kyu before Black. My sons Sensei always tells the student that the belt is there to hold up your pants. Belt colours doesn't show ability. That is so true because my son is now Orange with 4 stripes and actually beats the guys that's on Greene and Blue Belts. Its much easier to refer to your Kyu level than to look at color belts.

[@braynechylde4982]

My Shotokan school adopted the Kyokushin ranking system... kind of... Orange and Purple were only given to kids under the age of 12-14.I think this was just to extend the training time yet impart ranked accomplishment. My dojo did not allow nor believe in the “child” Black Belt as it imparted responsibilities and knowledge that a child prior to 14 most likely is not yet ready(brain developmentally speaking) to handle nor should they be expected to. White Orange Orange w/ Black Stripe Yellow Yellow w/ Black Stripe Green Green w/ Black Stripe Blue Purple Brown Brown w/ Black stripe Black

[@spanishfly7709]

I train in Ninjitsu we have 3 belts. White beginner Red/ advance and knowledge of art for years Black/ teacher.

[@EVENINGWOLF666]

When I studied in Korean Hwa Rang Do the ranking system was as follows White Belt Orange Belt Yellow Belt Green Belt Blue Belt Senior Blue Belt which was blue with white tips Red Belt Senior Red Belt which was red with white tips Brown Belt Senior Brown belt as above Half Black which was black with Red tips Then 9 levels of black belt.

[@otakusamurai1436]

I might get my yellow belt soon

[@rogerperalta6730]

Mine is shotokan karate so mine is white,yellow,orange,green,blue,purple, 3 types of brown and black

[@mikeyork3093]

Belts are for the most part are just a piece of fabric but I do feel BJJ belt ranks do play a huge part in skill level this is ofcoz the case at proper run schools.

[@d.richmond7112]

The Dojo My Granddaughter attends however have the Belt System. White Gold Purple Orange Blue Green Red Black to 7th Degree . Her Master is an 8th Degree .

[@Ciscoflexx]

This gots to be TAMA right?

[@tonywya]

mine was White Yellow Orange Green Blue Purple Red Brown Stripped Brown (1 - 4) Black Stripped Black (1 - 3) it would take 4 years of training to get to base brown belt and you would need to pass challenges before you'd advance after that time to rank up has passed. otherwise an additional 2 months would be added

[@michellefreis3139]

@@tonywya same but we dont have a red belt