Karate belts

Karate belts of different colors/ranks

Karate belts are a measure of a student/teacher ability. For example, a Brown belt is higher than a Blue Belt.^[1]

Usual rank

All styles of karate range from white to black.^[2] There are some theories about how belts came to be.

The "dying" theory

Some believe when a student graduated a kyu, he/she would dye their current belt the new, desired color.^[3] This was often done in Japan during WWII when it was a very poor country.^[4]

The "dirty belt" theory

This is a theory that demonstrates how a student would, as they trained, dirty their belt overtime. More of a myth than a theory,^[5] a student started with a white belt. As sweat, dirt, and other debris occupied not only the belt, but the karate gi, his/her color appeared to get darker and closer to black.^[6]

Karate Belts Media

Obis for budō. The colours range from yellow to brown corresponding to judo kyū levels from 5th to 1st.
One way of tying the obi used in judo, aikido and karate.
In some Japanese martial arts the obi is hidden underneath the hakama. Pictured is a kyūdōka.

References

↑ http://www.allkarate.com/125/history-of-karate-belt-colors^{[dead link]}
↑ Karate Belt Colors. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
↑ Karate Belt Dying. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
↑ "karate: Definition from". Answers.com. Archived from the original on 2007-07-04. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
↑ The Dirty Belt Theory. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
↑ http://www.answers.com/Dirty_Belt_Theory^{[dead link]}

[1] ttp://www.allkarate.com/125/history-of-karate-belt-colors^{[dead link]}

[2] Karate Belt Colors. Retrieved May 25, 2010.

[3] Karate Belt Dying. Retrieved June 21, 2010.

[4] "karate: Definition from". Answers.com. Archived from the original on 2007-07-04. Retrieved 2011-11-20.

[5] The Dirty Belt Theory. Retrieved September 6, 2010.

[6] ttp://www.answers.com/Dirty_Belt_Theory^{[dead link]}

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