Karate belts are very important to the process of learning the ancient martial art. The intent of these belts, which come in a variety of shades, is to indicate rank within the practitioner's learning process. The general public is aware of the idea that white belts are newcomers and black belts are for experts.
Though a number of similar martial art practices exist, this exact type was born in the Ryukyu Kingdom, which eventually became a part of Japan. It was formulated from a sampling of Ryukyu combat types. In 1924 the first Japanese Karate club was founded and the art became more common. The second great war left many American servicemen in Okinawa, where many of them picked up the art and carried its traditions back home with them to the states.
Although we quite easily associate this ranking system with this specific martial art, it started with Judo. Eventually it was brought to Karate by one of the four main schools of the art in Japan. Most likely, during the early days of the practice, instead of buying a different color belt with each increase in rank, the same belt was repeatedly died. This was quite a bit more affordable than attempting to buy a belt with each rank change. This also explains why the shades of the belt begin at white and then go through several ever darkening color changes before eventually being black.
There are also rumors that the reason for the color variations becoming darker is that early on practitioners would only use one belt and never wash it, as a way to show their ranking. So the darkening was really only the unwashed obi getting filthier. In all reality there is likely some truth to this theory as well, whether the obi got increasingly darker from dirt or dye; it still represents an increase in experience.
For those who start this martial art today, Karate belts generally start out white and also through tradition will eventually become black. Getting to black belt ranking can take an exceptionally long time, but many feel it is quite worth it. Many truly devoted practitioners start out as Karateka in early childhood but were adults before they ever received a black obi. Even within the realm of black belts there are several sub-rankings that can be obtained. Even as popular as this sport has became, Karateka who obtain the highest ranking are not common.
Though a number of similar martial art practices exist, this exact type was born in the Ryukyu Kingdom, which eventually became a part of Japan. It was formulated from a sampling of Ryukyu combat types. In 1924 the first Japanese Karate club was founded and the art became more common. The second great war left many American servicemen in Okinawa, where many of them picked up the art and carried its traditions back home with them to the states.
Although we quite easily associate this ranking system with this specific martial art, it started with Judo. Eventually it was brought to Karate by one of the four main schools of the art in Japan. Most likely, during the early days of the practice, instead of buying a different color belt with each increase in rank, the same belt was repeatedly died. This was quite a bit more affordable than attempting to buy a belt with each rank change. This also explains why the shades of the belt begin at white and then go through several ever darkening color changes before eventually being black.
There are also rumors that the reason for the color variations becoming darker is that early on practitioners would only use one belt and never wash it, as a way to show their ranking. So the darkening was really only the unwashed obi getting filthier. In all reality there is likely some truth to this theory as well, whether the obi got increasingly darker from dirt or dye; it still represents an increase in experience.
For those who start this martial art today, Karate belts generally start out white and also through tradition will eventually become black. Getting to black belt ranking can take an exceptionally long time, but many feel it is quite worth it. Many truly devoted practitioners start out as Karateka in early childhood but were adults before they ever received a black obi. Even within the realm of black belts there are several sub-rankings that can be obtained. Even as popular as this sport has became, Karateka who obtain the highest ranking are not common.
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