 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
What is a black belt?
The karate schools of Okinawa, Japan adopted the first belt ranking system around
1960 to differentiate the achievement levels amongst their students. For the first time
fellow students or instructors could determine the hierarchy of everyone at a glance
on the dojo training floor. Only in the west did stripes or bands appear around 1970 to
indicate the various perceived levels within each color of belt.
Prior to 1960 in Okinawa students simply wore white ropes or straps to hold up their
loose fitting pants used in karate training. There is some belief that the original belt
color system of white, green, brown and black came from the ever changing color of
the students white rope belt that was traditionally never washed as to not wash away
the soiling that darkened it with age.
The original karate uniforms rope belt started out white, turned green with mold from
perspiration then turned brown from advanced soiling and eventually black or very
dark from years of handling without washing. The darker the rope belt the more
advanced or knowledgeable the practitioner.
Today the black belt is used in nearly all systems of karate and martial arts to signify
the “master level” or the ultimate achievement for a practitioner of his or her martial
art. In reality, it has become used, abused and misunderstood throughout the western
world especially in the promotion of very young practitioners.
The birthplace of modern karate was Okinawa. The consensus of the original masters
was and is today that the age of 16 is the minimum for black belt consideration with
five years minimum training. It is the practice today to award the rank of shodan-ho or
probationary black belt to those select few youth that have earned the right to wear
the rank. Upon their 16th birthday the probationary status is removed.
The lack of physical prowess, emotional maturity and teaching ability in young
students is the reason for the probationary black belt. The young black belt has a thin
white cloth stripe running through the center of the black belt signifying the “shodan-
ho” or first-dan probationary rank. The young black belt is said to be nearly correct in
all basic physical skills as compared to adults of the same rank.
The first-degree black belt rank does not signify the end of a students goals or
training. It is simply a measure indicating “ a master of basic strategy” or the first step
in understanding the essentials of karate-do or the way of karate. A black belt is an
example of non-violence, confidence and leadership to all. The profound personal
confidence derived from years of dedicated training and teaching gives the individual
an inner strength that helps to pave the way in all personal and career endeavors for
a lifetime. It takes an average of ten years of karate training to leave one with a viable
lifetime benefit.
When young karate practitioners reach the point of physical confidence where they
are less susceptible to feeling threatened physically by those around them, a change
takes place. Their correct decisions or first choices taught by parents and mentors are
more likely to be enforceable upon themselves. The effects of peer pressure are
reduced and the course to productive adulthood is made easier.
The black belt signifies many things to many people. What is it really? Just a way of
life to help people get along with themselves and those around us in an ever changing
and unpredictable world.
Continue training with patience.
Written by Frank Chalifour Jr., Sempai, 5th dan, Anchorage Goju-Ryu Karate-Do
Association33 year student of local school founder & master Sensei Yurio Nakada 7th dan.
The karate schools of Okinawa, Japan adopted the first belt ranking system around
1960 to differentiate the achievement levels amongst their students. For the first time
fellow students or instructors could determine the hierarchy of everyone at a glance
on the dojo training floor. Only in the west did stripes or bands appear around 1970 to
indicate the various perceived levels within each color of belt.
Prior to 1960 in Okinawa students simply wore white ropes or straps to hold up their
loose fitting pants used in karate training. There is some belief that the original belt
color system of white, green, brown and black came from the ever changing color of
the students white rope belt that was traditionally never washed as to not wash away
the soiling that darkened it with age.
The original karate uniforms rope belt started out white, turned green with mold from
perspiration then turned brown from advanced soiling and eventually black or very
dark from years of handling without washing. The darker the rope belt the more
advanced or knowledgeable the practitioner.
Today the black belt is used in nearly all systems of karate and martial arts to signify
the “master level” or the ultimate achievement for a practitioner of his or her martial
art. In reality, it has become used, abused and misunderstood throughout the western
world especially in the promotion of very young practitioners.
The birthplace of modern karate was Okinawa. The consensus of the original masters
was and is today that the age of 16 is the minimum for black belt consideration with
five years minimum training. It is the practice today to award the rank of shodan-ho or
probationary black belt to those select few youth that have earned the right to wear
the rank. Upon their 16th birthday the probationary status is removed.
The lack of physical prowess, emotional maturity and teaching ability in young
students is the reason for the probationary black belt. The young black belt has a thin
white cloth stripe running through the center of the black belt signifying the “shodan-
ho” or first-dan probationary rank. The young black belt is said to be nearly correct in
all basic physical skills as compared to adults of the same rank.
The first-degree black belt rank does not signify the end of a students goals or
training. It is simply a measure indicating “ a master of basic strategy” or the first step
in understanding the essentials of karate-do or the way of karate. A black belt is an
example of non-violence, confidence and leadership to all. The profound personal
confidence derived from years of dedicated training and teaching gives the individual
an inner strength that helps to pave the way in all personal and career endeavors for
a lifetime. It takes an average of ten years of karate training to leave one with a viable
lifetime benefit.
When young karate practitioners reach the point of physical confidence where they
are less susceptible to feeling threatened physically by those around them, a change
takes place. Their correct decisions or first choices taught by parents and mentors are
more likely to be enforceable upon themselves. The effects of peer pressure are
reduced and the course to productive adulthood is made easier.
The black belt signifies many things to many people. What is it really? Just a way of
life to help people get along with themselves and those around us in an ever changing
and unpredictable world.
Continue training with patience.
Written by Frank Chalifour Jr., Sempai, 5th dan, Anchorage Goju-Ryu Karate-Do
Association33 year student of local school founder & master Sensei Yurio Nakada 7th dan.
What is a Black Belt?
