Originally, karate students wore one belt (white) to match their white gi (uniform). They had a superstition that all the things they learn “soaked” into their belts and so they did not wash them. As they trained longer and longer (in outdoor dirt floor dojos) their belts would eventually fade to black, which they called the “first step.”
In karate schools everywhere in the world today, students don their various colored belts to represent their knowledge and skill in their martial art. These colored belt systems were invented to help modern students feel good about their training and (hopefully) motivate them to continue to get their next belt. Belt systems are excellent for training children and really help kids understand the value of their practice and the long term commitment required for real skill development. Having curriculum organized in levels is also helpful in developing cohesive programs of instruction for children of diverse levels of natural ability and commitment to training.
However, belt ranking systems are more problematic for adults. Once we place value on belts, adults just want the belt as a status symbol and they forget about the value of attending classes and learning. Adults tend to look at each belt as a “upgrade” rather than a step in the right direction. Once one belt is earned, adults seem to believe they are “beyond” everything in that level and ready to “advance.” In most cases, instructors look at belt levels as minimum standards of competence, not as definitive proof of complete understanding. A black belt is like a high school diploma, not a master’s degree.
Unfortunately, adults want to earn black belts because they think it will elevate them above anyone wearing any other color. In reality, a belt is a piece of dyed cotton, it has no special properties. The value of the belt is only realized in so far as the person wearing the belt has actually developed their skills. Adults get that, but only to a point. Once adult students get into their advanced levels, they usually begin to forget why they started training, why they like to learn, and are focused only on getting that black belt. this is really too bad because belts are actually not that interesting, but training is! In their quest for rank, adults students miss out on so much learning.
Martial arts is a process of continuous learning and development for students and instructors of all levels. This process goes beyond earning belts: it requires humility and a long term commitment to martial arts training. Students believe their training culminates in earning a black belt, but in reality – black belt is where it all begins.
