Black belt (martial arts)

InEast Asian martial arts,theblack beltis associated with expertise, but may indicate only competence, depending on the martial art.The use of colored belts is a relatively recent invention dating from the 1880s.

Black belt
A generic martial arts black belt.
Korean name
Hangul	검은띠
Japanese name
Kanji	Hắc mang

Origin

The systematic use of belt colour to denote rank was first used in Japan byJigoro Kano,the founder ofjudoin the 1880s. Previously,JapaneseKoryuinstructors tended to provide rank certificates only.Initially the wide obi was used. As practitioners trained in akimono,onlywhiteand black obi were used. This kind of ranking is less common in arts that do not claim a far Eastern origin, though it is used in theMarine Corps Martial Arts Program.

Relative rank

Twoaikidoblack belts training

Rank and belts are not equivalent between arts, styles, or even within some organisations.In some arts, a black belt may be awarded in three years or even less, while in others it takes dedicated training of ten years or more. Testing for black belt is commonly more rigorous and more centralised than for lower grades.

Ability

In contrast to the "black belt as master" stereotype, a black belt commonly indicates the wearer is competent in a style's basic technique and principles.

Another way to describe this links to the terms used in Japanese arts;shodan(for a first degree black belt), means literally the first/beginning step, and the next grades, nidan and sandan are each numbered asniis two andsanis three, meaning second step, third step, etc.

As a "black belt" is commonly viewed as conferring some status, achieving one has been used as a marketing gimmick. For example, a school might guarantee that one will be awarded within a certain period, or for a certain amount of money.Such schools are sometimes referred to asMcDojosor belt factories.

Teaching

In some Japanese schools, after obtaining a black belt the student also begins to instruct, and may be referred to as asenpai(senior student) orsensei(teacher). In others, a black belt student should not be called sensei until they are Sandan (third-degree black belt), or the titleskyosaor sabom inKorean martial artsas a second degree or higher, as this denotes a greater degree of experience and a sensei must have this and grasp of what is involved in teaching a martial art.

Higher grades

Some martial art schools use embroidered bars to denote different levels ofblack belt rank,as shown on thesetaekwondo1st, 2nd, and 3rddanblack belts.

InJapanese martial artsthe further subdivisions of black belt ranks may be linked todangrades and indicated by 'stripes' on the belt. Yūdansha (roughly translating from Japanese to "person who holds adangrade ") is often used to describe those who hold a black belt rank. While the belt remains black, stripes or other insignia may be added to denote seniority, in some arts, very senior grades will wear differently colored belts.

In judo and some forms ofkarate,a sixth dan will wear a red-and-white belt. The red-and-white belt is often reserved only for ceremonial occasions, and a regular black belt is still worn during training. At 9th or 10th dan some schools awardred.In some schools ofjujutsu,theshihanrank and higher wear purple belts. These other colors are often still referred to collectively as "black belts".

See also

• Brazilian jiu-jitsu ranking system
• Kyū
• Dan (rank)
• Rank in Judo

External links

• Origins of the Karate Rank System(Wayback Machinecopy)