Martial Arts - Belt Levels

The whole system of colored belts wasn't always the way it is today.

Back in the old days, when you first started to study martial arts, you were given a white uniform and a white belt. The uniform, you could wash as you needed to, but you were never allowed to wash your belt. As you continued to train, your belt got dirtier, sweatier and darker and your experience grew. Once you trained so much that your belt was solid black, you were considered a master.

When I train with kids, one of my biggest pet peeves is when they simply toss their belts on the floor. Your belt represents your experience. It's part of who you are. Tossing your belt carelessly on the floor is like saying you should be tossed aside. It's like you believe you are worth very little. No one should ever believe that about themselves.

I train in Ai-Mute Shotokan. Here's the ranking schedule and where I am on the ladder.

On Saturday, August 22nd, I earned the rank of 3rd kyu, which is the first brown belt level in our system. The belt I wear in class now is the last belt I'll get before my black belt, although I still have at least two more promotional tests to go through before I get there.

* They don't really give you three green belts and three brown belts, I just did that to illustrate each rank.

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