History of the Karate Belt Colors
Japanese Judo was the first martial art to introduce the colored belt ranking system as a visible indication of the students’ progress. The colored belt ranking system soon was adapted for Karate, and was first used by Sensei Gichin Funakoshi and his Shotokan Karate schools. Click here to learn about the Goju-Ryu Karate belt ranking system.
As students pass through the ranks taking grading examinations they are awarded with different colored belts. The color order and which colors are used varies from school to school, as does the relationship between belt color and rank (= Kyu).
However the Kyu or number/rank always starts at 10 and ends at 1. Black belts ranks then increase normally, from 1st Dan to 10th Dan. In most Karate schools beginners are automatically considered a 10th Kyu (wearing a white belt). Some schools are known to grade beginners for their 10th Kyu, which may have its reason in being able to collect an extra grading fee.
In fact, I remember when I had my first grading for 10th Kyu. I had to demonstrate that I could punch and yell (the famous Ki-Ai!) at the same time. That was in Germany. As a reward, I could continue to wear my white belt, BUT I received a pretty grading book and a stamp. Very efficient and organized! :-)
Today most Karate students buy a new belt after they have been awarded a higher kyu and thus require a differently colored belt. Most people have no more use for their old belts and may give it to junior club members for free. It is definitely worth enquiring.
Colored belts and how they came to be
In the old days the white belt was simply dyed to a new color. This repeated dying process dictates the type of belt color and the order of the colors!. The standard belt color system is white, yellow, green, brown, and black. In some Karate school and styles, the color order is white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown, black.
Due to the dying process, it is practical to increasingly use darker colors. All of this came about shortly after the second world war, when Japan was a very poor country, and dying the belts to a new color was a cheap way to have a visible, simple and effective ranking system.
The dying of the belts became part of the Karate tradition and was also adapted in other countries. In Australia, Sensei Terry Lyon of Lyon-Karate.com reports that in the early 70s, Australian Karate students also dyed their belts to their new color.
The “White-Belt-Getting-Dirtier” Theory
Another explanation for the colored belts, that appears more like a Karate myth than reality, is the notion that the belts simply went from white to black because the original Karate founders never washed their belts. They started off with white belts and after years of training ended up with black belts. The proponents of this theory assert that the belt, which was initially white, gets gradually dirtier and dirtier and so goes from white to yellow to green to brown to black in that way.
Many people argue that this theory is cute but has little truth. The dirtiest belt will never go black, and although the color change from white to yellow to brown can easily be imagined, other colors like green would be harder to achieve, unless the belt is host to a culture of particularly nasty and colorful bacteria, not unlike those that live in the back of my fridge. (Not to worry, I finally cleaned out the green goo. One day, from the corner of my eye, I saw it move. Now THAT was too much).
Repeated sweat and dirt from the typically wooden floors can indeed make the whole Gi become yellow and eventually brown. However, it is pretty tough to actually get a significant amount of sweat into the belt, which is more evidence against the “White-Belt-Getting-Dirtier” theory.
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There is also real evidence FOR this theory. Many Karate dojos in Japan have a change room where students are able to leave their Gi ready for when they return to train again. As a consequence they don’t get washed and end up very dirty and smelly(!) with sometimes years of not being washed. These Gi go through the same color change as the colored belts. This practice might have been born from either laziness, cost-cutting, and perhaps also a bit of male machoism. After all, an old and dirty Gi must mean that its owner has used it a lot, and thus must be highly skilled. In that sense, the yellow/brown Gi functions exactly like a colored belt!
In summary - maybe the colored belt system was created with the color change of dirty Gi in mind. But maybe the colored belt system was just well thought-out and used because dying the belts was a simple, cheap and effective way of displaying rank!
Sali said:
Very good and interesting website and amusing website, but i just have two things i had to say. The first was i was looking at the way to tie a belt a […] more
Joe said:
I’m the epitome of beginner, but it sounds prudent to me to avoid crossing at the back, if only because your spine has already claimed that area and i […] more
kat said:
The way of tying the belt without the cross over on this website isn’t the only way. There is a way, from havin the belt tyed from the front with the […] more
Celtic_Crippler said:
The way I always understood the myth was that the colors were SYMBOLIC of the belt getting dirtier. As the student progressed they got grass stains (y […] more
Matt said:
I do believe that the karate belt was for holding your gi together and nothing more.Whether white, black, blue, green, whatever. We should talk more a […] more
Sifu Adam Marshall said:
Hello, Great answers. However, I have a 6yr old student who had asked me my toughest question. So I ask it to you… Who was the first “black b […] more
anonymous said:
Another way to tie your belt without getting a knot in back is find the center of your belt first. Place the center of the belt on, or under, your nav […] more
Kyouji Sensei said:
you have a very effecient and knowledgable website. I am very impressed.
roxy said:
i just wana say how fantastic this website is. im studing kempo karate at the moment and iv learned so much on this website i didnt know before!!!!! […] more
Daniel said:
Well, I believe, i.e., in our dojo people say, that there is more than just physical technique about karate and more than just sweat in the belt :) […] more
JayaKrishna said:
Things i did not know about and i am learning loads from here
Louise said:
I found the information about the belt colours interesting. My daughter is going for her 2nd Kyu grading tomorrow, I hope she does well, but this sit […] more
liza said:
hey this weste is crazzy !!!!! just add a little more infor anywys awesome website from,liza
Mike t said:
THIS TYPE OF BELT TYING HOLDS BETTER
sid said:
well i would like to remind that the theory or belts not to be washed is true, i am a 1st dan black belt myself and although i’ve always bought a new […] more
Tiger said:
This page is great.The good thing is that the explanations are well written and simple people can understand them. I’d suggest you to keep up the goo […] more
Tiger 2nd dan said:
Please don’t get me wrong.If I’m junior world champion,it doesn’t mean that i like to boast.I just want to give advice to the other karate students -n […] more
Zach said:
THATS NOT THE ONLY WAY
Dan said:
I’m a beginner, and just purchased my first uniform which came with a white belt. I’m hoping someone can tell me if the white belt is a ‘earned’ rank […] more
Beef said:
cool man… cool beans.
Diane said:
You should perhaps read up a little more. The myth is not that the white belts went through COLOR changes as they got dirtier….merely that they got […] more
Andrew Raslan said:
Stinky belts sound disgusting! How could old karateka be so stupid? They were good in everything ecxept keeping their Gi and belt clean. Pure bad smel […] more
andrew said:
to dan I started with no belt and I had to earn my first white belt Im now a yellow belt and I love it
gab said:
To Dan & Andrew To wear a white belt means to start a life long path of karate-do and you should wear it with pride. Your colour belt is one way […] more
abe tiggerman said:
it could have a little more info, in all it was ok
Griffindor0204 said:
the white belt doesnt get earned but you wear it before you get your yellow belt because white belt shows you are a beginner.
Wildbluesun said:
In my dojo (Shotokan style) beginners start off wearing casual clothes, then if they decide they want to continue Karate they buy a uniform and a whit […] more
pooman said:
wow they forgot to mention about the red belt…
sayid mataram said:
have in indonesian language,if you haven’t,please make it coz I’m interest with this website,I’m now have been blue belt but my known about karate too […] more
Amenna said:
I want to know what a black belt with a red stripe at the end of a belt means. If you can help please e-mail my @ amennamarie@yahoo.com Note not a red […] more
March said:
I’m sort of a beginner as I did karate for 3 years when I was very young but I still wonder, what about the red belt ?
Charlotte said:
I’m an orange belt and in my club our belting system goes: White, white blue tip, yellow, orange, green, green bluetip, purple, brown, red, black bel […] more
Sensei Derek said:
Some schools will have you earn your white belt, some will not. We do as it seems to solidify the student earlier and impress on them that they have […] more
little boy Zach said:
This website is pretty cool. I am a beginner and i am trying to find out some info. I did find some stuff and it is pretty cool stuff. It rocks, sort […] more
Carrie Gilligan said:
This web. is so so so good. It is the best one i’ve been on yet. I learnt so SO much about the history of karate. I told lots of people about your web […] more
chaos alchemist said:
I just got my orange belt. Im happy
Poppy said:
I need to know why some school use 5 colors and some use 7 color belts. May i know which all country use 7 color and 5 color?
Peter said:
I am a green belt and found this website interesting.
amir said:
Karate is cool and all but if you want to fight go with Mui-Thai and tae-kwon-doe. Professional opinion.
Bill: Kenpo Instructor said:
Our belt system goes: white, yellow, orange, purple, blue, green, brown, black. Then there are 10 degrees of black belt. We don’t just hand out […] more
chaos alchemist said:
im getting my yellow belt in a week. my belt system goes from white to orange yellow green blue purple red brown and black
james strauch said:
to reply to amir - have you ever fought an experienced karate dan grade? I have trained in tae-kwon-do, mui-tai, kick boxing, ju-jitsu and shotoka […] more
jamal said:
i need free magic
greg said:
can anyone here teach me more karate kicks. my im a blue belt and i need to learn more kicks. also i’m turning twelve so when you send me how to do it […] more
greg said:
email me at gregorylobzakov@yahoo.com
'Murph' said:
hi 2 scotty, shannon, rozza, kegs, peter, dorey, ba, gaynor, and all tha cool chicks in our year!!!
RB said:
is it really true that none of these fancy karate teqniches will help you in a fight?? iv’e heard this at dozens of websites and many people have said […] more
RB said:
or are they jealous? and trying to get you to buy something they say that will help you in a fight??
o said:
karate is goood to no but i think it send the wrong message
Roy said:
Why was Black used for the top belt colour? I don’t really buy the idea tht the belt just got so dirty. Perhaps a practical reason (black was and ea […] more
karatekid said:
Hey!! So unfare! My shian gives the belts every NINE months! I’m only Yellow belt two stripes.. In december I’ll be orange belt.. But It takes kinda l […] more
Miley said:
heyy, i think taking karate was the best decision i have ever made!! i have been a black belt since i was 10 (now 13). i am now an 8th degree black be […] more
john said:
i think karates too common too common but very effective win u spar with my friends i also knouw kung fu judo and aikido i find your website helpful i […] more
daniel said:
to POOMAN - - - - - > Red belt is for fighting only. I should know. I’m an orange belt!!!
Eliz Ritter said:
karate is awesome
t matthew said:
Where I was studying (if I remember correctly)the belts went: white, orange 3 (3 white strips), orange 2, orange 1, full orange, brown 3,2,1, full bro […] more
Bryan Clink said:
I actually have a question that I can’t find the answer to. I am trying to find out how many degrees of the black belt there are. If you can help? E-m […] more
Deirdre said:
karate is the best sport ever. I have just earned my black belt. Ur site is great!!!!!!!!
azin said:
hi i’m from iran .i do karate (kai zen rio)
Ariel said:
What common belt colors are used more often becuase there is 2 different color ways on the website.
courtney said:
this website was realy helpful for my homework
Goyabi said:
I could be on this website all day!
Johnathon said:
some good info butlots lies im junior world champion i no what im tlaking about
Ramsay said:
Interesting… By the way, you, yeah, you, jonathon guy, the one who CLAIMS to be junior world champion, if you are the real champ, then good for you, […] more
Native Son said:
I agree with a karatica’s energy being placed in his or her belt! the belt is not the power it is the energy one puts into the belt that gives it pow […] more
Pratik Bhutada said:
it helped me in my colour reserch over karate belt.Thanks
Steve Zalazowski said:
The first recognized person to wear a black belt was Jigoro Kano, who is also credited with the start of the belt system. He awarded Shodan to 5 peopl […] more
Lawrence Wright said:
COMPLETLY WRONG, If you were a champion you would know how the belts go in order!!! I’m 11 and a blue belt. Even I know which order they go in!!!!!!!! […] more
sian said:
This is totally wrong… it goes white, orange, red yellow etc.
Sakura said:
Well, the white belt actually represents that you have learned the basics. Such as the basic kicks, punches, etc. But it might just depend on the do […] more
Sakura said:
Actually, this might have never happened, its just a story.
Sakura said:
Isn’t orange belt for tae kwon do? or, my dojo might be different, because its white yellow purple red stripe with the purple belt blue green b […] more
amiee kelly said:
haha im brown belt… :P
1ndra said:
Its about 10 years by now since I enter gojukai. Well, its kinda weird when someone grows older more experience wiser and more patience they get bl […] more
john said:
at the dojo where i trin the belt ranking system is white yellow orange purple green blue red brown black just giving you another rank system to inc […] more
amy said:
at my dojo where i train our belt ranking system goes white, yellow, orange, green and black gi, blue, purple, purple white stripe, brown, brown white […] more
mayfly said:
Actually the way I learned it the white belt symbolized that you were both new to the path and pure and open to the way. You start as a white belt whe […] more
jose pv said:
as the rank increase,ur belt colors also change.increasing the rank(belt) increase ur confidence.if u r r seriously in karate u will feel it…
FashionGo7 said:
i think the site is okay, but i think you need th tell the exact order of the belt colours because they arent right could you sort it out, but other t […] more
Mike said:
OMG - This is so bogus. In the “old days” there simply were not rank belts or uniforms for that matter the Okinawans are not so rank conscious as the […] more
tanna said:
if the belt went black from dirtying and usage,then would the rest of the uniform go that way too if they never washed the uniform?
karatemom said:
My 13 yr old son has been taking Chinese Shaolin Kempo. He just earned his yellow belt after 9 months. His instructor said there is no yellow belt, he […] more
S_Tony said:
For more info, Kano(founder of Judo)loved the ganme of go, which used white and black pieces denoting beginner and master) they also used a kyu and da […] more
Josh said:
I find this sight rather amusing. To many sites no days just cut to the facts just like textbooks. Sure, it’s easier to find the content and blah-bl […] more
Josh said:
red belts, actually, were only worn by masters, i believe.
Sensi Nate said:
Im a Second Dan in Karate and the Belt System that i had was white,yellow,orange,green,blue,red,brown and then Black
Frank said:
From what I recall, (although I cannot remember my source), belts were first awarded by a governing (not goverment) body back in 1920’s or 30’s. A pan […] more
Jake said:
It does help you fight. Those websites are reffering to the “fancy” techniques being to flashy and time consuming to do in a real fight. If you stick […] more
Olver5thbelt said:
white belt shows you are a beginner it is fine to wear Iam ayellow belt in my club it goes white, white and red, white and yellow, red, yellow, orang […] more
AP No Fear said:
These are mine: white,yellow,orange,green,blue,brown,black
cobbler said:
There are 10 degrees of black belts and the way the cooler rank worked in the old days were… To advance to different coolered belts you worked so […] more
Unknown said:
This is pretty cool, but my school we have: White Yellow Orange Orange with black stripe Purple Purple w/ black stripe Green Green w/ stripe […] more
Victor said:
Ihave a question in one type of martial arts do the belts go white, yellow,yellow high, green, green high, red, red high, brown, brown with one two an […] more
Jeff said:
This is strange, my school does it in this order: white orange yellow blue green purple high purple brown black the green goo at the back […] more