sponsors

 

 

sponsors

 

 

 

 

Gradually, colored belts were used to differentiate the kyu ranks. In Japan, white belts are generally worn through all kyu grades, although some schools also use the brown belt to indicate the higher kyu ranks. The blue, yellow, orange, green, and purple colored belts used by intermediate kyu grades originated in Europe and were imported into the U.S. system during the early 1950s. 

Black belts are traditionally worn by the technical ranks, first dan (shodan) through fifth dan (godan). A red-white sectioned belt is worn by the ranks awarded for service to Judo, sixth dan (ryokudan) through eight dan (hachidan. Solid red belts are used for ninth dan (kudan) and tenth dan (judan).

Funakoshi brought karate to Japan from Okinawa in the 1920's. Until that time, Okinawa karate students did not have special uniforms; they trained in their everyday clothes. Funakoshi adopted the Judo kyu/dan ranking system and a modified Judo uniform to encourage Japanese acceptance of karate. He awarded his first shodan ranks in 1924. Most martial art styles that have ranking/belt color systems adopted them from Japanese karate.

The belt encircles its wearer. The circle is a universal symbol of wholeness and harmony, and symbolizes the totality of the universe. The circularity of the belt reinforces the circular cycle of Taekwondo training; the fact that, after years of training, one realizes that the true essence of Taekwondo existed at the beginning.

As a practical matter, the Taekwondo belt holds the uniform closed, but its real significance is far greater than merely being a clasp or even a signifier of rank. The belt has symbolic meanings, both in eastern philosophy and in its color.

Page 2 of 2:  NEXT  Back  First  Last | Share | Errors | Last Modified:

Subtopics:  NEXT | None 

Topic:  Comments: Add  View | Sources | Related: None