Levels of Belts in Karate

Karate is a martial art that developed originally in Okinawa, and was brought to mainland Japan in the late 1800s. The belts worn by karate practitioners, or "karateka", signify their rank in the style or "kata" of karate they practice.

  1. Purpose

    • Colored belts are used as a way to signify the rank of the karateka as they gain skill and expertise in their style of karate.

    Function

    • Some of the belts of the Shotokan style of karate.

      The belt functions to tie closed the top part of the "gi," or karate uniform, besides serving as a visual reminder to others what rank the karateka has achieved.

    Significance

    • The most commonly used belt ranking system starts with the beginner belt (White), then progresses through Yellow, Orange, Blue, Green, Purple, Brown and finally Black. Within the Black belt rank there are further ranks, called "Dans." There are at least five black belt dan ranks.

    Fun Fact

    • There is a legend that claims karate belts were different colors because karatekas never washed their belts, and the belts changed color from the sweat and dirt from their training efforts. More likely belt colors were based on affordable dyes available in Japan during frugal times. As they advanced in rank, karatekas dyed their belts over and over until achieving a black belt.

    Famous Ties

    • Sean Connery, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Wesley Snipes and Chuck Norris are just a few celebrities who have had formal training in karate and who have achieved a black belt rank.