Karate Blue Belt Information

Karate uses a colored belt system to recognize the rank of each karateka (karate practitioner). The most well-known colors are white, which signifies a beginning student, and black, which signifies a highly advanced student. The blue belt is an intermediate rank, a point at which karateka have become familiar with the basic techniques and are preparing to take on a more complicated training regimen.

  1. Belt Level Ambiguity

    • The blue belt level is not as clearly dictated as the levels of white or black belts. There is no overall sanctioning body supervising all martial arts that designates ranks and belt colors. Most dojos (karate schools) or associations have created their own ranking systems. A prominent Shotokan Karate system designates its ranks as white, yellow, blue, purple, brown and black. A prominent Kenpo system uses white, yellow, orange, purple, blue, brown and black. A blue belt in one school may be more advanced than a blue belt in another school.

    What Most Blue Belts Should Know

    • In most systems, blue belts are intermediate karateka, and they have learned the basic kicks, punches and blocks. Techniques are straightforward and practiced on heavy bags and in minimal contact sessions with partners. There should be little concern about which foot moves first or which hand moves where. The body is beginning to move instinctively.

    Preset Sparring

    • A common training activity for karateka at the blue belt level is Kyohan Kumite, which translates from the Japanese as Basic Fighting. Also called Preset Sparring, karateka are paired off and practice a block-and-counter response to a specific technique. The attacker announces the technique and then moves forward to strike. The defender responses with the predetermined technique. This is repeated until a karateka can program himself to respond to an attack without prior warning.

    Forms

    • Forms, called kata in Japanese styles, are predetermined patterns of movements similar to gymnastic floor exercises. The karateka follows the moves of the kata exactly and learns the meanings behind each block-and-counter combination. Because belt rankings vary among dojos, the kata requirements for blue belt vary as well. Most blue belts work on katas that involve basic punches, front kicks, side kicks, middle-level blocks and high blocks, as well as several stances, including front stance, back stance and horse-riding stance.

    Control

    • By the time a karateka reaches the blue belt level, he should have a good sense of control, timing and distance. Black belts often say that it is dangerous to spar with white belts because they get nervous, strike hard and often don't know where their strikes will land. By blue belt, a karateka should be able to pinpoint his punches and kicks. He should also be able to halt his strikes within 2 to 3 inches of the target, proving he could make contact if necessary, but that he has the ability to hold back for safety reasons.