Black belt (martial arts)
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- See Black Belt (disambiguation) for other uses of the term Black Belt
In many martial arts, each practitioner's level is marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is often the highest belt color one can attain, and suggests a degree of competence.
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Origin
The black belt was "invented" by Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo, who first devised the colored belt system and awarded the first black belts in the 1880s. He only used white and black belts, and it wasn't until the early 1900s that the colored belt system of awarding rank was created. Many modern martial artists, however, mistakenly believe that the belt ranking system is an ancient aspect of traditional martial arts. (Koryu instructors in fact tended to provide certain certificates to advanced students, as proof of their authorization to teach the art.) The most common colors other than white and black are orange, yellow, green and brown; blue, purple and red are less common. In some schools, a red belt signifies a child who has achieved dan ranking, but does not grant the same responsibilities and privileges of the adult black belt.
Above the black belt
In the Japanese martial arts, the further subdivisions of black belt ranks are called dan grades where higher numbers means higher rank. While the belt remains black, stripes or other insignia are generally added to denote seniority. The Korean martial arts have adopted the system, and even some Chinese martial arts nowadays have ranking systems with belt color as sign on rank.
One common idea concerning the tradition of belts claims that early martial artists began their training with a white belt, which eventually became stained black from years of sweat, dirt, and blood. However, there is no real evidence for this story, so it must for now be relegated to the status of myth. In fact, given standards of cleanliness common especially in traditional dojo, a student arriving with a bloodied or dirty uniform might well be thrown out in disgrace. In some arts and schools there is the (often only half-serious) opinion that the belt should not be washed; by doing that one would "wash away the knowledge" or "wash one's ki away." This might have something to do with the myth.
There is no way to compare belts and ranks between styles. In some arts, a black belt is quite easy to obtain while in others ten years of hard work is more of the rule than exception. In most schools the test for black belt is quite rigorous. It is a common belief that belts in budo arts are handed out more loosely in the West than in the motherland Japan, and indeed often a sign of bad schools is an abundance of black belt holders of low quality. However, in Japan rank often comes more or less automatically with time done and the black belt has little to do with the "master" level which westerners often think of when they hear the term "black belt".
Advancement
One popular notion, posited in opposition to the "black belt as master" stereotype, is that a black belt indicates the wearer is competent in a style's basic technique. The black belt is thus seen not so much as an end, but rather as a beginning: the individual now "knows how to walk" and may thus begin the "journey." Of course, as noted above, rank is always a subjective matter.
In many schools, the rank of black belt is the first rank at which a student also becomes an instructor. Though lower ranks are frequently permitted to teach, it is usually with the supervision of a more senior instructor. It is also the minimum grade at which a practitioner can grant belts to others.
Testing for a black belt varies with the style and the school. However, some traditions transcend these boundaries. The test is almost always administered by a senior instructor, frequently of Master rank or above. It is attended only by the candidates, the instructors, and other black belts. In many schools, all black belts who currently or previously attended the school are invited back for a test. It consists of a grueling physical regimen encompassing all of the skills the black belt should have mastered by this point in their training. It is not uncommon for it to span several days. Depending on the school, different black belts may take a more hands-on role in different portions of the test, due to their specific expertise. They may also challenge the candidates to explain their actions or to repeat portions of the test. None of this is meant to be cruel. All of it is intended as a sort of crucible ... to burn away bad habits, reinforce good ones, and convince the new black belts that they are capable of more than they thought possible.
See also
- McDojo or the so-called "belt factory"de:Dan (Kampfsport)