Traditional Okinawan karate did not have any ranking system. There was no need for it because karate was a civilian self-protection system developed for fighting, not for bragging. Karate practitioners trained hard to develop skills which had to preserve life, not to win medals, trophies or coloured belts.
The modern Kyu/Dan belt ranking system commonly used by most karate schools today came to karate from Judo. The founder of Shotokan karate, Funakoshi Gichin, travelled all over Japan as a companion to the founder of Judo, Kano Jigoro, to promote his martial art of karate. Kano used the Kyu/Dan belt ranking system in Judo and Funakoshi decided to adopt this system for his own karate. It was common practice in Japan to rank practitioners of any art form according to the Kyu/Dan ranking system. This includes art forms like haiku (poetry), origami (paper folding), ikebana (flower arrangement) and even “go”, a board game which involves strategy and philosophy.
Originally Funakoshi only used two belt colours, white for beginners and black for advanced students, but over time more belt colours were introduced. Today most schools follow a system with several coloured belts for the 10 Kyu levels and a black belt for the 10 Dan levels.
Interesting fact: Funakoshi himself never held any rank higher than 5th Dan. It was at that time the highest rank awarded in modern karate.
The original concept of the Kyu/Dan ranking system was to indicate the skill level of the participant in whatever art form they were practicing. For example, the “go” ranking system classified players as follow:
| Rank Type | Range | Stage |
| Double-digit kyu | 30–21k | Beginner |
| Double-digit kyu | 20–10k | Casual player |
| Single-digit kyu | 9–1k | Intermediate/club player |
| Amateur dan | 1–7d (where 8d is special title) | Advanced player |
| Professional dan | 1–9p (where 10p is special title) | Professionals |
So what is the purpose of using the Kyu/Dan ranking system in karate then?
It should also be to indicate the skill level of the student, but sadly in many cases it does not.
In my opinion the different coloured belts were introduced to assist the instructor in teaching rather than to boost the ego of the student. By looking at the colour belt the student was wearing, the instructor would know what the student’s skill level is and as such he would know what to teach that student, assuming all students of a specific belt colour were of equal skill level off-course!
Sadly, in modern times the belt colour no longer always indicates skill level. Many modern schools award higher belts based purely on class attendance. Some schools also award higher belts to students purely for knowing a new kata. This leads to 9 and 10 year old black belts all over the place!
Knowing a kata is one thing, understanding it is another! And being able to apply that knowledge is a completely different level altogether!
Many schools use the lure of a new belt as an incentive to motivate students to train harder. This should not be the case. Students should be motivated to train harder because they want to improve their skills and gain new knowledge, not a new belt.
This brings us to the topic of gradings, or advancement tests. How important are they really?
I believe that hard work should be rewarded, but the reward should never be the motivator for hard work!
I started my karate training in 1983 and was graded to my Shodan (1st Dan black belt) in 1991, aged 17 years old. It took me 8 years and lots of blood, sweat and tears to reach a black belt. In those days 8 to 10 years was the norm for reaching black belt. These days most schools almost guarantee you a black belt within 2 to 3 years of training! I doubt the standards are the same as in the “old days” anymore. In fact, I know of many black belts who have never even done full-contact sparring in the dojo, never mind having been in a real fight. In fact, many modern schools prohibit hard contact sparring!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying karate students should go and pick fights to test their skills, but hard contact sparring in the dojo is a must!
I have several students who have been training with me for over a year now who have never tested for a belt. I also have a senior brown belt student who was supposed to have tested for his black belt more than a year ago but due to work responsibilities he was unable to do so. They all have the same attitude towards belt testing: a new belt does not miraculously change your skills, only hard work and constant training can do that!
Royce Gracie, winner of the first ever Ultimate Fighting Championship and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend, was quoted as saying: “A belt only covers two inches of your a** and the rest you need to back up on your own”. In other words, without proper skill any belt is meaningless.
So, what are karate belts good for?
The short answer: without constant training, hard work, a thorough understanding of karate principles and the ability to apply them effectively during a real confrontation – absolutely nothing!
Don’t let your belt or rank define who you are, let your skills speak for themselves.
