Something about the martial arts encourages myths and legends. Perhaps it's the questionable " history" of the arts themselves, or the adventure-seeking nature of many of its practitioners. Whatever the reason, this tendency toward grandiose fact-bending is nowhere more evident than in the various explanations for our belt system. One of the most common myths -- told and repeated by many " authorities" -- is that in days of old all students started by wearing white belts, which eventually turned brown from use and dirt and at some magical point beyond that, turned black.
Not a bad story -- ("Grasshopper") -- but all you need to do is observe the well-worn belt of a high-ranking Black Belt to see through this fantasy. In fact the reverse is more likely true -- look at that black belt and you will notice it is almost white where use has made it threadbare; even the black dye has been reduced to white. A white belt would wear out before it ever turned black.
Another misconception is that the belt system in the Martial Arts originated with Judo. Like so many of our accepted myths, this one has a grain of truth: most martial arts systems do copy their current belt systems from judo, but the belt system did not originate with judo. When Professor Jigoro Kano developed Judo (The "Gentle Way") he didn't have to look far to come up with the ranking system. He simply borrowed the system in use at the Japanese public schools where belt ranks (obi in Japanese) were used by different athletic departments, most notably for ranking swimmers.
The use of belt ranking for the swimmers is deeply rooted in Japan's martial arts mystique. Japan is a small country surrounded by water. The entire country is a maze of rivers, streams and lakes, surrounded by the sea. Throughout Japanese history these waterways were inevitably crossed and recrossed by warring factions, as countless important battles took place there or near the expanses of open water which separated one island from another or the different islands from the sea.
In battle -- to make it even more difficult -- the samurai was burdened with heavy armor, which could become a death trap in the water. For this reason every feudal lord, in addition to a fencing hall and archery range, had various ponds for swimming, with and without armor, or even on horseback. It wasn't enough that a samurai could swim; his mount had to be able to swim as well, carrying an armor-weighted rider in the midst of battle. Swimming was divided into three main divisions: 1. suieijutsu (swimming) 2. oyogijutsu (swimming in armor) 3. katchu gozen oyogi (heavy armor). As late as the end of the 19th century, after the Meiji Restoration (1868), the school programs of the new Japan included special tests of skill in the water. The military character was evident in its organization and execution as well as from the weapons used.
Matsudaira (a Japanese historian on that period) describes such a competition that took place in 1907.
The whole number are divided into two parties, one wearing red caps and the other white caps, and each man wears also a small plate, kawarake, on his head tied on with a string, and carries a straw-made stick held in his head above the water. Under the command of their respective leaders, both parties enter into combat, and at once the surface of the water becomes the center of mimic warfare. Fierce hand-to-hand fighting takes place with the straw swords. Those who have their head-plates broken have to retire, and at last that party whose leader may have lost his plate is adjudged by our umpire to have been defeated. All the movements are carried out in the sea or river where the water is very deep.
To this day in Judo contests, contestants are still designated as red or white. The same custom has been carried into karate tournaments as well: a red ribbon is placed on one contestant's belt, white on the other. The judges, signal a point, with either a red and white flag. The skill level of the contestants was designated by the rank of a belt (sash): white, brown or black! From such unlikely beginnings are karate traditions born.
Professor Kano established his first school, named the Kodokan, in 1882. The term Kodokan breaks down into ko (lecture/study/method), do (way/path), and kan (hall/place/school). Thus Kodokan means "a place to study the way." Kano's first studio, or dojo** (from the Buddhist interpretation for meditation), was only a 12-mat room, 12' X 18', where he taught nine students. In Japan all rooms are laid out to hold a given number of rice straw tatami mats which are three feet by six feet. The Japanese measurement is the "Shaku" which is 11.96 inches, about as close to our measurement of the foot as you can get.
HISTORICAL NOTE:
**Dojo: : The word dojo has a much deeper Buddhist meaning then just meditation. The first historical Buddha, before he received enlightenment was - born prince Gautam of the Sakya clan. From sect to sect his birth is placed anywhere from 983BC to 440BC. The accepted version is that he was born in the 6th century BC and died in the 5th century BC. Before he became a Buddha, he left his wife and family, and spent years in fasting, searching and meditation.
One morning while in mediation (sitting on a straw mat- under the bodhi tree) he looked up and saw the morning star! At that moment he attained enlightenment: all was made known to him (although he could never find the words to explain it to others). The exact spot where he sat under the bodhi tree, on his straw mat, when he became enlightened was the DOJO (place of enlightenment).
NOTE:
In the future I will be adding an entire section on Buddhism and Zen (Chan) Buddhism, as it relates to the martial arts.
The following is taken from the official Kodokan publications:
JUDO AND THE BELT SYSTEM
"In 1886, under the auspices of the chief of Metropolitan Police, a grand tournament was arranged between the leading Jujitsu school, led by Hikosuke Totsuka, and Professor Kano's Kodokan Judo. This was a decisive battle. Defeat would have been fatal to the Kodokan.But in that tournament, to which each school sent 15 picked men, the Kodokan won all the bouts excepting two which ended in a draw. That brilliant victory established once and for all the supremacy of the Kodokan Judo over all jujitsu schools, not only in principle but also in techniques."***. . . Now judo initiated a rapid growth -- not only in Japan but throughout the world.
And along with judo's ascension came the introduction of the belt system to the martial arts. The Belt System was devised by Professor Kano along distinct lines. At the highest level were the Dan ranks (black belt and above). Below a black belt were kyu ranks. Originally a sash was used to designate ranking. In 1906-07 the belt as we know it today was initiated by Professor Kano. In 1909 the Kodokan became an official organization, and in 1911 the Kodokan Black Belt Association was formed.
Note that the belt ranking is done simply by numbering (counting)
In the Kyu grades - counting is done backwards - starting with 5 then 4, with 1 being the highest grade in the Kyu ranking!
This order is reversed with the Dan Ranking. 1st dan being the lowest grade (step) 10th dan being the highest!
Shodan - means - lowest rank
The following is the original belt system that gave the world its first official standard.
Gokyu 5th Kyu White Belt Shikyu
4th Kyu White Belt (or Yonkyu) Sankyu 3rd Kyu Brown Belt Nikyu 2nd Kyu Brown Belt Ikkyu 1st Kyu Brown Belt
Violet Belt (Purple) in the Junior division was used for all boys below the age of 18, in place of the adult Brown Belt.
No Dan rankings (black belt) were ever given to anyone under the age of 18! There were no exceptions!
HISTORICAL NOTE: At the "Gathering of Eagles" held in Las Vegas in 1999 there was unanimous agreement among all the "Senior Yudanshakai Master": NO DAN RANKING FOR ANY YOUTH! Most wanted a minimum age of 18 all agreed never below the age of 16!
BLACK BELT
Dan (step or rank) -- This is the first graded rank!
Shodan.....1st Dan (Black Belt)
Nidan......2nd Dan (Black Belt)
Sandan.....3rd Dan (Black Belt)
Yodan......4th Dan (Black Belt)
Godan......5th Dan (Black Belt)
Rokudan....6th Dan: ...Belt of Red and White Sections (or Black)
Shichidan..7th Dan: ...Belt of Red and White Sections (or Black)
Hachidan ..8th Dan: ...Belt of Red and White Sections (or Black)
Kudan......9th Dan: ...Red Belt (or Black)
Judan......10th Dan: ...Red Belt (or Black)
To fully understand and appreciate the oriental mind in relation to the Martial Arts you only have to look at the TRUE translation SHODAN! To the western world, achieving SHODAN or 1st Dan Black Belt is the ultimate achievement -- I have arrived, I am now a Black Belt. This after only 18 months.
How differently the Japanese look at Shodan. After years and years of training, (usually starting as a youth), you are finally promoted to Shodan. (SHODAN: Lowest Rank is the true translation!) You are no more than a beginner. Only now, for the first time, may "sensei" consider you ready for training.
True training only starts with the Shodan rank! That's why there are no young "masters" (except in the U.S.)! Anyone with less than 20 years of training is considered a beginner in both China and Japan!
In Judo promotions within the white and brown belts were loosely structured, with no requirements that a student must make progressive steps. One could go directly from a white belt to 1st black belt -- assuming one had the skill. The thinking was very exact: you were either a graded belt (black belt) or you were not. For all practical purposes a 1st brown belt held little more prestige than a 3rd brown belt. This is not true of the dan rankings, where each advancement is made one step at a time. The Kodokan also established the minimum age for Shodan (1st Black) as 16. And there were very few of them at that tender age, as there were no weight divisions!
The original belt ranks for females: those who hold Dan or Kyu grades in the girls' or women's division, which correspond to those of the boys' and men's division, use respectively the red, red and white, black, brown or violet (purple) belts but with a white stripe running lengthwise through the center. This provision is no longer rigidly adhered to.
A separate woman's division was created in 1924. Women could achieve ranking in one of two ways: Randori (freestyle) or Kata (there are nine official Katas). In the 1988 Olympics women's judo was introduced as a demonstration sport -- given the same status as Tae Kwon Do. And now women's judo has been elevated to a permanent full medal sport, as has Tae Kwon Do.
As a rule men advanced through the ranks by competing in a promotional Shiai* where you were matched against men of your own rank or higher. You continued to fight until you lost. This testing procedure was used through the 4th and 5th Dans. From this point on, age became a major factor and promotions were awarded based upon knowledge and dedication to the principles of Judo.
HISTORICAL NOTE: *Shiai The first Karate tournaments in the U.S. would follow this format:
1. No weight divisions
2. You fought until you lost
3. Brown belts could fight against Black belts for advancement.HISTORICAL NOTE: Just this weekend (4/25/99) I was discussing with Al Knovack (age 82) Al started training in Karate back in Japan after WWW after General McAurther ok the teaching of Karate but not Judo. We had we both attended the first karate "Shiai" sponsored by Duke Moore in S.F. in 1963! The above rules were used.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Most of the original Karate system - fought against every trying to make "karate" a sport or even allowing "KUMITE"!
To paraphrase Master Nakayama - I pray that when I go to heaven that Master Funakosi does not beat me for introducing Kumiti into Shotokan!
The loose rule: if you were 18 and defeated two Black belts in a row they were eligible for advancement.
You were only "physical eligible" - if you did not have the "true spirit" or the right attitude you were not promoted regardless of physical ability. As a general rule a person would never have advance to this point without the "right attitude" they would have been kick out of the "dojo" at the first sign of disrespect - or lack of "fighting spirit"!
Provisions were also made for weaker players who could not win in open competition. They could be promoted because of their knowledge, dedication to Judo, and time dedicated to the martial arts. And what they "gave back" to the art.
In the United States we associate the "dan" or "black belt" ranking only with the martial arts; this is not true in Japan, where a great many endeavors that require skill are awarded the "dan" or "black belt" ranking. The best examples of this are GO (a game of strategy, played with white and black stones), and Shogi, the Japanese equivalent of chess, where the skill level is also ranked by "dans." This is covered in great depth in PART I.
As Bruce Lee foretold it: "The old Sifu has to watch what he tells the young student, because someday the young student will be the old Sifu."
May we once and forever bury the story: "... in days of old all students started by wearing white belts, which eventually turned brown ..."
* "That brilliant victory established once and for all (see below) the supremacy of the Kodokan Judo over all jujitsu schools, (they only fought one style) not only in principle but also in techniques."
Notice how this same claim would be make by "Gracie Jujitsu" to promote their art!
This is a story of its own -- these are the official words (propaganda) taken directly from the Kodokan, but most of it is untrue. Why? In truth, of the 15 men selected to represent the Kodokan, only a few were Kano's students. The others were masters from other Jujitsu styles teaching out of the Kodokan (they did not teach or practice Kano's judo). One such master was Shiro Saigo, a master of Daito-ryu jujitsu (an aiki system). Because of the misrepresentations, lies, and propaganda used by Kano to promote judo after this match, Master Saigo in 1891 left the Kodokan and went to Nagasaki, forever turning his back on jujitsu, the Kodokan and professor Kano!
"... once and for all the supremacy of the Kodokan Judo over all jujitsu schools, in principle ... in techniques." Quite the contrary! First of all they fought only one other style -- that hardly made them superior over "all jujitsu schools and styles!"
In 1900, judo (the Kodokan) suffered a devastating defeat by the Fusen-ryu jujitsu. Up to this point, the Kodokan had concentrated only on standing techniques (tachi-waza), and when a judoka was taken to the tatami (mats) he lacked ne-waza (ground work) skills. It took another series of defeats before Kano instituted katame-waza (grappling) methods into Judo six years later in 1906.
Why did Kano deliberately mislead the public in relation to Judo? "The end justifies the means." But why did he feel he needed to do it? That's a story of its own! And it was brought about by what happened to Kenpo!
To be continued
last updated 07/27/06
©1999 Al Tracy - all rights reserved