Karate belts are a very well recongnized component of the art and are used by most practicing clubs. The belt comes in many colors in order to show ranking inside of the system. Thanks to TV and movies, many people who\’ve never stepped foot in a dojo can tell you that black belts are highly trained practitioners of the art and white belts are new.

This specific form of martial art formed in the Ryukyu Kingdom prior its early twentieth century annexation into Japan. The Ryukyu developed it from a number of different fighting styles. At some point in the early twentieth century, the first Karate club was developed in Japan. During World War II a number of American soldiers who were located in Okinawa took an interest in the sport, which is how interest in it eventually spread to America.

Although we very easily associate this ranking system with this particular martial art, it started with Judo. Eventually it was brought to Karate by one of the four top schools of the art in Japan. At the start, the belt of a martial artist would be dyed as that artist developed their knowledge and wisdom of the art. The practice was therefore very frugal and not too difficult to keep up with. Furthermore, this story would help us to understand why the belt gets darker and darker in shade as the practitioner improves.

There are many stories out there that the reason that the belt changes colors, gradually getting darker, is to symbolize how much effort the wearer has put into their practice. So the darkening was really only the unwashed obi getting filthier and filthier. In all reality there is likely some truth to this theory as well, whether the obi got increasingly darker from dirt or dye; it still represents an increase in experience.

Those who participate in this sport today always start with fresh white Karate belts and the hope of some day being presented with a black belt. Getting to black belt ranking can take an exceptionally long time, but many feel it is quite worth it. Many truly devoted practitioners begin as Karateka in early childhood but were adults before they ever received a black obi. Once they\’ve received their initial black belt, Karateka still have many levels they can achieve before reaching mastery. Very few ever make it to the top rank.