Thread: Martial Arts And The Belt System

Martial Arts And The Belt System




Most people have heard of martial arts, but the ones from the western world really know nothing about them, except for the fact of the colored belts. They know that the color of the belt signifies ranking, but that is about it. Most have no idea which color is the highest rank or the lowest rank. Within the martial arts community, not only are the colors all known, but each student knows which rank they are striving for. Mainly the color of the belt tells others how much you know about the martial art you are involved with.


For hundreds of years, the color of the belt has been used to signify ranking in martial arts. It was started by a man named Jigoro Kano, who created Kodokan Judo, and in order to rank his students within his style of martial arts, he started using white and black belts. He did this to separate his students, only allowing the participation of the activities that matched the color of the belt. This prevented those who were not ready to compete with those who were far more advanced. This system worked well enough that it became normal in the world of martial arts, even to the introduction of more colors. This became the way to identify the rank of the student, as the color of the belt would tell you immediately the experience of the student. Other styles, such as Karate, Taekwondo, and others began using this system, also.


Since not all schools within martial arts have the same requirements, the color of the belt might mean something a little different from one school to the next. This tends to happen with anything, where rules might be judged differently in different places. This can cause confusion, when schools are teaching the same style of martial arts, but to get a certain ranking, one school might use different requirements than another school. This might cause a problem, when a black belt from one school could be different than a black belt from another school. Most schools try to stick to the same criteria, but there are always some who want to incorporate their own style to be unique.


There are certain martial arts, like Shootfighting, that don't use belts at all, but most martial arts styles use the ranking system of belts. Some styles, which have a primary purpose of self defense, don't even have a ranking system. Another style that doesn't use belts is Pitfighting, and it is also used for learning how to protect yourself.


The system of belts has been a great innovation to martial arts. It gives the students a goal to shoot for, and a way to judge how they are progressing. Getting a black belt is what most students are striving for, and it takes many years to get to that level of success. One nice thing about the belt system is that you work your way through each step along the way, without the possibility of skipping steps. You never get to move up until you are ready.

How To Choose the Right Martial Arts School




If you're considering a martial arts class, it's important that you pick one that's right for your needs and personality. The same is true if you want to sign your child up for a martial arts class. There are a wide variety of martial arts being taught today, and one school can have a very different atmosphere than another. Let's look at some of the criteria you should use when selecting a martial arts school.


You should ask yourself why you want to take a martial arts class. Is your main purpose fitness, to participate in a tradition or to learn self defense? If self defense is your main goal, you should focus on a school that stresses this. Some schools are more focused on preserving the tradition of a martial art, whether it is a certain style of Kung Fu or Karate or another martial art. Some of these schools may teach you other aspects of Asian culture, such as language and customs. On the other hand, schools that are mainly concerned with self defense may dispense with many traditional things like uniforms and only teach moves and strategies that are practical.


Most martial arts schools allow you to watch a class before signing up. Many will go a step further, and allow you to take one or more free classes. This can give you the opportunity to find out if this is something you want to practice on a regular basis. It can take years of practice to get proficient in a martial art, so you don't want to invest your time and money in a school where you don't feel comfortable. If necessary, pay a visit to every martial arts school in your area before making your decision. You may also want to read up on the various martial arts, or do some research online to find out more about each one.


Because of the current popularity of martial arts, there are now many martial arts schools or dojos almost everywhere. This is good in the sense that you have many schools to choose from. Yet, the not so good aspect of this is that martial arts have become rather commercialized. Many schools, sometimes called McDojos, are set up to get as many students as possible without paying much attention to quality. That's why you should do some research and find out something about a school before signing up. Some danger signs include promising you a black belt in a certain amount of time, or making you sign a complicated contract right away. Martial arts instructors have to make a living like everyone else, but you don't want to go to a school that is only there to take your money.


With so many martial arts schools to choose from, you should do some shopping around before choosing one. The factors we've discussed in this article can help you make the right choice. You want to find a school that truly cares about the well being and personal development of its students. You also should seek one that's a good match for your goals and personality.