Close Look At Belts

With most types of martial arts, the color ribbon you have, you signify your rank within your style of martial arts. Belts used in martial arts signify your rank within that style, even if they have no universal means or ranking in the martial arts world. More or less, tell what they know about your specific martial art.

The use of color belt, martial arts is an ancient practice that dates back hundreds of years. Belts and their usage in the martial arts all started by a man known as Jigoro Kano, who created a style known as Kodokan Judo. Kano started using only a white and a black belt in a significant investment in its style of martial arts. His reason for using seat belts was made clear, students can compete in various activities. For example, those with white belts could not compete with the same activity as the black belts.

Shortly after Kano introduced his idea of using belts, other colors were introduced into the martial arts world. Over the years he has been a great way to say what experience a student had in his style - just by the look of his belt. Other styles have begun using this system and over the years, including Karate, Taekwondo, and many others.

While most martial arts styles use belts to signify rank, there are some martial arts there as Shoot Fighting, not wearing a seatbelt at all. The styles that choose not to wear a seatbelt does not rank either, because they are more or less for self-defense. Pitfighting is another style that does not use belts either. These styles are great for learning how to protect yourself - even if they differ from traditional sense of martial arts.

The only problem with using belts to indicate rank, is the fact that a school may have different requirements from another school. Although both may teach the same style of martial arts, their classification and requirements for a certain range can be totally different. This can cause confusion in the ranks, especially if a black belt school is not as versed in the style as a black belt from another school. While most schools adhere to the same criteria, there are schools that choose to incorporate their own style as well.

All things aside, the belts are an innovation in martial arts. They give students a purpose and a reason to keep practicing. Most martial arts students study aimed to get black belt, which is the most prestigious belt in martial arts. A black belt takes years of practice to obtain, as the student passes through many young bands before getting the opportunity to try to win the black belt.