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Home » Blog » Karate Belts: What do the Colours Mean?

Karate Belts: What do the Colours Mean?

July 9, 2010 By Sensei Matt Klein

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the various coloured belts in karate

The order of belts in Kenpo is different from many other systems.

Karate Belt Colours Originated in Japan

The idea of ranking karate belts according to colour was introduced by the Japanese at the turn of the 20th century. Each belt signifies a progression in skill, but more importantly a change in attitude. Today there are many different ranks in countless systems across the world. In Kenpo Freestyle the belts progress as follows with their meanings explained. Keep in mind there are many interpretations of this.

The Meaning of Each Karate Belt Colour

White belt means absolute beginner, a clean slate, and is the colour of innocence. There is no shame in being a white belt and the instructor, most of all, realizes this because he or she was once one.

Yellow belt and Orange belt-these colours represent a new beginning as these colours are seen at sunrise. They reflect enthusiasm, passion, and energy. Yellow is also associated with hope. Orange is a darker colour, reflecting greater maturity than Yellow.

Purple belt represents springtime and creativity. It is the stage where a student is still fresh, but is becoming increasingly creative in applying techniques.

Blue belts are reaching toward the blue sky and show maturity in the middle stages on the road to black belt. The colour blue means calmness, responsibility, strength, and reliability, and blue belts typically embody these qualities. Also, in a blue belt you can see the fluidity of movements, like water.

Green belts are the last in the intermediate stages of training. Green signifies the branches and leaves growing upward and outward, reaching toward the sky. The change in colour from green to brown also portrays the change in colours to autumn as the student gains experience.

Brown is the colour of the earth and is the first advanced belt. It represents the roots of the tree planted firmly in the earth. It is a steadfast and reliable colour. At this stage the student becomes more watchful and critical, and is striving for perfection.

Black belt signifies power, both mentally and physically. It also represents mastery, calmness, and dignity. It is just the start of a path to true mastery of the art as the student climbs the ranks of black belts, 1st degree through 10th degree.

White Belt Completes Cycle

White belt completes the circle. Look at the belt of a sensei who has been a black belt for 30 years or so and it is white. It is at this stage if not before that a true sensei realizes how little he or she knows in the whole scheme of things.

Just as you cannot rush a plant through its growing stages, a martial artist must progress slowly and naturally through the belts to achieve proficiency and maturity.

Sensei Matt Klein

Find out more about our Sydney kids karate classes

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Filed Under: For the Martial Artist

Comments

  1. Sharon Smith says

    July 9, 2010 at 10:49 pm

    Sensei Matt
    Great explanation of the belt colours and their value to the martial artist as way to show how they are developing.
    Not just in skills but in maturity and realisation of what it means to be a martial artist.
    Sharon

  2. Sensei Matt Klein says

    July 10, 2010 at 10:05 am

    Thanks Sharon for your insights, I thought it would be helpful to provide our students with a guide to both belt order and the meaning behind it so they know what is in store along their journey.

  3. Zoltan Levitt says

    July 10, 2010 at 9:13 pm

    Loved this article Sensei, the deeper meanings are sometimes lost, not by incompetence but by the wrong questions being asked .. you not only have the answers but you asked the right questions for the students. Great work.

    Kind Regards, Zoltan

  4. Shandor Lim says

    July 11, 2010 at 10:31 am

    Your belt is your Badge of Honor with every belt colour you obtain you are expected to both learn more new & exciting moves & Revise all what you have learn’t before, Because if you don’t know what you have learnt how can you learn more & understand why? “Always remember where you came from as it is the road to your feature success”

  5. Steve Nascimben says

    July 11, 2010 at 3:25 pm

    Good article Sensei, I thought your descriptions of each belt colour could be related back to the levels of the student and how they are maturing into martial artists. To see where they have come from in the beginning to the levels they are now is incredible.

  6. Sensei Matt Klein says

    July 12, 2010 at 9:56 am

    Thanks for the comments guys. Zoltan, I always try to question to arrive at a truth for me, but this is not necessarily the truth for someone else. Shandor, good point about the Badge of Honor, a student should be proud of their belts–nevertheless, some prefer not to wear them during class. I make it a point to call them white belts during that class–they hate it. Next week they wear their belts. Simple solution. Steve, good points–I am amazed by the progression of students constantly. Some you think might never have the tools to get to black belt, but I am pleasantly surprised time after time. Never underestimate a martial artist.

  7. Shandor Lim says

    July 13, 2010 at 2:24 pm

    Well Said To All!, you know what if every blog you put up Sensei Matt brings out so much wisdom, I think you have achieved your goal!. It is great to see the passion and true wisdom expressed by the very people we watched grow up into awesome martial artists; I take my hat off to you all, You Do The Club Proud! Oh & one more thing “The wise man asks himself the reason of his mistakes. The fool asks others.”
    Yours Sincerely Shandor Cheers 

  8. Shandor Lim says

    July 14, 2010 at 6:30 pm

    “Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless – like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”

  9. CNA work in the health-care field says

    July 24, 2010 at 10:58 am

    Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!

  10. anthony says

    October 23, 2010 at 9:02 pm

    I do this karate at south penrith and im only orange belt 😀

  11. Sensei Matt Klein says

    October 23, 2010 at 11:06 pm

    Thanks for your comment Anthony and keep up the good training.

New Term Starts 16th October

September 24, 2020
Hey Kenpo Freestylers! The first week of classes for next term starts Friday, 16th October, through Thursday, 22nd October. The last week of term will end on Thursday, 17th December. It is a nine week term. Please mark your calendars! Times and dates are also posted on our website at http://www.karate-kids.com.au/locations/.

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All of our head instructors and a good many of our assistants have completed the MAIA course for qualification as a COVID safe business. Please be assured that we take your child’s health and safety as our highest priority. Our classes will be run safely in a clean environment. Please talk to your head instructor […]

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Our regular classes are starting this Friday, the 24th of July through Thursday week the 30th of July. It will be a nine-week term and will continue through Thursday, 24th September. Please see our Locations page for times and dates. Welcome back returning students and we look forward to meeting all new students. Sensei Matt

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Great Deals Online Kids Karate! Welcome back Kenpo Freestylers! We now have pre pay options available on iKarate for our loyal students and families – with something extra… Our way of saying thank you We have been so touched by the overwhelming support for you all for our beloved Karate Club. The emails & facebook […]

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mihir-joshi-kenpo-freestyle-sydneyOver the years, through Karate, I found that my confidence and self-esteem levels had sky rocketed to heights I never thought it would go. I thank Sensei Matt, and all those who have helped me in Karate, for helping me understand such values in a fun and social learning environment.
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I like Karate because it is really fun and I love going on the weekend to see all my friends and Senseis. Karate makes me feel safe because I don’t worry about bullies at school because I know they can’t really hurt me.Tyvian-Macfarlne-Kenpo-Freestyle-Sydney
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09/08/2014
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The confidence karate has given Tyvian is amazing. He is takes pride in himself and he has matured. The focus, confidence and discipline he has gained through karate has transferred to other areas of his life such as educational tasks, looking after younger children both in and out of his family and demonstrating empathy for others.Robert-Macfarlane
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I owe my confidence, strength, fitness and leadership skills to Karate. It has taught me to persist with everything and that the only way to improve is to try harder.Adam-Loader-Kenpo-Freestyle-Sydney
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Look at what you have achieved Matt, we can’t thank you enough for your contribution to shaping these two young men. We are often complimented about the maturity of the boys and we know their Karate has played an important part in developing that maturity. Brings a tear to my eye!
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09/01/2014

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