In karate, there are nine different colored belts. However, behind each of these belts is a different level of skill and mastery of the art of karate. The first eight belts, white, orange, red, yellow, green, purple--used for two belts--and brown, are within the 10 kyu levels of karate belt degrees. There are 10 kyu levels which must be mastered before one can reach dan, or the black belt.
Kyu and Dan Levels
If you are just starting out at karate, you will start at kyu level 10 and progress to level one. Each of these levels is signified by a different colored belt. Once you reach level one of the kyu, which is signified with a brown belt, you will have an opportunity to test your way into level one of the dan. After you reach the dan, or black belt, there are another 10 levels that must be achieved before you can get to the highest degree of black belt.
Original Belt System
The original belt system included three belts: the white belt, brown belt and black belt. With the original system, the kyu consisted of level eight through level one, and the dan consisted of levels one through five. The white belt comprised kyu levels eight through four, the brown belt consisted of kyu belt levels three through one and the black belt consisted of black belt levels one through five.
White, Orange, Red, Yellow, Green and Purple Belts
The official belt system consists of eight colored belts with the first six belts comprising kyu levels 10 though four. Progression through the kyu belt degrees are all tested based on overall karate skill and mastery, where your abilities are tested before a panel who will either pass or fail you. The white belt is the 10th kyu, the orange belt is the ninth kyu, the red belt is the eighth kyu, the yellow belt is the seventh kyu, the green belt is the sixth kyu, and the purple belt is both the 5th and 4th kyu.
Brown Belt
The brown belt consists of the third, second and first kyu. Once a student of karate reaches the first kyu, he will then be ready to test to move onto the first level of dan and his black belt.
Black Belt
The black belt consists of levels one through ten of the dan. The first and second levels of the dan are tested based on skill, like all the levels of kyu. However, according to the University of Minnesota Shotokan Karate Club, "ranks beyond 3rd-5th dan are political posts, and promotion to those ranks is based on your contribution to the karate organization and management of your own school and region, as well as advanced karate research."
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