Karate is a martial art that has developed over many centuries. Different karate styles have emerged, some named after the region in Japan where they were developed, some after the person who developed them and others after a family or clan that practiced them. Shotokan karate, literally the House of Shoto, developed as a synthesis of the martial arts practiced in Okinawa. It became popular in Japan in the first half of the twentieth century and from there spread around the world.
Lower Ranks
Students of karate move through a series of lower ranks, or kyu, by passing graded exams, each demonstrating an increased level of skill. As students pass through the ranks, they are granted belts of different colors. Kyu starts at 10, which is a white belt, and goes to one, a black belt. Though the first and last belt colors are consistent from one school or organization to the next, the colors of belts in between, the number of colors and the relationship of color to rank vary widely depending on the granting organization. The exact skills necessary to move through the ranks also vary, making it impossible to compare belts received from all organizations.
Upper Ranks
After a student has earned a black belt, she enters the upper ranks, or dan. The dan increases from one to 10 as a person improves, though ranks higher than five are typically reserved for the very elite. For example, only two people in Shotokan karate --- one being its founder --- have achieved the tenth dan, which is granted posthumously.
History
The belt color system originated in Japan at a time when resources were scarce, so the same belt was dyed repeatedly to create a simple, visible ranking system, according to All-Karate.com. At the time, the repeated dying process determined the order of the colors in the belt system. Beginners started with an white belt, which was then dyed so that each successive color was darker: yellow, green, brown and black. In fact, the actual dying of belts became a part of the karate tradition for a time.
Purpose
The ranking system has the potential to serve students of karate as a tool for setting and tracking goals. A student can focus on learning the skills needed to achieve the next rank, while instructors can correct and critique a student in a focused fashion to help a student understand what is necessary to pass the test, thereby advancing to the next rank.
Member Comments