Karate is a form of self-defense that is rich in tradition and history, including a multitude of different levels associated with different belt colors. As you progress through the different stages and disciplines of karate, you earn a new belt color and advance to a new level in your training. Each belt color has a specific meaning and history associated with this ancient practice, ultimately leading to the black belt and the level of Master.
Early Belts
According to the website of Kreimer's Karate Institute, the early belt colors -- the first that you can achieve when beginning your lessons -- are the white, gold and yellow belts. The white belt symbolizes purity, much like a newborn, and suggests that the wearer has much to learn in the art. The gold belt is similar to the white belt in terms of newness; however, the student senses the expectancy of learning new techniques. The yellow belt symbolizes the sunrise, or a new day, and is awarded to up-and-coming students in the karate techniques.
Middle Belts
The middle levels or belt colors in karate are the green, blue and red belts. The green belt color signifies spring and suggests that the student is growing from infancy to childhood, or is progressing further in his training. The blue or purple belt color signifies the student's teenage years in terms of technique knowledge. The red belt is awarded to students who progress from "adolescence" into what is considered "adulthood" in terms of karate technique. This color signifies new blood or the setting sun.
Black Belt
The black belt is the final and highest level of karate belts. This color signifies a culmination of all colors, suggesting that the wearer has learned and demonstrated all techniques and skills learned prior to that level. These students have the deepest knowledge of all preceding levels. According to the Shotokan Karate Club at the University of Minnesota, black belts differ in degree, ultimately leading to a ninth-degree black-belt designation.
Considerations
As you earn new belt colors, you progress through your training and into new rankings. For example, the early belts leading to the black belt come associated with kyu rankings, counting down from the ninth kyu, or white belt, and ending in the first kyu, which is the red or brown belt. The black-belt designation then transitions to dan rankings, which increase from first degree to ninth degree.
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