Tai chi is an internal martial art with origins dating back to several thousand years BCE. Originally, the practice of tai chi did not include rank sashes. That practice entered into the sport during the 20th century due to the rising popularity of rank belts in Japanese martial arts. Today, not all tai chi programs observe sash ranking.
History of Rank Sashes
Gichin Funakoshi, the "grandfather of Japanese karate" organized elements of many traditional styles into Shotokan karate during the first half of the 20th century. One of the conventions he codified was the use of colored belts to designate rank, ability and length of study. This convention rapidly gained popularity, and many believe it directly contributed to the popularity of karate in general. As a result, Korean and Chinese martial arts also began using colored markers of rank by the 1950s. Although Korea used the same style as the Japanese, many Chinese arts adapted a light, flowing colored sash. Kung fu schools first adopted this tradition, and some tai chi schools also began using it.
International Standards
No centralized, international body exists to govern tai chi instruction, rank promotion or sash progression. Instead, individual organizations teach a specific form and set up their own rules for promotion and grading. Some of these organizations use a multitiered system of colored sashes, while other use only a single sash to indicate teaching credentials. Others use no sashes at all, and some require no uniform but comfortable clothes. According to martial arts historian Dave Coffman, tai chi and other internal arts have been some of the most resistant Asian martial arts to adapting colored belt rank systems.
General Grading Conventions
Those tai chi organizations that do use colored rank systems generally adopt the same rank patterns as many kung fu schools. This ranking moves through the progressions of white, yellow, orange, purple, blue, green, brown and black. Some schools may skip a rank, while others will subdivide a single rank -- for example, beginner and advanced blue sash, or first-, second- and third-degree brown sash. In general, white through orange ranks indicate a beginning student. Blue thorough brown indicate intermediate training. A black sash indicates expertise, and often a teaching credential.
"Dirty Belts"
A common story in circulation describes how the convention of colored sashes came into being. According to the story, traditional martial artists would not wash the belts of their practice clothing. As the years passed, sweat, blood and dirt would saturate the belt and darken its color. If you were up against somebody with a brown or black belt, you knew you were facing a formidable opponent. According to Coffman, as well as Peter Lewis in "Myths and Legends of the Martial Arts," no evidence exists to support this myth -- but it still makes for a good story.
References
- Dave Coffman; martial arts historian; Hillsboro, Oregon
- Jason Brick; martial arts teacher; Hillsboro, Oregon
- "Myths and Legends of the Martial Arts;" Peter Lewis; 1999
- "Bushido Martial Arts White Belt Book"; Bushido Martial Arts; 2006
- AKKA: American Kenpo Karate History
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