The white belt is the first belt you receive as a beginner in karate, but beginning students usually start with no belt at all. Even the white belt needs to be earned, as do the eight other belt colors as you move up the ranks. The white belt is the first belt for symbolic and practical reasons.
Hierarchy
Once you earn a white belt, you can move up through the novice ranks with a yellow and then an orange belt. When you hit intermediate range, your next belt options are green, blue and purple, followed by brown and red at the advanced stage. You earn a black belt only by advancing through the belt system and reaching the status of senior student who has the maturity and dignity to wear the coveted black belt.
Symbolism
The belt colors of beginning karate students are symbolic of their stage of learning. Karate's white belt symbolizes your innocence as a student with no prior knowledge or experience in karate. The yellow belt is symbolic of the Earth, since you are beginning to establish a firm foundation with roots that will continue to grow. The orange belt stands for autumn and its changing colors. You've reached the autumnal stage as your body and mind mature and develop with your karate training.
Practicality
Beginner karate belts are a lighter color than the more advanced belts for a practical reason. As you move up through the ranks, the colors become increasingly darker because karate students used to dye their belts as they reached the next level instead of buying a new belt of a different color. This practice began after World War II, when Japan was left stricken with poverty. It was more economical to dye a karate belt than to purchase one of a new color.
Achievement
Earning a white belt varies among the different karate schools, but it generally takes at least 12 hours or more of training, passing a test and a recommendation from the instructor. Skills can include proficiency with aerobic and stretching exercises, holding various karate positions and stances for extended lengths of time and basic sparring and kicking moves.
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