Most martial arts, be it karate, tae kwon do or judo, use what's called a belt system. Colored belts represent various ranks, with white being the lowest rank and black the highest. No tests need to be taken to receive a white belt because it is the entry-level belt. A white belt is given to every student who begins studying a martial art.
The Meaning of the White Belt
The white belt indicates that a student is new to martial arts and has yet to learn much, if anything at all. The color white is meant to symbolize purity, because the student is like a blank canvas; wearing a white belt carries no shame. In fact, you could have a black belt in karate but then you start learning tae kwon do, you'll still have to start out as a white belt in tae kwon do.
The Dirty Belt Theory
One theory aims to explain how the belt system came to be in martial arts. It's called "the dirty belt theory." Before different colored belts were introduced in judo -- the first martial art to use a belt system -- everyone wore a white belt, even masters. Back then, no one washed their gi or belt, so after many years a belt would fade from white to yellow, then brown, and eventually black. If you had a black belt and gi, others knew that you must be an expert because it was indication that you had been studying and practicing for a long time.
Progressing from White Belt
The natural progression in most martial arts is from white to yellow. This goes back to the dirty belt theory. Although you don't have to pass any tests to receive your white belt, you do have to pass a test to receive your yellow belt. It usually takes about two to three months to transition from white to yellow, no matter the discipline. Some schools can be strict, however, and make you wait up to a year before moving up a belt level.
Other Belts
Belt rankings typically go from white to black, with all the other colors in between. Some styles of karate actually go from white to red, with red being the highest level, even above black, reserved only for grandmasters. The most common order, however, is as follows: white, yellow, orange/red, green, blue/purple, brown and black.
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