How To Tie Your Belt
Hold belt at its center, ends even, with stripes (if you have them) on the left side.
Place center of belt on front center of jacket, about one inch below the naval (a location called the tanden). Wrap belt around your waist, crossing the right side over the left side at center of the back. Stripes will now be on your right side. Pull ends of belt forward and adjust so the ends are even.
Lay the left side of belt over the tanden. Lay the right side of belt across the tanden. Stripes will now be on your left side.
Slide the left side of belt (striped side) under and behind all the belt layers at the tanden. Stripes will still be on your left side. Loop Bring left (striped) end of belt down and over the front of the U Loop striped end under and up through the U shape to form a knot Pull ends of belt outward to tighten knot. Stripes will be on your right side
Adjust knot so the ends of belt are even and hang neatly.
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Belt Colors and Meaning
Beginers
White Belt –The color white signifies innocence, as that of the beginning student who has no previous knowledge
Yellow Belt – The color yellow signifies the earth. The beginning student begins to create a firm foundation in karate technique, just as a seed begins to expand its root system deep in the earth as it begins to grow.
Orange Belt – The color orange signifies the changes of Autumn, as the student's mind and body begin to develop and grow as a result of the new karate experience.
Intermediate
Green Belt – The color green represents growth, like that of the green plant as it sprouts out of the ground. The student has built a firm foundation and now begins to grow in the art of karate.
Blue Belt –The color blue represents the sky. Reminding the student to reach for the heavens and continue their karate Do journey.
Purple Belt – The color purple represents the changing sky of dawn, as once again the student undergoes a new change and prepares for the transition to advanced student.
Advanced
Brown Belt – The color brown represents the ripening or maturing process as that of the advanced karate Do student whose techniques are beginning to mature.
Red Belt – The color of blood signifies danger and is a warning to the student to temper her newly found skills and techniques with control and wisdom.
Senior
Black – The opposite of white signifies maturity and dignity, as that of a senior student of karate Do who has learned the basic curriculum of karate Do and is ready to become a true student of karate Do.
A Brief History of the Martial Arts Belt Systems A brief history of kyu/dan (kyu is Japanese ) ranking systems and belts, follows:
Before Jigoro Kano invented Judo, there was no kyu/dan ranking system. Kano invented it when he awarded "shodan" to two of his senior students (Saito and Tomita) in 1883. Even then, there was no external differentiation between yudansha (dan ranks) and mudansha (those who hadn't yet attained dan ranking). Kano apparently began the custom of having his yudansha wear black obis in 1886. These obis weren't the belts karateka and judoka wear today - Kano hadn't invented the judogi (uniform) yet, and his students were still practicing in kimono. They were the wide obi still worn with formal kimono. In 1907, Kano introduced the modern gi and its modern obi, but he still only used white and black.
Karateka in Okinawa didn't use any sort of special uniform at all in the old days. The kyu/dan ranking system, and the modern karate gi (modified judo gi) were first adopted by Funakoshi in an effort to encourage karate's acceptance by the Japanese. He awarded the first "shodan" ranks given in karate to Tokuda, Otsuka, Akiba, Shimizu, Hirose, Gima, and Kasuya on April 10, 1924. The adoption of the kyu/dan system and the adoption of a standard uniform based on the judogi were 2 of the 4 conditions which the Dai-Nippon Butokukai required before recognizing karate as a "real" martial art. If you look at photographs of Okinawan karateka training in the early part of this century, you'll see that they were training in their everyday clothes, or in their underwear.
Most other arts that have ranking/belt color systems adopted them from the Japanese.
White Belt –The color white signifies innocence, as that of the beginning student who has no previous knowledge
Yellow Belt – The color yellow signifies the earth. The beginning student begins to create a firm foundation in karate technique, just as a seed begins to expand its root system deep in the earth as it begins to grow.
Orange Belt – The color orange signifies the changes of Autumn, as the student's mind and body begin to develop and grow as a result of the new karate experience.
Intermediate
Green Belt – The color green represents growth, like that of the green plant as it sprouts out of the ground. The student has built a firm foundation and now begins to grow in the art of karate.
Blue Belt –The color blue represents the sky. Reminding the student to reach for the heavens and continue their karate Do journey.
Purple Belt – The color purple represents the changing sky of dawn, as once again the student undergoes a new change and prepares for the transition to advanced student.
Advanced
Brown Belt – The color brown represents the ripening or maturing process as that of the advanced karate Do student whose techniques are beginning to mature.
Red Belt – The color of blood signifies danger and is a warning to the student to temper her newly found skills and techniques with control and wisdom.
Senior
Black – The opposite of white signifies maturity and dignity, as that of a senior student of karate Do who has learned the basic curriculum of karate Do and is ready to become a true student of karate Do.
A Brief History of the Martial Arts Belt Systems A brief history of kyu/dan (kyu is Japanese ) ranking systems and belts, follows:
Before Jigoro Kano invented Judo, there was no kyu/dan ranking system. Kano invented it when he awarded "shodan" to two of his senior students (Saito and Tomita) in 1883. Even then, there was no external differentiation between yudansha (dan ranks) and mudansha (those who hadn't yet attained dan ranking). Kano apparently began the custom of having his yudansha wear black obis in 1886. These obis weren't the belts karateka and judoka wear today - Kano hadn't invented the judogi (uniform) yet, and his students were still practicing in kimono. They were the wide obi still worn with formal kimono. In 1907, Kano introduced the modern gi and its modern obi, but he still only used white and black.
Karateka in Okinawa didn't use any sort of special uniform at all in the old days. The kyu/dan ranking system, and the modern karate gi (modified judo gi) were first adopted by Funakoshi in an effort to encourage karate's acceptance by the Japanese. He awarded the first "shodan" ranks given in karate to Tokuda, Otsuka, Akiba, Shimizu, Hirose, Gima, and Kasuya on April 10, 1924. The adoption of the kyu/dan system and the adoption of a standard uniform based on the judogi were 2 of the 4 conditions which the Dai-Nippon Butokukai required before recognizing karate as a "real" martial art. If you look at photographs of Okinawan karateka training in the early part of this century, you'll see that they were training in their everyday clothes, or in their underwear.
Most other arts that have ranking/belt color systems adopted them from the Japanese.
Proper Care for a Karate Gi
Proper Care for a Karate Gi Wash After Every Use - Wash the uniform after each training session. You should never wear your Karate uniform to training sessions two times in a row without washing it. If you allow it to stand over night, it will cause bacterial build-up on the material which will be difficult to remove even after wash.
Do Not Use Mechanical Dryers - We recommend you to hang dry the uniform after wash. In humid environments, your karate uniform may require two days to completely dry. You�ll need to purchase two or three karate uniforms in that case, because you cannot wear it repeatedly without washing it.
Do Not Bleach - Using chlorine bleach on your cotton uniform will get it clean, but bleach is a strong base, so it will damage the material, causing the stitching to come apart. For longer lasting use, please do not use bleach. Please hand wash using mild soap on parts where it needs to be cleaned.
Pre-soak Your Karate Gi - Follow correct laundry procedures. Start the washer so that it begins to fill with water. Put detergent (mild soap preferred) in immediately, and allow the detergent to dissolve into the water. After the washing machine has nearly completed filling with water, add your karate uniform You should also try to wash it with some other white items such as towels, because washing it alone will reduce the friction cleaning effect of modern day washing machines. Turn off the washing machine and allow your karate gi to soak in the soapy water for at least 20 minutes. Then start the washer again and allow it to begin its wash cycle.
Hang Dry Immediately - When the wash cycle is complete, hang your karate gi to dry right away. Do not leave the uniform wet inside the washing machine for more than a hour as it will cause bacterial build up.
Fold Properly When Dry - When your uniform has finished drying, straighten the material by stretching softly and fold it so that it will keep the material from wrinkles. We do not recommend ironing the uniform.
Do Not Use Mechanical Dryers - We recommend you to hang dry the uniform after wash. In humid environments, your karate uniform may require two days to completely dry. You�ll need to purchase two or three karate uniforms in that case, because you cannot wear it repeatedly without washing it.
Do Not Bleach - Using chlorine bleach on your cotton uniform will get it clean, but bleach is a strong base, so it will damage the material, causing the stitching to come apart. For longer lasting use, please do not use bleach. Please hand wash using mild soap on parts where it needs to be cleaned.
Pre-soak Your Karate Gi - Follow correct laundry procedures. Start the washer so that it begins to fill with water. Put detergent (mild soap preferred) in immediately, and allow the detergent to dissolve into the water. After the washing machine has nearly completed filling with water, add your karate uniform You should also try to wash it with some other white items such as towels, because washing it alone will reduce the friction cleaning effect of modern day washing machines. Turn off the washing machine and allow your karate gi to soak in the soapy water for at least 20 minutes. Then start the washer again and allow it to begin its wash cycle.
Hang Dry Immediately - When the wash cycle is complete, hang your karate gi to dry right away. Do not leave the uniform wet inside the washing machine for more than a hour as it will cause bacterial build up.
Fold Properly When Dry - When your uniform has finished drying, straighten the material by stretching softly and fold it so that it will keep the material from wrinkles. We do not recommend ironing the uniform.