Black Belt vs. Half Black and Red

[wmks shogun]

I skimmed through the posts to see if this had already been said and I do not think it has, so here is my addition, though I think it is common knowledge:
The origin of colored belts comes to the martial arts world from Judo's found Kano, Jugoro. Kano needed a way to help distinguish students from teachers, so he had the students wear white belts and the teachers wear black. It then occurred to him that a beginning student and an experienced student are not a fair match up and since he wanted Judo to become an olympic sport, he began to add colored belts to show levels of proficiency. Funakoshi, Gichen, the founder of Shotokan adopted concept of belt ranks as well after speaking with Kano about it. From there, the concept of rank being associated with belt color spread throughout the world (Korea got it during the Japanese occupation of Korea, I believe). Today, more colors are added so that a) the road to black belt has smaller more managable steps and/or b) more money coming into a school from belt testing fees (often known as the evil side of belt ranks, especially when there are testing fees for every belt and stripe and some schools have many many more colors and stripes than others).

[tkdnetwork.com]

I think the belt structure depends upon how the instructor chooses to market his school. Most of the time they add grades that dont exist for money purposes, essentially to generate more revenue.

If you look at Korea, North (pyongyang) or south, there grade structure is simple and is followed coherently. You dont see obscure grades such as orange or half black because it is not possible and doesnt follow any philosophy taught by gen choi.

All the schools I have attended (ITF) have followed 10kup - 1kup with the belt structure being white, yellow green blue red and black with a tag in between. Essentially making a belt the equivalent of progressing 2 kups or grades.

[Chapel]

Originally Posted by wmks shogun

I skimmed through the posts to see if this had already been said and I do not think it has, so here is my addition, though I think it is common knowledge:
The origin of colored belts comes to the martial arts world from Judo's found Kano, Jugoro. Kano needed a way to help distinguish students from teachers, so he had the students wear white belts and the teachers wear black. It then occurred to him that a beginning student and an experienced student are not a fair match up and since he wanted Judo to become an olympic sport, he began to add colored belts to show levels of proficiency. Funakoshi, Gichen, the founder of Shotokan adopted concept of belt ranks as well after speaking with Kano about it. From there, the concept of rank being associated with belt color spread throughout the world (Korea got it during the Japanese occupation of Korea, I believe). Today, more colors are added so that a) the road to black belt has smaller more managable steps and/or b) more money coming into a school from belt testing fees (often known as the evil side of belt ranks, especially when there are testing fees for every belt and stripe and some schools have many many more colors and stripes than others).

I have been told that the colored belt system comes from the idea of not washing your belt. As you train your belt becomes darker and darker as more and more dirt gets ground into the fibers of the belt until eventually it is black. Maybe your story here is more in regards to the comercial use of colored belts and mine is more historically significant, because I can see that both could have occured.

[47MartialMan]

Originally Posted by NinjaMaster

How many colored belts are there in Tae Kwon Do?

Are all those colors necessary? Did the ancient monks and warriors also get those colored cloth around their waist when they trained in the mountains?

I certainly can't see Ninjas dressed in all black but wearing bright orange belts.......

Did the ancient monks actually tain in martial arts?

Originally Posted by Mr.Rooster

In some Korean styles [maybe others as well], the Black/Red belt can also be a rank in the belt rank structure. Not specifically for rugrats, just a general rank in the ladder. Ususally it would/could be referred to as Jr. Black Belt, often after Brown Belt and before Black Belt. Also some may use it as a probationary Black belt before recieving official federation belt.
Personally, I like the old ways in regards to belts. I think there ought to be only three, White, Brown and Black. It's hard to find that anymore, especially in America because society puts so much emphasis on your belt color here in the states.

Because a object or material, has to demonstrate effort