Gold belt

[Colin 8 of 8]

One of my friends claims they where instructed in karate by a men who wore a gold belt. Any body know if a gold belt is ever awarded and if so what for.

Colin 8 of 8


------------------
My name is Colin 8 of 8, I am very much alive, and intend to stay that way.

[Adam]

Reminds me of a guy who claimed to be trained by someone with a rainbow belt... Supposedly had to do with mastering 3 martial arts.
Belts are self awarded or the sign of what some organization (politics and all) thought you should wear.
Oh yeah, add on Rainbow Belt onto the question. Anybody else heard of it?

Adam

[TSDguy]

Actually, I have heard of gold belts. Sometimes individual schools have a special belt color to designate intructors-in-training or jr. black belts or whatever it may be. I also seem to recall a gold sash in ceratin kung fus? Question mark? And there was a gold belt in Bruce Lee's "Game of Death", which i suppose isn't a valid source for accurate information on martial art traditions.

[Dale Knepp]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Colin 8 of 8:
One of my friends claims they where instructed in karate by a men who wore a gold belt. Any body know if a gold belt is ever awarded and if so what for.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Our organization tournaments featured a form of bogu kumite that was pioneered in Southern Japan and promoted in Okinawa by Shigeru Nakamura and Zenryo Shimabukuro among others. Seiyu Oyata was a leader in its growth in Okinawa winning the national championship hosted by Tsuyoshi Chitose in Southern Japan in 1967.

At one time in the early 1980s, my teacher allowed the use of a gold belt and a silver belt for tournament competition. Its use was based on one's kumite category so a kyu rank student might qualify as a gold belt because that student had previously won silver belt matches and was ready to compete in the higher category. Most kyu ranks competitors would gladly trade in their silver belt to compete in the gold belt division. However, these ranks were only used in tournament context and were not teaching ranks. As bogu kumite isn't hugely popular, these ranks fell into disuse and few members of our group would even remember that they were used at one time.

Regards,

Dale Knepp

[Scott Danziger]

How about a chrome belt?

I've already seen camouflage. Maybe we can get metallic blue belts or candy apple red belts.

Supreme masters can wear glow in the dark belts.

Sorry to rant but in my not so humble opinion, unless you have truly "earned" a black belt, belts ******! They are useless. they do nothing. They don't make you a better martial artist or certify you as a genuine ass kicker. I was "awarded" (whatever) a brown belt the day before I left Germany in 1983. I never stepped foot again in a Uechi dojo. I Taught myself seisan. Went to a tournament last year and put that brown belt on (barely fit). I Entered kata and won 3rd. Mind you, we were all over 35/under black belts.

What does this tell you? If I put on a white belt or a green belt would I have done better or worse in my scores?

I still can't spar worth a damn.

I think everybody should wear either a white belt or no belt until such time that you've "earned" a black belt.

Scott



------------------
VISIT:
Uechi-Ryu.Com Multimedia
Uechi-Ryu.Com Hotlist (Martial Art Links)
Taking Charge - Cable TV & Video Martial Arts Show

[Ted Dinwiddie]

Belts are like diplomas; together with a dollar you can get a tall coffee at Greenberry's.

Belts are like diplomas; the holder fulfilled a school's/instructor's requirements for it to be awarded.

To some, a diploma from The University of Virginia is little more than a big rolling paper. Others would believe it came with magical powers. To the individual who earned it? Probably represents more than anybody else could understand.

I was proud of every rank I attained. I had to earn each one. Did they have any meaning outside that school? Who cares? Did I aquire skills while earning those ranks? Yes. If those skills are tested in a self defense situation, will the color of my belt help me? Nope. Will the skills developed earning the belt help me? Yes(just wish the dang things came with the instructions for the force field printed on them, I can't get mine to work).

Some guy climbs a mountain. Who cares? He does.

------------------
ted

"I learn by going where I have to go." - Theodore Roethke

[This message has been edited by Ted Dinwiddie (edited November 20, 2001).]

[Scott Danziger]

When I was givin a belt, it was handed to me. I never formally tested for any kyu belt,. And every time I recieved one I didn't want it. But hey, that's just me. I know where I stood/stand. I like the old way they did it on Okinawa, everybody wore a white belt until the teacher awarded you a black belt. And if I remember correctly in Sensei Mattson's book, even some blackbelts wore whitebelts. Before Judo, there were no belts anyway. Were their Martial skills any better or worse?

The only promotions I need are the ones that involve getting paid more money .

Scott

------------------
VISIT:
Uechi-Ryu.Com Multimedia
Uechi-Ryu.Com Hotlist (Martial Art Links)
Taking Charge - Cable TV & Video Martial Arts Show

[2Green]

Ok, here's my take on belts.
In school,you take classes,you take exams,then if you pass you get the grade.
But in MA, you start with a belt, and it's a rank. BUT:You have to work to "fulfil" it.
When you have, you get your next rank. Then you have to work to fulfil that. You see?
Getting a belt or promotion is just permission to train at that level. You're not there yet. When you are, you get handed your next level to fulfil
So,a Black Belt is a Brown Belt who is admitted to the next level of training.
When he/she fulfils that, they get their 2nd Dan.
I'm a Green Belt, which means only that I "have" my complete White Belt!
I rather like this way of thinking, since I ****** so much at being a Green Belt. Many nights I wish I could not wear it at all.
OK, most nights.But it took me three years as a white belt to get "admitted" to that level of training,so I wear it as a symbol of what I have to live up to, NOT a symbol of what I have "earned" or "accomplished".
When I have, I'll be handed a Brown one.
i.e.:OK,more work.

[LenTesta]

Nothing new to me.
In most karate styles that do not use any striping system of ranks, the yellow belt is considered the second rank and the gold belt is considered to be the third rank.

My junior students go from white belt with 3 yellow stripes to GOLD BELT. I call them Yellow belts, but the actual color of the belt is a dark yellow and Century MA refers to them as GOLD

see link Belts

As for a REAL GOLD belt (one that glitters as gold does), I have not seen.


------------------
Len

[LenTesta]

2Green is correct.

After receiving a Black Belt I was told that I was a "fantastic looking" Brown Belt up to now, however I am a "not so good looking" Black Belt at the moment.

The colored belts for children's ranks are very beneficial to the student. Their entire schooling consists of grade after grade promotions to ascertain the level that the student is at.

Belts only hold the gi jacket closed as far as I am concerned however it allows you to split the learning groups of similar knowledged students when in the dojo. Each student also knows his place in the pecking order.

Adults in the BUKA only have three color belts before Shodan...White, Green, and Brown. They do not need the constant recognition of success that the children do.

After earning a black belt there is no reason for the color to change any more. The addition of the Gold Bars on a Masters belt is recognition enough for the dedication and perserverance that the artist has demonstrated for many years of hard work and training.

I see no need for the entire belt to be GOLD.



------------------
Len

[Ted Dinwiddie]

Our school is different. Upon recieving a rank, the student is presented with a syllabus of the additional requirements for the next rank. When the instructors see proficiency in those new requirements, the student's name is added to the list for the next test. The anxiety and pressure are then ramped up as that date approaches and the requirements are drilled with alot more intensity. Past requirements are expected to show improvement as the tests are meticulously graded and scored and those records are kept and reviewed. The whole experience is designed as a pressure cooker. The test is an ordeal. Performance under pressure is key.

By the time one is told when they will be tested, they know what they are expected to know and can do what they are expected to do. The gauntlet remains, however. Our brown belts have routinely surprised visiting black belts. If you tie the rank on, you are expected to perform accordingly.



------------------
ted

"I learn by going where I have to go." - Theodore Roethke

[Colin 8 of 8]

I wear a white belt, mostly because I can’t find one of those rainbow ones . Last time I did holding Randori at my club I beat a brown belt and a second dan. I know most if not quite all the syllabus required for black belt. My white belt dose not mean I can not train at black belt level. Just that I have not paid for the grading fees.

Colin 8 of 8


------------------
My name is Colin 8 of 8, I am very much alive, and intend to stay that way.

[dominiuno]

Hello,
I like the Iaido way of ranking, there are no belts except the belt you use to keep your katana up. When you get your shodan or even godan or rokudan, there is nothing that would show your rank, it is just internal.
Not all styles of Iaido use this, some will wear brown belts or green belts etc.

Just thought I'd say it.


David

[Bill Stockey]

Hm, gold belt was usually given to kobudo masters by the original rengo kai in Okinawa

[shoken]

Interesting topic...

I wonder, is there actually so much difference between ranks? For example, is a newly promoted shodan superior to an advanced ni-kyu?

In my prospective, attaining rank symbolizes more responsibility and effort.