Chuntian Academy International

The Purpose of Colored Sashes as interpreted in the C.A.I. System.

The Origin of the Martial Arts Colored Belt System

The martial arts colored belt ranking system was originated by Dr. Jigoro Kano, who was Japanese and known as the "Founder of Modern Judo", who first devised many of the concepts that are the foundation of Modern martial arts. Dr. Kano devised the colored belt system as a visible sign of a student’s progress, awarding the first “black belts” in the 1880's.

Gichin Funakoshi, who was Okinawan and the founder of Shotokan Karate and often referred to as the "Founder of Modern Karate" adopted the belt ranking system and other organizational and philosophical concepts from Dr. Kano, who was both his contemporary and friend.

Byung Jick Ro, who is Korean and the founder of Song Moo Kwan and known as "Founder of Modern Taekwondo" was a student of Gichin Funakoshi, receiving his black belt from him in 1939, and thus, the color belt ranking system has been part of Modern Taekwondo since it was developed in the early 1940's.

Dispelling an Urban Legend

One common “legend” concerning the tradition of belts claims that early martial artists began their training with a white belt, which eventually became stained black from years of sweat, dirt, and blood. However, there is no real evidence for this story, so it should be relegated to the status of myth. In fact, given the standard of cleanliness common in the traditional Judo or Karate dojo, a student arriving with a bloodied or dirty uniform would probably not have been allowed to train. In some arts and schools there is the opinion that the belt should not be washed; by doing that one would "wash away the knowledge" or "wash one's ki away." This is all related to the “dirty belt” myth.

Levels of Advancement

Another common misbelief that needs to be clarified is the "black belt as master" stereotype,. In reality, a black belt indicates the wearer is competent in a style's basic technique. Since in the CAI System a black belt takes approximately 3 to 5 years of training to achieve, a good intuitive analogy would be a 1st Dan Black Belt is equivalent to a college Bachelor's degree. The 1st Dan black belt is thus seen not so much as an end, but rather as a beginning, a doorway to advanced learning. The 6th Dan is “Master” in The CAI System, and can be viewed similar to a college Master’s degree, and 8th degree black belt “Senior Master” can be seen being equivalent to a university Doctoral degree.

Meaning of the Colors

Originally, the white belt was simply dyed to a new color. This repeated dying process dictated the type of belt color and the order of the colors. The standard belt color system is white, yellow, gold, orange, green, blue, purple, brown and black. Due to the dying process, it was only practical to increasingly use darker colors. All of this came about shortly after the Second World War, when Korea and Japan were very poor countries. Dying the belts to a new color was a cheap way to have a visible, simple and effective ranking system.

Kung fu Systems

Most kung fu systems are "family systems", the father taught the son and so on. Most titles were translated to mean Sifu, father = teacher, Si gung, grandfather = Master.
Titles were and still are in some school the only rank indicator and colored sashes or belts are used. Some schools go by the traditional uniforms button color, (a few schools use colored patches) white button for student, black button for teacher and red for master.
In recent years some kung fu and silat schools have adapted the colored belt or sash system as well. Some similar to the Korean and Japanese arts color progression, white, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, brown and black. Some schools the opposite. Such as, you begin with black belt ( in the dark) and you achieve instructor status of white belt (enlightened ).
Note: Some schools have red before black, most have red as a high master level.

Chuntian Academy's System ( Long Program)

Note: We often don't wear belts in the adult class as we are not preoccupied with belts. Just train and train, be smart and be good. In the real world, an aggressor doesn't care about your belt color or number of trophies, the trophy is your life.

White Belt or Sash:

White signifies a birth, or beginning, of a seed. A white belt student is a beginner searching for knowledge of the Art. The white belt is the beginning of life's cycle, and represents the seed as it lies beneath the snow in the winter.

Yellow Belt

: Yellow signifies the first beams of sunlight which shines upon the seed giving it new strength with the beginning of new life. A yellow belt student is given his first ray of knowledge, opening his mind, from his instructors.

Orange Belt

: Orange represents the growing power of the sun as it warms the earth to prepare for new growth in the spring. The orange belt is starting to feel his body and mind open and develop.

Blue Belt

: Blue signifies water, the vital ingredient to all life and evolution. A blue belt student moves up higher in rank just as the plant grows taller. The water feeds the plant so it can continue to grow. The student is fed additional knowledge of the Art in order for his body and mind continue to grow and develop.

Green Belt

: Green signifies the growth of the seed as it sprouts from the earth reaching toward the sun and begins to grow into a plant. A green belt student learns to strengthen and refine his techniques.

Purple Belt

: ( Children's progression only ) Purple represents the changing sky of dawn, as once again the student undergoes a new change and prepares for the transition to advanced student. A purple belt begins to understand the meaning of the black belt.

Brown Belt

: Brown represents the ripening of the seed, a maturing and harvesting process. A brown belt is an advanced student whose techniques are beginning to mature, and he is beginning to understand the fruits of his hard work as a beginner.

Black Belt

: Black signifies the darkness beyond the Sun. A black belt seeks new, more profound knowledge of the Art. As he begins to teach others, he plants new seeds and helps them grow and mature. His students, many whom will form roots deep into the Art, blossom and grow through the ranks in a never-ending process of self-growth, knowledge, and enlightenment.

Red Belt

: Red signifies blood. As it's in your blood as in being complete. Red also signifies Danger or Warning. In the C.A.I. systems, the Black Belt will get a Red Stripe or bar for each Rank acquired. The 6th Rank ( beginning of the Master Levels ) the 6th Rank will have a Vertical Bar opposite 6 stripes that are horizonal. 7th rank - 7 stripes, 8th Rank- 8 stripes. 9th Rank is Grand Master and the Sash-Belt is nearly all Red.
NOTE: Even though the Sash/Belt is all Red, except for a small black tip, it is still considered a black belt. 9th Degree Black Belt. The Honorary Figure Head of the System. Example: The teachers formal master that's still alive, yet not really involved with the association beyond respect as a living figure head, has a White Sash, like a probate student, thus coming full circle as in life. Upon his death or if he so chooses to give ultimate control to his pupil now Grand Master, the Grand Master 9th Rank will move to the 10th Rank position. The highest formal position. And the teacher's master will be an 11th Rank Great Grand Master post humorously.