More Belt Colors? WHY???

[astrobiologist]

A belt is just a means for a student and an instructor to follow the progress of an education in the martial arts. Too much significance has been placed upon the belt these days. I say, to each their own. If a school want pink belts, camo belts, or belts with flashy lights... whatever, that's their prerogative. If the school operator is including more belts so that they can make more money off of their students (McDojo extortion) then that hurts the martial arts, but who really cares what color(s) the belts are...

[Nolerama]

I occasionally train with a gi, and have not earned a belt in any grappling art.

So it would be cool to wear a camo or pink belt IMO. I wouldn't wear it in a competition, but my training partners and I would get a kick out of it in our own gym.

Currently, I'm making my white belt into a checkerboard belt. Because that would be awesome... And it's the only thing I can do to pass the time away besides watching television.

Also, check out Happy Kimonos. I think they're fun.

Oh yeah, this poses the question:

Do martial artists place too much stock in the color of belts?

[searcher]

I did not read all of the thread so if this was mentioned I apologize.

The sand(tan), and grey are for MCMAP ranking. They decided to use those colors inplace of "traditional" colors.

The navy is for differentiation between high and low blue in some systems. Other systems use stripes or tips for such things.



And the big reason why more colors is $$$$$$$. Each belt test is another chance tp make some more money. The McDojos love it.

[BrandonLucas]

Originally Posted by Nolerama

I occasionally train with a gi, and have not earned a belt in any grappling art.

So it would be cool to wear a camo or pink belt IMO. I wouldn't wear it in a competition, but my training partners and I would get a kick out of it in our own gym.

Currently, I'm making my white belt into a checkerboard belt. Because that would be awesome... And it's the only thing I can do to pass the time away besides watching television.

Also, check out Happy Kimonos. I think they're fun.

Oh yeah, this poses the question:

Do martial artists place too much stock in the color of belts?

Yessir. They sure do.

[stevebjj]

Originally Posted by Nolerama

Also, check out Happy Kimonos. I think they're fun.

Oh... dude... I can't thank you enough for that link. I've been planning on tie dying a gi for months, but couldn't figure out how to do a good job of it at home (seeing that I haven't tie dyed anything since day camp in the 70's).

[Daniel Sullivan]

Originally Posted by Nolerama

Oh yeah, this poses the question:

Do martial artists place too much stock in the color of belts?

Martial artists? Not as a whole.

I think that we need to qualify what a martial artist isn't: getting your bb and the quitting doen't make you a martial artist; it means that you took a class and got a paper that said so. It does not make you a martial artist.

I think that schools do, as it is either a direct source of income or a goal that keeps iffy students around and paying longer.

And iffy students (I mean those who sign up just to get their blackbelt and then quit) do because having the belt is like having a trophy; it looks cool and you can say, 'I got a black belt in karate' and watch your uninformed friends say, 'ooh, wow! bet nobody can mess with you!'

I think that beginner students nearly always do, but those that actually become martial artists generally figure it out before they reach their first dan or equivallent. If not by then, usually soon after, the rank being a crutch to help them through the beginning part of their martial journey.

Martial artists tend to emphasize not the belt itself, but the blatant misuse of it by some to fleece students or their parents of gobs of extra cash.

Daniel

[Nolerama]

Originally Posted by stevebjj

Oh... dude... I can't thank you enough for that link. I've been planning on tie dying a gi for months, but couldn't figure out how to do a good job of it at home (seeing that I haven't tie dyed anything since day camp in the 70's).

I've been thinking about doing that, too. Post pictures if you end up doing that.

[Grendel308]

Originally Posted by stevebjj

Oh... dude... I can't thank you enough for that link. I've been planning on tie dying a gi for months, but couldn't figure out how to do a good job of it at home (seeing that I haven't tie dyed anything since day camp in the 70's).

OK Steve, I have a no so good Gi that ended up a washed out blue that I need to do Something with, soooooo..... I hereby challenge you and Nole to a Die Off ! (and not in the 28 Days Later way) Perhaps continue in Locker Room?

[The Opal Dragon]

Thanks everyone who has replied thus far. Keep it coming!

Originally Posted by searcher

The sand(tan), and grey are for MCMAP ranking. They decided to use those colors inplace of "traditional" colors.

The navy is for differentiation between high and low blue in some systems. Other systems use stripes or tips for such things.

You're the first to offer any explanation over the sand, grey, and navy colors. What does "MCMAP" stand for?

Robyn

[Twin Fist]

Marine Corp martial Arts program

[punisher73]

Originally Posted by The Opal Dragon

I've heard of that about the pink belt before. But that was probably a white belt dyed pink not one that was made to be pink.

Actually, one of the guys I trained with washed his white gi and somehow something red got in there. He's a big tough guy so it was very funny seeing him in a pink gi.

Robyn

That is how Judo Gene Lebell became famous for his pink gi. It was washed with something red and came out pink. If I remember the story correctly it was done on purpose by somebody and he wore it anyways and then it became his trademark.

[HG1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._crayon_colors

Mac & Cheese Belt Magazine just doesn't sound right.

[Gordon Nore]

Originally Posted by Drac

Dont stop there..I think Century made a pink gi..I saw Gene Judo LaBelle wear one..Not too many people said much to his face I'm sure...

Mr LeBell has been wearing a pink judogi for a long time. Legend is that there was a laundry accident when he was in Japan. He put the thing on, and it's been his trademark since. I have a pic of me and Gene in that gi somewhere. Mr LeBell has a wonderful sense of humour and a kind of loud charisma. The two times I saw him he had this wild out of control mop of red hair. Red and White belt, pink gi, red hair -- it works.

[jarrod]

this thread gave me a GREAT idea. i have a student who's color blind. next promotion he gets, he's getting a pink belt.

jf

[jarrod]

Originally Posted by Gordon Nore

I have a pic of me and Gene in that gi somewhere.

how did you both fit in there?

jf