What if the white belt replaced the black belt as the top belt?

[Gyakuto]

Because new students are superficial.

I find that a little patronising!

Along with how to apply the techniques they learn, they are taught that the belt is not important. The knowledge it represents, yes, but the belt? Not so much.

Then why give them out? Why? Avoid the misunderstanding and don’t give them out.

I have visited new schools and worn a white belt. I don't think anybody believed I had no idea what I was doing.

Are you good at ikebana?

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

Being motivated by a belt is a very superficial and noob thing.

My dad motivated the noob me with his belt more than once. Luckily, it was superficial.

 

[drop bear]

We get a lot of outside influence from a lot of places so the white belt thing kind of happens from time to time.

The trick is to be evidence based. Rather than story based.

 

[Hanshi]

It is actually already set up sort of that way. For the serious student who continues after shodan the black belt slowly becomes white. Also by that time it's virtually torn up. My black belt is about 1/3 white and is quite rough.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I find that a little patronising!

That's fine. You can feel however you like.

Then why give them out? Why? Avoid the misunderstanding and don’t give them out.

Because it's not my organization and I don't make the rules. And because people sign up expecting them. If getting a belt gets them started, then great. If it's reason for continuing, then not so great. What they gain from the training should become the reason for continuing. If it's not, then the teacher isn't doing a very good job. Our school has Dan holders who have continued to train for many years without promoting. Because the belt just isn't that important.

Are you good at ikebana?

Doubtful. I've never tried it. Are you?

 

[Gyakuto]

Doubtful. I've never tried it. Are you?

Ikebana…yes…I’m learning it. It’s an important thing for the Samurai to learn aesthetics…see martial arts historian Dave Lowry’s books.

 

[Saigo1]

i would have it black as 10th kyu and white for all dan levels

 

[Gyakuto]

I seem to remember Youtube ‘Korody’ -good-guy, Jesse Enkamp, wears a pink belt when he holds a seminar. I can’t remember his rational for it though….

 

[drop bear]

I seem to remember Youtube ‘Korody’ -good-guy, Jesse Enkamp, wears a pink belt when he holds a seminar. I can’t remember his rational for it though….

It's called being a hipster.

Edit. He makes every one do it.

Which sounds like less of a massive humble brag and more of an equaliser.

 

[_Simon_]

I seem to remember Youtube ‘Korody’ -good-guy, Jesse Enkamp, wears a pink belt when he holds a seminar. I can’t remember his rational for it though….

Yeah as dropbear said as an equaliser. It's only at his KNX camps he does this, I've trained with him at a seminar before and we just wore our usual belt.

So people don't obsessively focus on other people's belts, compare others' skills to oneself etc. So everyone is there just to learn. Also, Jesse dubs the colour peach blossom, or "momo-iro" in Japanese hehe.

Why I Made People Wear Pink Belts (!) in My Karate Seminar

Pink. Pink, pink, pink… That’s what the Karate world talks about when I announce my annual KNX (Karate Nerd Experience) seminar, where people from over 25+ countries gather to eat, sleep & train Karate in a completely new way. Everyone are asking; “WHY THE PINK BELTS?” You see, one of the...

www.karatebyjesse.com

 

[Dirty Dog]

I seem to remember Youtube ‘Korody’ -good-guy, Jesse Enkamp, wears a pink belt when he holds a seminar. I can’t remember his rational for it though….

I like to wear a red belt on Valentines Day, a green belt on St Patrick's Day, (I think I stole the idea from @Bill Mattocks) and I have a red dobak that I pair with a green belt for Christmas. I want to get a green dobak to go with that...

Shockingly, nobody seems to care what color belt I wear.

 

[wab25]

I like to wear a red belt on Valentines Day, a green belt on St Patrick's Day, (I think I stole the idea from @Bill Mattocks) and I have a red dobak that I pair with a green belt for Christmas. I want to get a green dobak to go with that...

Shockingly, nobody seems to care what color belt I wear.

I am not sure I could do that... Isn't it quite a shock to your system to have all that knowledge, skill and enlightenment suddenly dumped on you, only to have it removed again when you switch belts? I can imagine that being hard on a person.... like jumping from the hot tub into an ice bath....

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

I like to wear a red belt on Valentines Day, a green belt on St Patrick's Day, (I think I stole the idea from @Bill Mattocks) and I have a red dobak that I pair with a green belt for Christmas. I want to get a green dobak to go with that...

Shockingly, nobody seems to care what color belt I wear.

I only care if it doesn’t match your shoes.

 

[drop bear]

It is as pretentious to wear a white belt as an instructor as it is to wear a black belt.

 

[J. Pickard]

What if the white belt took over as the top belt from the black belt?


As a black, your techniques would be considered dirty and disorganized, whereas as a white, it would represent that your techniques are considered polished and clean.
Would you be motivated in the same way?

There are several styles where black is not the "top" belt. Judo, jujitsu, most bjj, and okinawan styles of karate commonly use red. in Vovinam/ Viet Vo Dao white IS the highest level belt and is only worn by the current Grandmaster and head of their national organization.

 

[J. Pickard]

I like to wear a red belt on Valentines Day, a green belt on St Patrick's Day, (I think I stole the idea from @Bill Mattocks) and I have a red dobak that I pair with a green belt for Christmas. I want to get a green dobak to go with that...

Shockingly, nobody seems to care what color belt I wear.

I'm stealing this idea, but changing Pink for VTD. Blue for earth day. Orange for halloween. But what color for Leif Erikson day?

 

[Dirty Dog]

I'm stealing this idea, but changing Pink for VTD. Blue for earth day. Orange for halloween. But what color for Leif Erikson day?

I am an avid diver, but prone to get sea sick. The first 1-2 days of every trip, I spend the boat rides calling Europe to talk to my buddy Ralph. After that, I'm fine. I can eat greasy cheeseburgers and pizza on the boat. But because of that, I would suggest a really roughly woven material, died a green/yellow sort of camo pattern to resemble vomit for Leif Erikson Day.

 

[Oily Dragon]

I am an avid diver, but prone to get sea sick. The first 1-2 days of every trip, I spend the boat rides calling Europe to talk to my buddy Ralph. After that, I'm fine. I can eat greasy cheeseburgers and pizza on the boat. But because of that, I would suggest a really roughly woven material, died a green/yellow sort of camo pattern to resemble vomit for Leif Erikson Day.

Miracle cure for sea sickness: a small bag of Cheerios.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Miracle cure for sea sickness: a small bag of Cheerios.

All that would do is change the color of the tail of the Vomit Comet.
A better cure is reaching the dive site. First one off the boat, last one back on. That's me. Motion sickness ends once you get under.

 

[wab25]

I heard an interview on the radio of a local celebrity that was getting to ride with the Blue Angels. After the preflight meeting, the celeb asked the pilot "I hear everyone vomits in the air the first time... is there anything I can do about that?" The pilot told him "Eat peanut butter." The celeb asked "Does that really keep you from throwing up?" The pilot answered "Nope. But it tastes the same both ways."

Not sure, but that may help you on your next boat ride...