Does your school use belts?

My school has no belt system. There are 2 levels, student and senior. I personally like this style. I had taken TKD efore my current school, and belts were purchased, and usually not earned. I realise that that is a reflection of the teacher/school, and not the style, but I didn't like it.

So I'm curious what other schools(CMA and other arts) do.

ps - I realise this may be a rehashing of an old thread, but ive searched the forums, and couldn't find it.

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"When the battle is over, tighten your chin strap." ~Old Japanese Saying
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Hung Gar/Win Chung student

Same as, no belts but different levels. All based on each persons own experience.

Nope. We don't use belts but levels just like felim has

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Don't look for trouble, you might find it.

Belts in both.

Judo is ranked because it is competitive. It is unfair to have people who are geniunely high ranked fighting under a lower ranking, it keeps the skill levels equal as such and gives everyone a good opportunity!

so far then, its 3 to 1, althree that dont use belts are CMA schools.

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"When the battle is over, tighten your chin strap." ~Old Japanese Saying
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Hung Gar/Win Chung student

Oh and I forgot to mention. We fight for our belts from 9th kyu onwards. If you win all your fights and perform your techniques perfect you go up two belts if they think you're good enough.

We have no belts. It is said you know how good someone is when you touch hands with them. We do have gradings, beginner, intermediate and advanced level classes.

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Faith itself, compelled by the Holy Spirit, possesses an inner dynamism that necessitates deeper understanding. ~Thomas Weinandy O.F.M.

Our TCPM side has no belts, however we use the belt system of our Tsai's Shaolin Chuan Fa side. In the US, it's hard not to have a belt system....

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We use a ranking system which is shown by the sash, but it basically does what FF's grading system does.

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"You're lucky buddhism teaches freedom from desire, because I have the desire to kick your ass!" -Richard Gere- from the Simpsons

We use a levels system, no colored belts/sashes.

My school's instructors will wear a red t-shirt when they teach, but that's pretty much the only differentiation.

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"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

We have a sash system, but it's very loose. People rarely bring their sashes to class, and some haven't tested for a while because they are still learning the same stuff. The sashes are more or less for the sifu to know what foundations we at least know. To make it to a certain sash, you must have x knowledge. So he knows we at least know that. My sifu's sifu and sigung never used sashes. I visited my sifu's sigung and took a couple of classes. He just knows the level by what form you're learning and how well you do when touching hands.

Nick

We use the traditional Shaolin method.
White/Black sash, white for students and black for disciple rankings.
All other methods of ranking come from the practitioner's skill.

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Oh THAT'S how that works!

“	Originally Posted By: Mei Hua We use the traditional Shaolin method. White/Black sash, white for students and black for disciple rankings. All other methods of ranking come from the practitioner's skill.	”

I thought it was; everyone was given a white sash, but because you never wash it, it will turn black with time and effort, and this is when you are then a high ranking student.

I know my white belt is a horrible grey colour now lol

I thought that was a judo/karate legend, the white belt turning black. But the idea of belt colors originally sprang from judo, yes?

In CMA the sash holds your pants up or holds your robe closed, it also provides lumbar support. It can also be used to wrap a sprained ankle. Or as a sling for an injured arm. Or a tourniquet. Or to carry your groceries home.*

I like the idea of sash colors, although since there's no standard color system across all styles, they only work within one's school.









*Warning: CMA sash performance may be affected when used beyond its intended purpose. Side effects include fever, rash, indigestion, sleeplessness, hallucinations, occasional choking, halitosis, muscle weakness, bear attacks, PMS, and/or mild headache. Always use the sash responsibly.

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"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

“	Originally Posted By: Sammygirl But the idea of belt colors originally sprang from judo, yes?	”

Yep!

Wasn't Jigoro Kano himself who created them all though. He only created the idea of varying degrees of black belt, red and white belt and red belt.

“	Originally Posted By: Judoinfo.com In the days before Kano created Judo, there was no kyu/dan ranking system in the martial arts. A more traditional method of recognizing achievement was the presentation of certificates or scrolls, often with the secrets of the school inscribed. Kano started the modern rank system when he awarded shodan to two of his senior students (Shiro Saigo and Tsunejiro Tomita) in 1883. Even then, there was no external differentiation between yudansha (black belt ranks) and mudansha (those who hadn't yet attained black belt ranking). Kano apparently began the custom of having his yudansha wear black obi (belts) in 1886. These obi weren't the belts karateka and judoka wear today -- Kano hadn't invented the judogi (Judo uniform) yet, and his students were still practicing in kimono. They were the wide obi still worn with formal kimono. In 1907, Kano introduced the modern judogi and its modern obi, but he still only used white and black belt ranks. Around 1930 Jigoro Kano created a new belt to recognize the special achievements of high ranking black belts. Other arts such as the tea ceremony and swordsmanship provided recognition for their masters in the form of a special tea pot or sword. Jigoro Kano chose to recognize sixth, seventh, and eighth degree black belts with a special obi made of alternating red and white panels (kohaku obi). The white color was chosen for purity, and red for the intense desire to train and the sacrifices made. The colors red and white are an enduring symbol of Japan, and they have been used in Judo since Jigoro Kano started the first Red and White Tournament in 1884. He also created the red belt to recognize 9th and 10th degree black belts. Theoretically the judo rank system is not limited to 10 degrees of black belt. The original english language copy (1955) of Illustrated Kodokan Judo, by Jigoro Kano, says: "There is no limit...on the grade one can receive. Therefore if one does reach a stage above 10th dan... there is no reason why he should not be promoted to 11th dan." However, since there has never been any promotion to a rank above 10th dan, and there aren't any living 10th dans promoted by the Kodokan, the Kodokan judo promotion system effectively has only 10 dans. Other colored belts for students who had not yet achieved black belt originated later, when Judo began being practiced outside of Japan. Mikonosuke Kawaishi is generally regarded as the first to introduce various colored belts in Europe in 1935 when he started to teach Judo in Paris. He felt that western students would show greater progress if they had a visible system of many colored belts recognizing achievement and providing regular incentives. This system included white, yellow, orange, green, blue, and purple belts before the traditional brown and black belts.	”

Hope this helps