Why do they use color belts to distinguish rank in karate?

Answer 1

Color belts are used to quickly and easily distinguish ability levels in the class.

Students can easily see who to go to for help and the instructor can easy see what the skill spread is in a class and tailor his teaching accordingly.

It also helps the instructor to know which kata or drill to teach a student to be specific to his/her skill level.

And in some cases it is used as a reward system for the students, who don't have the patience to wait years for a change in belt color.

Answer 2

The legendary reason is that the belt starts off as white and over time, with sweat and effort it began to change color, to the yellow of sweat stains, the the green of mildew, to the dirt of brown and then to black.

The reality is that the belts serve as a marker that allows an instructor to see what level an individual is at and what they are working on. In the European/American view point, this is a 'reward' system to motivate students.

Answer 3

As I understand it there Japanese had two belts white and black. The reason for the colors is that occidentals didn't have the patience to work for long a period of time to achieve Black . Most would move on so as to support growth in the western market the standard colors of white, Yellow, Green Purple Brown Black were developed.

Answer 4

Karate adopted the belt system created by Sensei Kano for Judo. They were used to indicate the level of competence and match opponents more evenly. In today's world, particularly the Americas, the belts have been used as a sort of reward system and each school sets its own progression of colors and stripes.

Answer 5

The order of the belts are white, then red, then yellow, then orange, then green, then blue, then purple, then brown, and then the last belt; the black belt.