What does white belt mean?

Answer 1

In most Martial Arts, a white belt means a beginner. You receive your white belt on your very first day of class. You have committed to learn something, but you haven't learned anything yet.

Many westerners are under the false impression that a black belt is an expert. That may be true in some martial arts, but in most martial arts a black belt is merely a graduate. She has learned the basic skills of the martial art and performed them competently during classes and during testing. It may take approximately three years to earn a black belt, but this varies widely from art to art and from school to school.

There are more ranks to achieve after black belt. The title of master is conferred at one of those ranks. In WTF Taekwondo, the title of master is conferred upon achieving a fourth degree black belt. It takes approximately 10-12 years to earn a fourth degree black belt in WTF taekwondo. The title of grandmaster is conferred upon achieving the rank of 7th degree black belt. It takes approximately 30 years of dedicated study to earn a 7th degree black belt.

Answer 2

A white belt is given to a beginner karateka. It signifies a clean slate which will be colored over time as the karateka will keep practicing. It is the lowest level in the hierarchy of Karate belts.

Answer 3

It will depend on the school. Some schools will provide grades within a belt to make the advancement appear to occur more often. This meets the need of the 'western' people for immediate gratification, rather than pushing patience.

And there are a few schools that do it to obtain more dollars in the form of testing fees.

We have rankings in between using tape on the belts to reduce costs, so that we don't have to have twice as many belt colors.

Answer 4

It typically means that the person is no longer a white belt, but has passed their first grading. Ranking can vary greatly between schools, so you would want to ask them what kyu or gup they are. The higher the number the lower the rank, with 1st being just below black belt.

Answer 5

This term is most commonly used in formal rankings in martial arts. The black belt is awarded to those who have achieved the highest level of training and skill in the discipline.

Answer 6

In most styles of martial arts, there are ten levels or degrees of black belt. Each level requires additional years of study and practice.

Answer 7

Someone that is just starting out. It helps the instructor know that they are just beginning and will need lots of help.

Answer 8

White belt means innocence!