Karate Belt Ranking System

At the beginning there ware only 3 different belt colors in karate. Most Karate organizations now use 9 or even more different belt colors. However, some karate associations like "Shotokan of America" still stick to the original system (see explanation & examples). In some karate schools you will even heave to earn your white belt.

Explanation and Examples: Karate Belt Ranking System

• Original Belt Ranking System
  
  
• White Belt - up to 4th Kyu
• Brown Belt - up to 1st Kyu
• Black Belt - 1st Dan and higher
  
  
• Other common Belt Ranking systems
  
  
• Red or ungraded White Belt
• White Belt - 8kyu
• Yellow Belt - 7th kyu
• Orange Belts - 6th kyu
• Green Belt - 5th kyu
• Blue Belt - 4th kyu
• Purple Belt - 3rd kyu
• Brown Belt - 2nd kyu
• Black Belts - 1 to 8th or 1st to 10 Dan
• Red Belts - 9the and 10 Dan (in some organizations)
  In some schools the red belt comes before the white belt.