Personal Development
Introduction
Dislocated from the Eastern tradition and grafted onto the western sports tradition UK Karate can seem spurious and even a bit odd. Indeed, when friends learn that you study karate they can find no meaning in it and might look at you blankly. It may not be apparent that when of the power draws toward this activity is one’s development. While people may start karate with a superficial image of the Hollywood action hero, under the nightly slog, sweat and effort of Kihon in Kyokushin (the repetition of basic strikes, blocks and kick and katas hundreds of times) the superficial rapidly fades. At this point something new grows, and it is real and solid.
‘Osu’ says it all
Karate is permeated as a fusion of martial training and self-development. The most common sound in any good dojo, repeated at transition in and out, and at all significant points of social interaction, is the word ‘osu’. This is made of two words ‘oshi’ meaning push, and ‘shinobu’ meaning endure. Each time karateka punch the basic oi tsuki they are pushing forward, and as they work up through the Kyus, maintaining the intensity and focus of each technique, they lean to endure. This is karate. But karate is layered in many ways, and one way is the belt system.
Origin of the belt system
The belt system originates from the Dan ranking used in the Japanese game Go. It was brought inot martial arts by Kanō Jigorō who developed Jodo, but it only consisted of White and Black. Later the Jodo teaching Mikonosuke Kawaishi, introduced additional colour belts which were adopted in 1920s by Gichin Funakoshi in his desire to make Okinawan karate popular in Japan. Masutatsi Oyama having trained under Funakoshi introduced a belt system in 1960s. See The Budo Karate of Ms Oyama by Cameron Quinn for further details.
Meaning lies within each belt
White belt – mukyu or ungraded. Represents purity and potential. The student is full of hope, and this fuels his desire to train
Orange - represents the soil or earth on which the seeds of basics can be grown. The focus is to establish a physical foundation. The internal battle exists – previous habits and self-sabotaging inner voices have to be overcome to attend training
Blue – represents water and fluidity. Water finds its own level and path. The student begins to show adaptability and reacts fluidly. Their growing strength and capacity to move in kata combine and they begin to have a more natural feeling for kumite. On the other hand, enthusiasms wanes and the student can be overcome with despair – their idealistic expectations and the reality may be in conflict. Real progress takes time.
Yellow – represents assertion, endurance. Also the beginnings of understanding and analysis of what they are learning. The student considers the technical elements more – balance, stability, coordination, but also must consider the psychological needs – a cap city to perceive accurately, develop awareness and will-power.
Green – senior rank of student. In this level the student develops benevolence and compassion, especially for lower ranks. At this stage they are attaining strength and speed.
Brown - the student arrives at a level of practicality and begins to adapt in their own training. They become strong and fast, and learn not to abuse their power
Black – the colour black cannot be overcome by weaker pigments.
Written by Chris
