Many martial arts styles use a system of colored belts to signify a student's rank. These belts range in color and significance from white, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple to black, with each level requiring a student to achieve certain skills and techniques. These ranks also teach students a wide range of physical and mental lessons, including discipline, respect, etiquette and ethics.

There are many legends about how the rank system of martial arts belts came to be. One popular myth suggests that early martial artists began with white belts that were stained with sweat, dirt and eventually blood over the years of practice and training. As the practitioners' ranks advanced, their stained belts became darker until they finally reached black - representing the dark wisdom and experience gained over the years. The idea behind this story was to show the progression of a martial artist's skill over time. This concept has become the basis of a ranking system that can be found in many martial art schools and disciplines today.

Traditionally, only the most promising and dedicated martial artists were awarded a Menkyo (certificate of accomplishment). This was usually reserved for those who could demonstrate that they had learned every aspect of the art from their master. This was a high honor and required the most promising students to spend up to three years earning their first degree, although more gifted students may be able to do this in two years. Mikinosuke Kawaishi, a master of Judo, was responsible for revolutionizing the martial arts ranking system in the 19th century by using colored belts to indicate a student's progress. He is credited with developing the system of kyu and dan ranks along with the corresponding color-coded belts.

White belts symbolize the purity and newness of a student's commitment to their martial arts training. Students who earn this level of belt often exhibit significant improvements in both their physical and mental abilities as they train consistently. Yellow belts represent the hope of a student's future and are given to those who have demonstrated consistency in their efforts. Students at this stage often begin to learn more advanced self-defense techniques and may even participate in sparring, depending on the instructor's preference. For more details please visit Martial arts belts

Blue belts are symbolic of the sky and the light it provides all growing things. This is the point where students start to learn more complex kicking and striking techniques, and prepare for their brown belt test. Students who earn this level may have a brief period of loss of motivation as they prepare for the test, but consistent training will usually help to overcome this.

Brown belt signifies the beginning of the advanced program. Students at this level begin to learn the more difficult techniques of their particular martial art and are beginning to develop a sense of strategy and self-defense. Many students at this level will also be able to begin learning some advanced kata and may have the opportunity to take on adult students in sparring matches.