Belt System – History

The history of the Yellow Belt begins in 1966 when the Tracy brothers introduced the new belt to Kenpo as hachikyu (8th kyu). The Yellow Belt rank was quickly adopted by Ed Parker, and later by Professor William K. S. Chow. It has since become a martial arts belt rank for karate and many forms of self-defense, including Jiu-Jitsu (Jiu Jitsu, Jujitsu-Ju Jitsu) and even Tae Kwon Do, and Yellow sashes are now found in some kung fu (gung fu) systems. The Yellow Belt techniques are not only a facet of the beginning Kenpo karate, but are used as an exercise for physical conditioning, and some of the moves have been adopted by aerobics. But more importantly, the 10 basic self-defense techniques in Yellow Belt, are the building block for confidence and self-esteem, and a good foundation for other karate sports like boxersize and kick boxing.

The Orange Belt was introduced to the martial arts in 1962, when the Tracy brothers created (7th kyu) in Kenpo. Prior to that time, the first earned rank in Kenpo Karate was gokyu (5th kyu). Gokyu required 63 techniques and the rank was represented by a half inch brown tip on the ends of the white belt. However, the Tracy brothers were the only ones who actually “required” a specific number of techniques for any kyu rank below nikyu (2nd brown), as Ed Parker often awarded one and two brown tips to students who knew fewer than 30 techniques, and even awarded sankyu (3rd brown) to students who knew less than the 63 techniques that were supposed to be required for one brown tip. When the Tracy brothers opened their own Kenpo Karate school in 1962, they did away with the “brown tips” and introduced two new kyu ranks. Orange Belt became the first earned belt and required 40 techniques. This was later changed to 30 techniques when Yellow belt was introduced in 1966. Orange belt established an intermediate rank what was previously the equivalent of one brown tip.

The new Kenpo Karate color belt system was not readily accepted by the Ed Parker, as he preferred to have a less strict ranking system. But he did add the two new kyu ranks to his system and gave two more brown tips for his white belt ranks, even though there was no set standard for each brown tip, and gave Shichikyu as the name for 7th kyu. However, while shichi means seven in Japanese, it also denotes death, and the Japanese use Nanakyu in its place. In 1967, Ed Parker finally adopted the Tracy belt requirements along with the Tracy color belt system. Professor William K. S. Chow and most of Kenpo Karate and Kempo Karate began using the Tracy color belt system a few years later.

The 30 Orange Belt techniques are the basics for beginning kenpo, and are used as an exercise for physical conditioning. While Ed Parker’s American Kenpo Karate requires 24 techniques. Many of the orange belt moves have been adopted by aerobics, and Orange Belt techniques are the building block for confidence and self-esteem.

Purple Belt was introduced to the martial arts in 1962, with the Yellow Belt, when the Tracy brothers created rokkyu (6th kyu) in Kenpo Karate. This was the second earned kenpo rank, and was equivalent to what had previously been “one brown tip” on the white belt for gokyu (5th kyu). The old Kenpo Karate Gokyu had required 63 techniques while Purple Belt required 64. And while 63 techniques were the standard set by Ed Parker for “one brown tip” the Tracy brothers were the only ones who actually made it mandatory.

The techniques are the basics for beginning kenpo, and some forms of karate, and are used as an exercise for physical conditioning. Like Orange Belt, many of the moves have been adopted by aerobics.

Kenpo Karate rank between one brown tip and two brown tips, to make Gokyu the third earned rank in Kenpo.

The Tracy brothers introduced Blue Belt to the martial arts in 1962, along with the Orange, Purple, and Green Belt, and made Gokyu the third earned rank in kenpo karate. It became the 4th earned rank in Kenpo Karate when Yellow Belt was introduced in 1966 . Blue Belt was created as an intermediate belt rank between what had previously been one brown tip and two brown tips on the white belt. The old Gokyu, which was one brown tip had required 63 techniques, and the new Purple belt required 80 techniques, 40 for Orange Belt and 40 for Purple. In additionally each techniques had an average of 2 variations. The number of techniques for each belt above Yellow, has been established at 30 + variations and forms. Blue Belt now requires a total of 184 techniques and variations.

Blue Belt had much to do with Ed Parker adopting the Tracy colored belt ranking in 1965, along with the Tracy belt requirements, as Tracy Blue Belts who visited Ed Parker’s schools in the Los Angeles area were clearly better trained than most of his brown belts.

As Tracy’s began to dominate the martial arts, Ed Parker would often award black belts to Tracy Blue Belts, and this became one of the factors in the eventual division between Tracy’s and Ed Parker. The techniques for Blue Belt are the basics for beginning kenpo, and are used as an exercise for physical conditioning. Like Orange Belt and Purple Belt, many of the moves have been adopted by aerobics.

Green Belt was introduced to the martial arts in 1962, along with the Orange, Purple Belt and Blue Belts, and as yonkyu became the highest rank before the Kenpo Karate Brown Belt. The old Yonkyu, which was two brown tips, no longer existed in kenpo, as Ed Parker accepted the new Tracy kyu ranking and gave 4 brown tips for yonkyu, until adopting the Tracy Color Belt system in 1965. Green Belt required a total of 228 kenpo karate techniques and variations as well as forms. Tracy Kenpo Green Belts were among the best martial arts competitors in the white – brown belt category, and Ed Parker often gave black belts to Tracy Green Belts. One Tracy Green Belt was given 5th degree black belt when he went with Ed Parker, and the disparagy between Tracy and Parker belt ranks caused many Tracy blue and green belts, and brown belts to go over to Ed Parker where they could get immediate, black belt ranks. During the 1970s, nearly 80% of Ed Parker’s top black belts had first been black belts in Tracys.

Tracy Green Belt were often required to compete as black belts in tournaments. The techniques for Green Belt complete the basics for beginning kenpo, and are used as exercises for physical conditioning. Like Orange Belt, Purple Belt and Blue Belt, many of the moves have been adopted by aerobics.

Sankyu is the lowest brown belt rank in Kenpo Karate, karate and all martial arts that use the Japanese kyu/dan ranking. It is the first awarded brown belt and is the next rank above Green Belt. See Ikkyu for an explanation of Kyu ranking. The Japanese numbers 1, 2, 3, are ichi, ni, san, and therefore, Ikkyu (1-kyu) Nikyu (2-kyu) Sankyu (3-kyu). This numbering system is followed in Kenpo Karate, with 3-kyu being lower than 1-kyu. Kempo, American Kenpo and Chinese Kenpo, however, do not usually use the Japanese terms. Kenpo Karate also uses the English words to avoid confusion. Thus, in Kenpo Karate, the first awarded brown belt is always Sankyu, and the belt certificate will often have the English equivalent next to it, or under it. Sankyu is a rank of skill and honor that can only be awarded by a Kenpo Karate Yudansha (one who holds a dan rank) who has received Shodan from a Sandan. The skill and requirements for Sankyu in Original Kenpo Karate are, therefore, higher than what is required for 3rd degree brown belt in American Kenpo, and Sankyu represent the time honored tradition of the Japanese belt ranking that was originally begun in Hawaii in 1942.

Nikyu is the second rank below black belt in Kenpo Karate, karate and all martial arts that use the Japanese kyu/dan ranking. See Ikkyu for an explanation of Kyu ranking. The Japanese for 1, 2, 3, is ichi, ni, san, and therefore, Ikkyu (1-kyu) Nikyu (2-kyu) Sankyu (3-kyu), and this tradition is followed in Kenpo Karate, while Kempo, American Kenpo and Chinese Kenpo usually do not use Japanese terms.

Below Nikyu is Yonkyu (Green Belt). Kenpo Karate also uses the English words to avoid confusion but the Kenpo Karate belt rank for 2nd degree brown belt is always awarded as Nikyu, usually with the English equivalent next to it, or under it. Nikyu is a rank of skill and honor that can only be awarded by Kenpo Karate Yudansha (one who holds a dan rank) who has received a Dan ranking from higher ranked Yudansha. The skill and requirements for Nikyu in Original Kenpo Karate are, therefore, higher than 2nd degree brown belt in American Kenpo, and represent the time honored tradition of the Japanese belt ranking that was the original ranking of Kenpo Karate in Hawaii.

Ikkyu is the highest rank below black belt in Kenpo Karate, karate and all martial arts that use the Japanese kyu/dan ranking. Kyu ranking, like a handicap, uses the highest number to indicate a lack of proficiency. Thus a Hachikyu (8-kyu) is lower in rank than a Nanakyu/Shichikyu (7-kyu), while Ikkyu (1-kyu) is the highest kyu. In Japan #1 is considered the best, while #10 is the worst–you don’t want to be a 10 in Japan. However, Dan ranking is just the opposite, where Shodan (1-rank means literally, the lowest rank) while Nidan (2-rank) is the next rank and Judan (10-rank) the highest rank. Styles like Kempo, American Kenpo and Chinese Kenpo usually do not use the kyu ranks but give the Tracy colored belts below brown belt, and then give 3rd brown, 2nd brown and 1st brown, before giving 1st black belt. To avoid confusion, the kyu ranks are often referred to by their English (or other countries language) names. But unless a kyu or dan ranking has been awarded, as it is in Tracy’s Kenpo Karate, a 1st degree brown belt is not recognized as an Ikkyu, nor is a 1st degree black belt recognized as a Shodan. These are ranks of skill and honor that are awarded by Kenpo Karate Yudansha (those holding dan ranks) who have received their rank from higher ranked Yudansha. It’s like belonging to an exclusive organization (like the Masons or Knights of Columbus) where degrees of knowledge have meaning. One outside the organization may have the same knowledge, and still not be counted as a member. The skill and requirements for Ikkyu in Kenpo Karate are, therefore, much higher than 1st degree brown belt in American Kenpo, and represent the time honored tradition of the Japanese belt ranking.

Shodan is the first black belt rank in Judo, Karate and Jiu-jitsu. It means, literally, the “lowest rank”. Karate divides ranks between Kyu for white and brown belt, and Dan for black belts. Traditionally a black belt was a yudansha, meaning one who holds a dan rank. However in 1962, Ed Parker broke from tradition when the kenpo Yudansha refused to approve the promotion of Chuck Sullivan to Shodan.

Instead of promoting Sullivan to Shodan, as he had with his previous 8 black belts, and as he did with the next 20 black belts, he promoted Sullivan to First Degree Black Belt. The Yudansha never approved that rank, except for youth, and those who are promoted to first degree black belt are not accepted into ranks of the Yudanshai. Likewise, tradition only allows for a dan ranking according to Japanese numbering, and there is no First Dan in Kenpo. One either earns Shodan, or he/she is not a Yudansha, and his/her rank, no matter from where it came is not recognized until the individual receives his/her certification from the Yudanshai.

There are 421 kenpo karate techniques and variations of the techniques required for a Tracy’s karate Shodan, First Degree Black Belt.