Judo is much more than a competitive sport where the results and performances of the judokas take precedence : it is a path, an interior and exterior journey which aims to balance the body and the mind.
The belt (obi in Japanese) is a central symbol of this progression. It is a quest, a recognition and a step in the long journey of judoka.
Each color tells a story, each shade marks a key moment, a personal victory over the difficulties encountered. Belts structure teaching, promote effort and embody deep moral values.
The origin of colored belts
White or black
Jigoro Kano founder of judo, had only established two belts: The blanche for beginners, the noire for advanced practitioners. The judokas were divided into two categories:
- THE Change (“without dan”), who wore the white sash,
- THE Yudansha (“dan bearers”), who wore the black belt.
This sober system drew its foundations from Japanese culture, where patience and perseverance are essential qualities.
The grade was validated via a menkyoa certificate attesting to the level achieved.
In the absence of an intermediate level, students retained the white belt even after having acquired significant skills.
An unsatisfactory system outside Japan
This operation, which valued long learning and hierarchy, however, presented limits when it was exported to the West. Students found it difficult to stay motivated if they had to wear the same white belt for several years.
From an educational point of view, the absence of visual cues to nuance progress also made the teachers’ work more complex. They could not easily adapt their teaching to less visible intermediate levels.
The creation of colored belts
Colored belts were invented in England by Gunji Koizumi in 1926 to mark the evolution of practitioners. Mikinosuke Kawaïshi introduced them to France when he arrived in Paris in 1935.
The colored belts allow students’ progress to be measured by levels identified by colors (inspired by the colors of English billiards!): white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown, then black.
This development made judo more attractive and more accessible to Westerners. This system of colored belts has become global and serves both as a educational benchmark and of source of motivation for practitioners of all ages.
The different colors and their meaning
Each colored belt is a stage of learning that is physical, technical, moral and spiritual.
The evolution of the colors follows a logic which reflects the progression of the judoka, both in the mastery of techniques and in his personal development.
The White Belt: Innocence and the Beginning of the Journey
The white belt symbolizes the beginning. The student is a blank page, ready to receive the teachings of his sensei. This is also a phase where humility is essential, because the student must accept knowing nothing and learning with patience.
The yellow belt: awakening and first achievements
With the yellow belt, the judoka begins to assimilate the basic principles of judo. It is a phase of awakening where the first techniques are understood and executed with a certain precision.
The orange belt: energy and dynamism
The orange belt symbolizes a dynamic stage. The judoka shows better coordination of his movements and begins to apply his techniques with more confidence. This phase is also marked by the first significant struggles, where the student learns to manage stress and apply the lessons received.
The green belt: overcoming and consolidation
With the green belt, the judoka has overcome his first difficulties and masters the basic techniques with more fluidity. Self-confidence strengthens, and the student begins to better understand the subtleties of judo. It is also a period of introspection, where we analyze our movements and mistakes to progress further.
The blue belt: technical maturity
The blue belt reflects a certain technical mastery. This is a stage where rigor and perseverance play a central role. The student shows a better understanding of the moral values of judo and begins to embody them naturally.
The brown belt: preparation for excellence
The brown belt is often seen as the last step before the black belt. It marks a period of intensive improvementwhere each technique is refined and analyzed with precision. The judoka develops a deep understanding of shin-gi-tai (the unity of mind, technique and body).
The black belt, the end of the beginning
A universally recognized symbol
The black belt is often seen as the ultimate achievement of judo practice. However, for those who wear it, it represents above all a new beginning.
The black belt marks mastery of the basics and entry into a more introspective and demanding phase of learning.
Les Dans: continued progression
The black belt comes in several levels called And. Each represents a further step in technical mastery, philosophical understanding and responsibility to transmit the values of judo.
After the 5th dan, the belt becomes white and red (from the 6th to the 8th dan): It marks the recognition of merit and exceptional contribution to the development of judo.
The belt is red for 9th and 10th. EExtremely rare, they symbolize a lifetime dedicated to judo.
The 12th dan (the 11th dan does not exist) represents the ultimate distinction: It is the wide white belt, awarded posthumously to Jigoro Kano, to emphasize the infinite cycle of learning.
A moral and ethical commitment
Wearing a black belt doesn’t just mean being technically proficient. It is also a moral responsibility towards his students, his peers and discipline. Each black belt becomes an ambassador of Bushidoembodying values like righteousness (Gi), respect (Rei), sincerity (Makoto) and self-control (Jisei). These principles do not stop at tatami…; they must be applied in daily life.
You don’t have to be a black belt to be a judo champion
Belts symbolize technical and moral progression, while competitions essentially evaluate effectiveness in combat. Although these two paths complement each other, they sometimes follow different logics.
A judoka can excel in competition without necessarily reaching the highest ranks, because competitive performance relies on qualities such as strength, strategy, stress management and fighting spirit.
So in 2024, Angel Gustanbrown belt, won the French senior championship in the over 100 kg category. At just 21 years old, he demonstrated that talent, hard training and determination could surpass the hierarchical distinctions represented by belts.
Conclusion
Judo belts embody a coursea philosophy and one progression both technical and moral. Each color is a step, each grade a recognition of the path traveled. But beyond the distinctions, it is perseverance, humility and discipline that forge a true judoka.
Lexicon
- Obi : Japanese word designating the belt worn around the judogi.
- Judogi : Official judo outfit (jacket and pants) allowing a good grip during fights.
- Sensei : Japanese term for “teacher” or “master”.
- Change : Practitioners without dan (white belt or colored belts).
- Yudansha : Ranked practitioners (from black belt).
- Menkyo : Written certificate attesting to a level or skill, in the traditional Japanese system.
- Shin-gi-tai : Unity of the spirit (shin), technology (gi) and body (this).
- Bushido : Moral code of the samurai, promoting virtues such as honor, sincerity and loyalty.
- And : Black belt degrees (from 1st to 10th dan) which validate progression beyond colored belts.
2025-01-06 15:31:00