BELT CHOICES

[Hot Lunch]

That’s interesting! I suppose once you receive a black belt in a Japanese art, traditionally, there’s no further indication of ones level, so you keep you belt for a long time.

I only know this to be true of Shotokan. Every other style I'm aware of either has dan bars or candy cane/red belts. That said, people in those styles will eventually get "fresh" belts as they rank up. Back in Shorin-ryu, I had never seen anyone with a completely faded out black belt (I'm sure they exist, I just never saw it), but I HAVE seen it in Shotokan.

Silk belts look and move beautifully too. There is now ‘bamboo silk‘ which holds it’s colour better than silk, is identical in it’s properties to silk and is ‘vegan’, if you’re worried about that kind of thing. But it’s currently about the same price as silk.

Personally, I like it worn around the edges - but definitely not to the point shown in the pic that was posted earlier. It looks like a belt version of "lucky socks." I'm curious to know if there are any that are specifically made to wear around the edges only, and no further than that.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Silk belts look and move beautifully too. There is now ‘bamboo silk‘ which holds it’s colour better than silk, is identical in it’s properties to silk and is ‘vegan’, if you’re worried about that kind of thing. But it’s currently about the same price as silk.

I've never eaten a belt...

 

[Gyakuto]

I only know this to be true of Shotokan.

Wado Ryu too.

Personally, I like it worn around the edges - but definitely not to the point shown in the pic that was posted earlier.

Yes, it’s a good look.

It looks like a belt version of "lucky socks."

I laughed out loud at that.

I'm curious to know if there are any that are specifically made to wear around the edges only, and no further than that.

Well, they do it with jeans

 

[Gyakuto]

I've never eaten a belt...

In my new school, that will be a 1st Dan grading requirement. Without seasoning or a glass of water.

 

[Gerry Seymour]

At my ISKF dojo, all the black belts wear 1.5," whereas at my last Shorin-ryu dojo, they wore 1.75". I've never seen anyone wearing 2".

To me, the 1.75" width gave that additional "look" of seniority to the yudansha that the color black just doesn't do on its own. That's why, even at my ISKF dojo where everyone else is wearing 1.5", when I make black belt, I have every intent of getting one that's 1.75". I think 2" might be going overboard, but again, I don't think I've seen one that width.

Most folks I trained with used 2" belts for black. I find them more comfortable (tied right, they give a little pressure to the lower lumbar, which feels good to me - same thing with how I tie my hakama). We used 1.5" belts for all the colored ranks - it's just what was cheapest for the instructor to buy (we all bought our own BB, so had the chance to get whatever we wanted).

Once they're broken in, I don't feel any other difference (my 2" belt started much stiffer).

 

[Gerry Seymour]

Wow. Embroidered belts, specific widths, and of course, the ubiquitous frayed black belt to demonstrate the person's been a black belt for so long, they've worn out their belt.

I've been wearing the same black belt for over 10 years, it still looks new. Not sure when it's supposed to wear out, but I suspect it's when I run a belt sander over it or drag it behind my truck for a couple hours.

I have no idea how wide my belt it. It's just a belt.

Yeah, I've had the same one for almost 20 years. It definitely doesn't look new, but no fraying. Mind you, part of that time I didn't train much, most of that time I was teaching more than training in that belt (I had another I took when traveling), and I most often wore hakama over it, so there was less chance for wear.

I like the first look of fraying on a BB - a couple of friends' belts got to that stage. Beyond that point, I'd be ready to replace the belt.

 

[Michael Hubbard]

I like a worn looking belt. I have a Kataaro cotton belt that has a worn look on it. I have been wearing that same belt for a little over 3 years.

 

[J. Pickard]

I sometimes wonder about how some people’s black belts lose their threads in non-abrasive areas.

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Surprisingly, silk is extremely abrasion and chemical resistant (there are still ancient, battle-worn armour with silk braids that are faded, but still intact). I suspect completely threadbare silk black belts have had a little ‘assistance’ with their ageing. Are they trying to add extra credibility to their look. Is that disingenuous or just fashion

I've wondered that too. Grappling is a huge part of our curriculum, so my belt is very worn front to back but because it's a double wrap like most belts, it's still pretty black on the part that is the under layer with only minor fading due to age. To get an even fade all the way around you would have to do it on purpose or are using a harsh detergent to wash your belt regularly.

 

[Gyakuto]

I've wondered that too. Grappling is a huge part of our curriculum, so my belt is very worn front to back but because it's a double wrap like most belts, it's still pretty black on the part that is the under layer with only minor fading due to age. To get an even fade all the way around you would have to do it on purpose or are using a harsh detergent to wash your belt regularly.

I suspect that’s what many do…assisted wear

When your rolling around, isn’t it uncomfortable if you’re lying on your belt’s knot……I imagine you have other things to worry about at that point!

 

[J. Pickard]

When your rolling around, isn’t it uncomfortable if you’re lying on your belt’s knot

just motivation to get off my back and back on my feet

 

[J. Pickard]

I like the silk belts, because they're softer. TKD typically doesn't have the "worn belt" tradition. Generally speaking, you get a fancy new embroidered belt with each promotion. Worn out belts are retired, just like a worn out dobak. There are very few TKD old timers sporting faded belts.

I think it depends on what style of TKD. This image is from the newest KKW Textbook (volume 1 pg 113).

 

[Hot Lunch]

I think it depends on what style of TKD. This image is from the newest KKW Textbook (volume 1 pg 113).

That's kinda what I meant by the "lucky socks" look, although I'd have expected some significant fraying along with that fading.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I think it depends on what style of TKD. This image is from the newest KKW Textbook (volume 1 pg 113).

That's why I said "very few" and not "none". GM Kyu Hyung Lee, for example. I've rarely seen him in a newish belt. But the vast majority, as I said, avoid the faded belt look.