dan rank bars, where did they start?

[Stuarto]

Americans like to boast and show off more than others it seems. I don't know when, where or by whom the blackbelt stripe thing got started. I think the only way to get a clue is to review numerous old photos from the 1940's and 50's of blackbelts from various styles or search thru old writings. That's probably too time consuming (unless one has a lot of free time and the interest to devote to it) so may remain one of karate's mysteries. I have the time but not the interest to research it.

It seems to be the norm in American Kenpo systems. Almost every Kenpo school I have looked at has bars (either red or gold) for their black belts. Some systems like Nick Cerio Kenpo have stripes for brown belts.

 

[HighKick]

It seems to be the norm in American Kenpo systems. Almost every Kenpo school I have looked at has bars (either red or gold) for their black belts. Some systems like Nick Cerio Kenpo have stripes for brown belts.

We do stripes on color belt. Simple black electrical tape, purely for organizational purposes. The motivation they provide are a plus.

 

[Stuarto]

We do stripes on color belt. Simple black electrical tape, purely for organizational purposes. The motivation they provide are a plus.

I think that is the main purpose behind adding bars or tape. I see tape on colored belts for children more often than adults. This gives a child that positive assurance that they are doing good and making progress.

 

[Earl Weiss]

We do stripes on color belt. Simple black electrical tape, purely for organizational purposes. The motivation they provide are a plus.

ITF standard is to add tape to a solid Belt for each "Odd Gup" number. 10th Gup - Solid White. 9th Gup gets a yellow stripe / band near end of belt. 8th Gup solid yellow etc.