Are there belts in kung fu

You thought this was it? No, there is another rank you can achieve after having become a master — the rank of grandmaster. It is a very rare title given by a soon-to-be retired grandmaster to an individual that has produced a couple of master-level instructors. These master-level instructors are the foundation of a large kung fu organisation that promotes a particular style of kung fu on a full-time basis.

The true master or grandmaster is never self-appointed. Holding the title of master or grandmaster carries with it a significant level of responsibility and represents a lifetime of effort spent building a great kung fu organisation. The true grandmaster achieves his title by producing many successful masters that are hard at work teaching their art to the next generation. The basic prerequisites are being a kung fu master, having instructed kung fu for at least 30 years, having guided a child and grandchild to a black belt and being true to the philosophies and teachings of your masters and teaches.

Unlike other martial arts, there is no centralised body that governs the rules of kung fu. You have the International Kung Fu Federation IKF , but its role is only advisory and while it can offer some guidance and support, it cannot fully influence the rules and regulations. The belts are, thus, governed by each individual school or an organisation the school is part of. This is why it is very important to inform yourselves about the school you are planning to enrol in. You have to see what style the school teaches and how that style fits into your plans and ideas.

Because kung fu is so complex and involves a lot of styles, you have to find the style that fits your needs best. But even when you do that, you have to see how the school works and what belt system it uses to know how you can advance and achieve the desired rank. To summarise, kung fu offers a lot of different approaches and it is exactly because of that that you have to be careful which school you chose. And this is the story of belts and belt colours in the martial art of kung fu.

If you are interested, here are the breakdowns of rankings systems belts in other martial arts:. Contents show. What Is Kung Fu? Belts in Martial Arts. The white belt is not even considered to be part of the novice stage. Developments in skill and personal growth start to show with the yellow belt. It is celebrated as the first step into a path of wisdom, discipline — and looking cool.

The yellow color symbolizes the first rays of sunshine at the dawn of a brand new day. More importantly, it represents a desire to learn more accompanied by many questions. A yellow belt might have committed the basics to memory in a relatively short time, so they must dedicate a lot of time smoothing out the rough edges of their form.

Not every school includes the gold belt in its programs. The orange belt symbolizes determination ; something students will need to put up with a more demanding practice of everything learned thus far. Students with an orange belt have been refining their skills for a while now, and so, their moves are cleaner and more fluid. Training becomes a little more challenging as novices enter the intermediate stage with the green belt. At this point, intermediate students might start working with weapons and even take a novice under their wing.

After all, students who take their career in kung-fu seriously are expected to become instructors at some point. Green, the color of growth and development. Like the seed that sprouts into a plant, the student has also grown from the foundation laid in the first few degrees as a novice.

Depending on the specific type of kung fu that you chose, this rank qualifies the student to start training in the use of intermediate weapons such as nunchucks or the jo staff. The blue belt is a symbol of serenity and patience. Donning this belt means the student is ready for more training focused on control and learning how to slow down. The purple belt captures the sky at dusk just before a new day the same way students enter the last stage of intermediate training before moving on to the advanced degrees.

Students at this level have grown more and more confident, and it shows not only in their prowess and skill but also in their ambition. The fundamentals are internalized and refined. Youth Student's Corner. Junior Student's Corner. Adult Student's Corner. Kung-Fu Guest Column. For those willing to invest the necessary effort, kung fu practice provides vibrant health, excellent fitness , awesome self-defence abilities, and most of all efficient self-development tools.

Currently you have JavaScript disabled. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Kung Fu Belt System. Kung Fu Belt System Here is a short explanation of the history, as well as signification of the kung fu belt system, colors and their meaning. White Belt — New Beginning The student starts his journey, he opens his mind to new information.

Yellow Belt — Curiosity The student starts to discover the art, he is exposed to some basic knowledge, and his interest grows.

Orange Belt — Determination The student now possesses some knowledge, his skills increase, as well as his desire to improve even more.

Green Belt — Growth The student acquires more maturity, his body and mind take shape. Blue Belt — Control The student learns to master better his body and mind.