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Belts and Grading
In the popular imagination, a “black belt” is a
martial-arts master. In reality, not all black belts are
masters and not all arts use colored belts – or have any
ranking system. Even in styles that use belts, the black
belt doesn’t mark the end of instruction: a black-belt
student has mastered the basics and is ready for true
apprenticeship. If his style is combative, he might be
extremely tough. If his style is artistic, he might be less
capable in a fight than the average brawler!
A widespread origin myth for the black belt suggests
that a novice received a white belt. When he had
learned enough to be deemed a master, the belt would
be so dirty that it was black. This is at best unverifiable.
What is verifiable is that today’s familiar coloredbelt
system was invented for Judo (p. 166) by founder
Jigoro Kano. The rankings in that system were: white
(6th through 4th kyu), brown (3rd through 1st kyu),
black (1st through 5th dan), red-and-white (6th
through 8th dan), and solid red (9th and 10th dan).
Later, 10th dan was changed to white. The rankings
didn’t stop at 10th dan, but no one was ever promoted
higher. In this system, one says the ranking’s number
first, then its name; for instance, 4th kyu is yonkyu and
4th dan is yondan. In English, “dan” becomes “degree”;
e.g., a 10th dan is a “10th-degree black belt.” Kyu rankings
are usually known only by color.
When Te (pp. 169-170) came to Japan and became
Karate, it adopted Judo’s ranking system. Funakoshi
Gichin created the first karate-do black belts in 1924.
Today, Karate (pp. 169-172) and Tae Kwon Do (p. 200)
use similar systems, but with 10 kyu ranks and 10 dan
ranks; belt colors vary considerably. Kendo (p. 175)
doesn’t use belts, but has eight kyu and eight dan ranks.
Chinese systems use sashes instead of belts, and the top
color is red or gold. The only generalization one can
make about other Asian styles is that the top and bottom
ranks are black and white – usually. Outside Asia,
sport styles typically have ranking systems based on
belts or colored patches (e.g., Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and
sport Sambo), fighting record (e.g., Boxing, Wrestling,
and mixed martial arts), or a combination of the two
(e.g., Savate).
Things were quite different before modern times. In
the Japanese arts, instructors in each ryu issued teaching
certificates, awarding grades that denoted how
advanced and respected the teacher was. The chosen
head of the ryu held the highest rank. Chinese martial
arts used a similar system, with a letter from an
instructor testifying to his student’s skill. In historical
Europe, the Masters of Defence (p. 17) had a grading
system similar to that of trade guilds: “apprentice,”
“journeyman,” and finally “master.” A would-be master
had to acquit himself with any combination of
weapons in a public test by other masters.
A great many historical and modern arts have no
formal ranking system. Each school ranks its students
by seniority. Instructors either receive teaching permission
from their peers on an ad hoc basis or are entirely
self-proclaimed.
172 STYLES
Kyokushin attracted many students at its inception and is
still widely taught today. Its full-contact sparring and tournaments,
emphasis on tameshiwari competitions, and strenuous
belt tests are well-known in martial-arts circles. These things
have made the style famous for producing tough, contesthardened
martial artists. Kyokushin schools are found
worldwide.
Skills: Karate; Karate Sport; Savoir-Faire (Dojo).
Techniques: Aggressive Parry; Axe Kick; Back Kick; Elbow
Strike; Exotic Hand Strike; Hammer Fist; Head Butt; Jump
Kick; Kicking; Knee Strike; Spinning Kick; Stamp Kick.
Cinematic Skills: Breaking Blow; Immovable Stance; Kiai;
Mental Strength; Power Blow; Pressure Points; Pressure
Secrets.
Cinematic Techniques: Lethal Kick; Lethal Strike; Pressure-
Point Strike.
Perks: Clinch (Karate); Iron Hands; Special Exercises (DR 1
with Tough Skin); Special Exercises (Striking ST +1); Unusual
Training (Breaking Blow, Only vs. well-braced objects out of
combat).
Optional Traits
Advantages: Combat Reflexes; High Pain Threshold;
Language (Japanese); Reputation (Kyokushin student, from
all karateka).
Disadvantages: Overconfidence; Reputation (Throws
punches to the body, kicks to the head).
Skills: Breath Control; Hobby Skill (Feats of Strength);
Judo; Parry Missile Weapons.
KEMPO
7 points
Kempo, sometimes spelled Kenpo, is a Japanese striking art
with origins in China. In popular usage, “kempo” – like
“karate” and “kung fu” – is occasionally a generic term for all
Chinese and Japanese striking arts. Here it refers specifically
to Shorinjikempo: the Shaolin Kung Fu-based style founded in
1947 by Doshin So.
Shorinjikempo teaches hard-style strikes similar to those of
modern Karate (pp. 169-172) combined with soft-style grapples
and throws akin to those of Aikijutsu (p. 149). It puts artistic
kata on an equal footing with combat techniques and
expects students to learn its underlying philosophy alongside
its fighting methods. Doshin So founded Shorinjikempo to
teach both martial arts and Buddhist philosophy, which he felt
was lacking in postwar Japan. The goal of its training is to
make the student a peaceful, better person in harmony with
Buddhist principles.
Unlike karateka, who usually twist their fist into the horizontal
plane when punching, Kempo stylists throw vertical
punches. Kempo shares Karate’s practice of aiming strikes at
vital locations, however – indeed, cinematic masters often
raise their Pressure Points skill to extraordinary levels. Kempo
fighters train to parry their attacker and then counter with a
punch, kick, or throw. A common follow-up to a grapple or a
Judo parry is an Arm Lock, with the usual goal being not to
injure the victim but to cause him pain and then exploit his
shock by attempting an immediate throw or takedown.
Practitioners integrate all of these responses seamlessly, flowing
back and forth between striking and grappling as they
counter their opponent’s actions.