Why Martial Arts Organizations Use Belt and Rank Systems

Where did the belt system come from, and why do martial arts organizations use it? 

The rank system most students recognize today is newer than you might think, and it didn't originate with the samurai class. 

This article explores where the belt-and-rank system came from, why it emerged well after the samurai era ended, and what martial arts industry associations can (and can't) certify regarding rank today.

Rank Wasn't Always Standardized

Traditional koryu bujutsu (classical Japanese martial arts that predated 1868) didn't use a belt system. 

Instead, these systems relied on menkyo licensing, which typically consisted of a handful of levels, structured like bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.

The modern kyu/dan ranking system was created later by Kano Jigoro, the founder of judo, after the samurai class was abolished in the late 1800s. Kano came from a merchant family, and his ranking system emerged during a period when martial arts were becoming increasingly accessible outside the old feudal class system. 

Why Rank Systems Became Standard

As more schools and disciplines developed, small problems began to emerge. 

• How do you rank students consistently across different martial arts?
• How do students rank across different lineages?
• How about across different countries?

With several martial arts and multiple styles operating under one umbrella, maintaining separate ranking systems for each became impractical. A shared kyu/dan structure gives an association one common approach. 

What Rank from an Association Means

A martial arts industry association can only grant rank within its own organization, not within a specific ryu (“martial systems”). Only the current head of a given ryu holds the authority to certify rank in that particular tradition.

What an association can offer is a standardized, well-documented rank within its own division, based on:

• Years of training
• Technical proficiency
• Knowledge of the specific tradition a student has studied

Learn More With SMAA

Belt and rank systems were developed to recognize and communicate skill consistently across schools and traditions. Shudokan Martial Arts Association (a global martial arts industry association) issues ranks within its own divisions, based on each member's training and knowledge.

If you'd like to learn more about SMAA's ranking structure, contact us today or learn more here.