Obi (martial arts)

Many Japanese martial arts feature an obi (Japanese: ) as part of their exercise outfit. Such an obi is often made of thick cotton and is about 5 cm wide. The martial arts obi are most often worn in the koma-musubi knot (square knot); in practice where a hakama is worn, the obi is tied in other ways.

Obis for budō. The colours range from yellow to brown corresponding to judo kyū levels from 5th to 1st.
One way of tying the obi used in judo, aikido and karate.
In some Japanese martial arts the obi is hidden underneath the hakama. Pictured is a kyūdōka.

In many martial arts, the colour of the obi signifies the wearer's skill level. Usually the colours start from white for beginners and end in black or red-and-white for masters.

Aikido

Unlike in many other martial arts, adult practitioners of aikido do not traditionally wear coloured obis,[1] though in some schools different colour codes have been formed,[1] especially for children. The children's obis range from white for beginner level to 7th kyū, other colours for the rest of the kyū levels, and black for levels 1st dan and up.[2]

In some aikido schools, wearing a hakama is a privilege earned by reaching the first dan level. In other schools, all practitioners may wear a hakama. After taking up using a hakama, the colour of obi does not matter since it will be covered by the hakama.[2]

Example of colour range in aikido

Below is a typical example of obi colours per level in aikido:[1]

Level Obi colour
6th kyūyellow
5th kyūorange
4th kyūgreen
3rd kyūblue
2nd and 1st kyūbrown
1st–3rd danblack
4th–9th danblack and red, or
white and red
10th dandark blue

However, aikido schools worldwide may use their own systems with little reference to other schools save the use of a black belt for at least some dan grades.

Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu

The Bujinkan (武神館) makes use of only a limited set of belt colours, however there are also different associated uniform emblems or wappen (ワッペン), the style of which varies dependent on the grade of the Budoka. Unlike many other martial arts, the number of Dan grades extends to Jūgodan (15th Dan), and practitioners at this grade of may also be gifted the status of Dai Shihan (大師範, roughly translated as "senior instructor") by the Sōke[3] This title also comes with its own wappen style featuring a purple background.

Level Obi colour
Without Grade (Mukyū)White
Kyū GradesGreen
Dan Grades Black

Ninjutsu

Ninja obi are required within JNF and WNF.

Obi colour Ninjutsu level
White
Silver
Yellow2nd dan
Orange2nd dan
Red
Gold8 kyu
Pale Orange2nd dan and 8-5 kyu
Brown5th dan and 5 kyu
Green2nd dan
Blue, Purple2nd dan and 5 kyu
Black4th dan and 10 kyu
Dark Blue3rd dan and 10- 15-15 kyu

Atarashii naginata

The outfit used for Atarashii naginata practice includes a hakama that covers the obi. The obi is always white; its colour has no significance beyond simply blending in with the white keikogi worn when practicing the art.

Iaido

The outfit worn to iaido practise includes a hakama, which is worn over the top of the obi, which fastens the keikogi. The obi colour has no meaning in iaido,[4] and is usually chosen to blend in with the kimono or hakama worn by the practitioner.

Jōdō

The outfit used for jōdō practise includes a hakama that covers the obi. The colour of the obi has no significance.

Judo

Below are the colours of obis worn for judo practise. Junior practitioners have a different colour range.[5] There are also other colour ranges used worldwide.

Level Obi colour
BeginnersWhite
5th kyūYellow
4th kyūOrange
3rd kyūGreen
2nd kyūBlue
1st kyūBrown
1st – 5th danBlack
6th – 8th danRed and White
9th and 10th danRed

Ju-Jitsu

A step by step tutorial to tie a jujutsu belt in a standard knot.

The colours for obis used for Ju-Jitsu practise range as follows:[6]

Level Obi colour
beginnerswhite
10th – 8th kyūred
7th kyūwhite with
a red stripe
6th kyūyellow
5th kyūorange
4th kyūgreen
3rd kyūblue
2nd kyūviolet
1st kyūbrown
Shōdan-hobrown and black
("temporary black")
1st – 5th danblack
6th dan and higherred and white

Different Ju-Jitsu federations use different colours. An alternative is shown below.

Level Obi colour
beginners red
8th kyū white
7th kyū yellow
6th kyū orange
5th kyū green
4th kyū blue
3rd kyū purple
2nd kyū brown and white
1st kyū brown
1st – 5th dan black

Jūkendō

The outfit used for Jūkendō practise includes a hakama that covers the obi. The colour of the obi has no significance.

Karate

Kyokushin

For adults, an obi worn in Kyokushin karate signifies rank as follows:[7]

Level Obi colour
mukyūwhite
10th kyūorange
9th kyūorange with stripe
8th kyūblue
7th kyūblue with stripe
6th kyūyellow
5th kyūyellow with stripe
4th kyūgreen
3rd kyūgreen with stripe
2nd kyūbrown
1st kyūbrown with stripe
1st – 10th danblack with one stripe per dan

Stripes on non-black obis can be either black or the next obi's color. Some brown obis sport white stripes. On a black obi, gold is the most seen stripe color. Note that some dojo's in Kyokushin use a more elaborate striping system for children, allowing for a higher frequency of exams. Some higher degree blackbelts prefer to wear a plain black obi, with no markings.

Wadō-ryū

The obis used in the wadō-ryū style range in colour as follows:[8]

Level Obi colour
beginnerswhite
10th kyūturquoise
9th kyūred
8th kyūyellow
7th kyūorange
6th kyūgreen
5th kyūblue
4th kyūviolet
3rd – 1st kyūbrown
1st dan and higherblack

Shotokan

The obis used in the shotokan KUGB style range in colour as follows:[9]

Level Obi colour
10th kyūwhite
9th kyūorange
8th kyūred
7th kyūyellow
6th kyūgreen
5th kyūpurple (violet)
4th kyūpurple (violet) and one white stripe
3rd kyūbrown
2nd kyūbrown and one white stripe
1st kyūbrown and two white stripes
1st – 10th danblack

Shitō-ryū

The obis used in the Shitō-ryū style range in colour as follows:[10]

Level Obi colour
10th kyūWhite
9th kyūYellow/White
8th kyūYellow
7th kyūOrange
6th kyūPurple
5th kyūBlue
4th kyūGreen
3rd kyūBrown
2nd kyūBrown (1 white stripe)
1st kyūBrown (2 white stripes)
1st–10th danblack
10th–15th danblue

Kendo

The outfit used for kendo practise includes a hakama that covers the kendogi. An obi is optional; if worn, its colour has no significance.[11]

Kyūdō

The outfit used for kyūdō practise includes a hakama that covers the obi. The colour of the obi has no significance.

See also

References

  • Bennett, Gary (1997). Aikido techniques & tactics. Human Kinetics Publisher. ISBN 0-88011-598-X.
  • Goodman, Fay (1998). The Ultimate Book of Martial Arts. Lorenz Books. ISBN 1-85967-778-9.

Notes

  1. Bennett p. 8-11
  2. Goodman s. 70
  3. Cousergue, Arnaud (2015-05-25). "What Type Of Shihan Are You?". THOUGHTS ON BUDO.
  4. Goodman p. 230-231
  5. Goodman s. 134
  6. Goodman s. 101
  7. "Kyokushin Grading and Belts". www.kyokushinwla.com. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
  8. Goodman s. 32
  9. Goodman s. 52
  10. http://shitokai.com/cyber-academy/shitoryu-karate-do-grading-syllabuses
  11. Goodman s. 214. This was mentioned in Sword Art Online when Kirito and his sister fought using Kendo.
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