He realized Western students were more motivated by frequent, visible rewards.
It allows instructors to manage large classes by grouping students of similar skills.
The origin of the martial arts color belt scheme is younger than most people think. It wasn’t a centuries-old tradition, but a practical innovation from the early 20th century. 🥋 The Myth vs. The Reality 2481x2592 The Origin of the Color Belt Scheme i...
Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, introduced the belt system in the 1880s.
Most modern arts, like Karate and Taekwondo, eventually adopted this Judo-born system. He realized Western students were more motivated by
Originally, there were only two: White (beginners) and Black (advanced).
The "gamification" of martial arts through belts helped keep students engaged long-term. It wasn’t a centuries-old tradition, but a practical
⭐ Before belts, many traditional Japanese arts used formal scrolls (Menkyo) to certify a student’s level.