THE COLOR OF THE BELT

A Commentary By Maurice Msarsa
(40+ years Isshinryu)

In the martial arts, the color of the belt is usually a measure of a person’s 
expertise. The color white indicates a novice…a beginner. As the knowledge of 
the trainee expands, the tint of the belt changes. Through the kyu ranks, 
different dojos and/or systems award such colors as yellow, orange, green, 
blue, brown, and others in advance of the black belt. Many of the people that 
go through those stages believe that they reached the pinnacle when they are 
awarded the black belt. In reality they are at the very early stages of grasping 
the knowledge and philosophies of the martial arts. After the award of the 1st 
degree (sho dan) black belt, the karate ka could potentially advance up to the 
10th dan. Current Isshinryu tradition awards the title “master” to 6th thru 8th 
dan black belts and the honor to wear the red/white belt. The 9th and 10th dan 
black belts are recognized as “grandmasters” and wear the red belt.

When I first signed up at Master Harold Long’s Isshinryu dojo there were 
very few black belts around. Master Long had a red/white belt. He preferred 
to wear his black belt while instructing on the floor. He later changed to the 
red/white belt, and eventually the red belt. When Master Shimabuku visited 
the dojo, and as THE GRANDMASTER of Isshinryu, he wore the red belt. At 
that time in the history of Isshinryu there was one red belt grandmaster in the 
world. There also was one red/white belt in each of the regions where 
Isshinryu was taught. Today, some fifty years after the birth of Isshinryu, that 
is a different story. At dojos and at tournament functions we see numerous 
red and red/white belt holders. Most of these individuals earned their rank 
and title, and (based on current tradition) the right to wear these belts. 

Is it time to re-visit the “color of belts” subject? Are colored belts necessary? 
What other disciplines (besides the martial arts) uses such a grading to 
differentiate levels of knowledge or levels of expertise? The military utilizes 
“rank” to denote level of responsibility and authority. In the martial arts, the 
white through brown for the kyu ranks is proper. The black belt is proper.  
However, are the red or the red/white belts necessary for all the 6th thru the 
10th dans?  Is wearing a black belt enough? Some martial arts associations 
require all dan ranks to wear black belts only…no red/white or red. Is it 
proper to tell the high rank dans that they should only wear black belts and 
no red or red/white belts? 

Now let’s visit the “master” and “grandmaster” titles. It is acceptable in our 
society for individuals that excel in a profession or a skill to be called a master 
of that particular skill. However, a grandmaster denotes a one-of-a-kind…top 
of the pinnacle designation. In educational institutions the titles of masters 
and headmasters are used. Should we, or even could we, consider one person 
(that is accepted by the masses) as THE GRANDMASTER OF ISSHINRYU? 
When Grandmaster Tatsuo Shimabuku was alive, he was that person. Some 
people would argue that his son Kichiro was chosen by him to be his heir, and 
is now the Grandmaster. Mr. Long, and many others, did not support that 
claim; and as such, Okinawa is no longer considered to be the central point of 
leadership for Isshinryu.

At the present, we have numerous 10th and 9th Dans in Isshinryu. These 
individuals earned that rank over their three or four decades in Isshinryu. 
Each individual is acknowledged as “A grandmaster”. The question is…”Just 
how many grandmasters can/or should we have?”  As stated earlier, is it 
possible for us to elect (or choose) one person to serve as THE grandmaster of 
Isshinryu? That process has worked for centuries in Rome when the need 
arose!!!! Is there such a person that the majority of the Isshinryu family 
would support? In my opinion there are some individuals that can provide 
that leadership and prominence to that role. However, without a central point 
of leadership, this probably would never happen.  If it does happen, then with 
one grandmaster, all the rest would be masters. Those who wish to be more 
than a master can call themselves “headmasters”. 

At this time I would like to tell this story about one of my promotions under 
Mr. Long. That was the move from 5th dan to 6th dan. In his humorous way, 
Mr. Long had arranged for a seamstress to sew two small size red/white belts 
together to get one belt to fit me. On the day of promotion everyone was 
supposed to be at the dojo at 6 pm. I was in Chattanooga that day. I left early 
enough to be at the dojo on time. However, I ran into heavy traffic that caused 
me to arrive at the dojo at 6:15. That was in time to see Mr. Long tear my 
certificate, do a short lecture on not being on time, and wrap a belt on another 
deserving person. Mr. Long gave me the cold shoulder for the rest of the 
evening. A few days later, when Mr. Long thought it was proper, he awarded 
me a new certificate and belt. 


Personally, I wear a black belt when working out or instructing on the floor. 
Out of respect for the red and red/white belt holders, I have worn the 
red/white or red belt at tournament functions.

 I would be supportive to the idea of one person being THE Grandmaster of 
Isshinryu, and of an agreement that recommends all black belt dans wear 
black belts only.

ISSHINRYU… ONE HEART