Re: History of Black Belt?
It is noble to say belts don't matter, however, when you first start training they are a great motivation to train that little bit harder. The actual gradings are also a good learning experience. The participants learn to use their Aikido under stressfull conditions.
The coloured Kyu grade ranks also protect inexperienced Uke's. I visited a club that only used white belts for kyu grades. After receiving lots of advice on my technique from one of the white belts I assumed he was experienced. When using him as uke for a tenchi nage I threw his with full power and really shook him up. The instructor scolded me saying that he was not graded and only a beginner. I felt a little bad. If the club used a colour belt system I would have realised that he was just an "all knowing" 6th Kyu.
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