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Old 10-08-2007, 11:07 AM   #1
John Matsushima
 
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Why is it....

-that mudansha don't want to wash thier belts but yudansha wash them everyday?

-that we practice an art of war to learn the way of peace?

-John Matsushima

My blog on Japanese culture
http://onecorneroftheplanetinjapan.blogspot.jp/
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Old 10-08-2007, 11:48 AM   #2
Will Prusner
 
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Smile Re: Why is it....

belts? no clue.

Your other question? For the same reason we study history to learn about the future.

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration...

ART! - http://birdsbeaks.blogspot.com/
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Old 10-08-2007, 07:40 PM   #3
statisticool
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Re: Why is it....

What else would we do?

A secret of internal strength?:
"Let your weight from the crotch area BE in his hands."
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Old 07-03-2009, 08:12 PM   #4
AnaSophia
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Re: Why is it....

I've heard that it's bad luck to wash a white belt... supposedly, in the old days (obviously not in aikido, but older MA forms?) you never received a "black belt", but simply practiced long and hard enough for your original white belt to turn black from dirt. cool story, I don't know if it's true...
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Old 07-03-2009, 08:27 PM   #5
Kevin Leavitt
 
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Re: Why is it....

Here is a poll that was done a few years ago.

http://www.aikiweb.com/polls/results.html?poll_id=217

Different folks have varying opinions on it. I wash mine as I get sweaty and dirty. WIth the prevalance of staph infections etc. I think it to be wise to do so, especially if you are sweating alot and in contact with others.

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Old 07-03-2009, 10:40 PM   #6
DonMagee
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Re: Why is it....

I tried once to do a test to see how much crap was actually on my belt. Sadly I ended up getting side tracked and never got beyond setting up the test.

I still want to know. I'm just lazy.

- Don
"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough" - Albert Einstein
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Old 07-04-2009, 03:18 AM   #7
Walter Martindale
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Re: Why is it....

Hmm. I think I washed a judo belt once. Some time in the 1970s.
Don't recall washing an obi since.
W
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Old 07-04-2009, 03:25 AM   #8
Charles Hill
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Re: Why is it....

Quote:
Don Magee wrote: View Post
I tried once to do a test to see how much crap was actually on my belt.
Hey Don,

I hate to be the one to tell you, but you are supposed to wear it around your WAIST!
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Old 07-04-2009, 02:56 PM   #9
ninjaqutie
 
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Re: Why is it....

I have and never will wash a belt of mine. With aikido you wear a white belt a lot longer, which shoes dirt easier, but I still won't wash it. It shoes all my hard work that I have put in. Honestly, I am already upset that I got a used belt. WAH! They said the belt that went with my gi was too long, so I got a size 3 belt from a kids gi. :O(

~Look into the eyes of your opponent & steal his spirit.
~To be a good martial artist is to be good thief; if you want my knowledge, you must take it from me.
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Old 07-04-2009, 03:23 PM   #10
Janet Rosen
 
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Re: Why is it....

um...my garden clothes and my painting clothes "show my hard work" too, but sheesh, basic hygiene....

Janet Rosen
http://www.zanshinart.com
"peace will enter when hate is gone"--percy mayfield
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Old 07-05-2009, 05:41 PM   #11
ninjaqutie
 
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Re: Why is it....

Yeah, sorry about hitting the wrong key. W and E are right next to each other... but thanks for pointing it out...

~Look into the eyes of your opponent & steal his spirit.
~To be a good martial artist is to be good thief; if you want my knowledge, you must take it from me.
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Old 07-05-2009, 08:22 PM   #12
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Re: Why is it....

The special aikidoka in my life is adamant about washing dogi etc, after every practice. I once met one of her college class mates at a seminar and learned that he had not washed his belt in six years. Unfortunately I was made aware of this fact after I was invited to 'check out' his favorite obi. Bleargh. Makes me want to go wash my hands,

If way to the better there be, it exacts a full look at the worst.

- Thomas Hardy
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Old 07-06-2009, 06:12 AM   #13
Dazzler
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Re: Why is it....

My practice shows the work I've put in.

My belt holds my jacket together.
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Old 07-06-2009, 06:48 AM   #14
Nick P.
 
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Re: Why is it....

Quote:
Daren Sims wrote: View Post
My practice shows the work I've put in.

My belt holds my jacket together.
Word.

I dont normally wash my belt (either when I had a white one or now that I have a black one), but when the funky stench becomes too much, in the wash it goes.

I wouldnt let my gi or hakama get that funky, nor my body, what makes my belt any different?

PS - In my experience, the more you wash an article of clothing the more succeptable to fraying and degrading it becomes; so if you really want that mean looking belt, wash it alot. Then pardon me as I snicker at you and your belt fetish

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Old 07-06-2009, 10:35 AM   #15
ninjaqutie
 
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Re: Why is it....

This is interesting because no one in my dojo washes their belts (as this topic has come up) and none of their belts stink (At least I haven't smelled them while working with them, but I haven't held them, but why would I?) How often do you all wash your hakamas? Most people don't wash theirs that often either....

I don't have one of those yet, so I don't have to worry about that.

~Look into the eyes of your opponent & steal his spirit.
~To be a good martial artist is to be good thief; if you want my knowledge, you must take it from me.
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Old 07-06-2009, 03:54 PM   #16
Charles Hill
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Re: Why is it....

Quote:
Ashley Carter wrote: View Post
This is interesting because no one in my dojo washes their belts (as this topic has come up)
Hi Ashley,

What are the reasons they give?
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Old 07-06-2009, 03:59 PM   #17
Charles Hill
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Re: Why is it....

With so many serious posts in response to a question in the humor section, I think John Matsushima's joke has been missed.

He's saying that it is funny that mudansha don't wash their belts because they believe the old saw about the belts turning black over time. And it is funny that yudansha do wash their belts so that they wear out quickly and everyone will see how much effort they have put in. He is poking fun at people's egos.
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Old 07-06-2009, 08:29 PM   #18
DonMagee
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Re: Why is it....

Quote:
Ashley Carter wrote: View Post
I have and never will wash a belt of mine. With aikido you wear a white belt a lot longer, which shoes dirt easier, but I still won't wash it. It shoes all my hard work that I have put in. Honestly, I am already upset that I got a used belt. WAH! They said the belt that went with my gi was too long, so I got a size 3 belt from a kids gi. :O(
If you washed your belt, you would have to simply work harder

- Don
"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough" - Albert Einstein
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Old 07-07-2009, 07:23 AM   #19
Nick P.
 
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Re: Why is it....

Quote:
Charles Hill wrote: View Post
With so many serious posts in response to a question in the humor section, I think John Matsushima's joke has been missed.

He's saying that it is funny that mudansha don't wash their belts because they believe the old saw about the belts turning black over time. And it is funny that yudansha do wash their belts so that they wear out quickly and everyone will see how much effort they have put in. He is poking fun at people's egos.
Ah, yes, well, ahem.......
Humour:
A fish runs into a brick wall, and says "Damn".

Carry on.

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Old 07-07-2009, 09:15 AM   #20
Mark Freeman
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Re: Why is it....

Quote:
Nick Pittson wrote: View Post
Ah, yes, well, ahem.......
Humour:
A fish runs into a brick wall, and says "Damn".

Carry on.
Fish can run??

Success is having what you want. Happiness is wanting what you have.
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Old 07-07-2009, 09:21 AM   #21
Michael Hackett
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Re: Why is it....

A man walks into a bar. It knocks him on his fanny........

Ba dump dump!

Michael
"Leave the gun. Bring the cannoli."
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Old 07-07-2009, 10:26 AM   #22
ninjaqutie
 
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Re: Why is it....

Charles: no one really says anything. It isn't like a "You can't wash your belt or else" or "You can't wash away your ki" or anything like that. They just don't. I only know of one guy who washed his belt and his white belt is now this strange pinky/brown color.

I can understand washing your belt when it stinks, but I have never in the 8 plus years of training encountered a stinky belt.... I guess it all depends on if you leave your belt in a closed gym bag or something. As for the mats, ours get swept daily and they are frequently cleaned with a water/vinegar mixture... so maybe that makes a difference. Who knows!

All I am saying that is I have never washed my belt. Not because of some silly myth or legend, but because I don't feel it needs it. It is still pretty white and it doesn't stink. I would wash it if it was odiferous. I want my belt to be as true as possible. By that I mean, I don't want a worn and frayed belt that wasn't done by me, myself and alone. Not some washing machine.

~Look into the eyes of your opponent & steal his spirit.
~To be a good martial artist is to be good thief; if you want my knowledge, you must take it from me.
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Old 07-07-2009, 08:50 PM   #23
DonMagee
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Re: Why is it....

I've had practices where I've actually been able to wring liquid out of my belt in a amount that could fill a shot glass.

If you are like me and train in gyms that have no air conditioning it can get very nasty very fast. Let's just say I've submitted opponents by drowning them.

- Don
"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough" - Albert Einstein
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Old 07-08-2009, 03:43 AM   #24
John Matsushima
 
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Re: Why is it....

T-shirt idea......

"I practiced Aikido for half my life, and all I have to show for it is this stinky, dirty, frayed belt."

...or if you wanna look cool, have it embroidered on your belt in bright orange kanji.

-John Matsushima

My blog on Japanese culture
http://onecorneroftheplanetinjapan.blogspot.jp/
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Old 07-08-2009, 07:43 AM   #25
DonMagee
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Re: Why is it....

Quote:
John Matsushima wrote: View Post
T-shirt idea......

"I practiced Aikido for half my life, and all I have to show for it is this stinky, dirty, frayed belt."

...or if you wanna look cool, have it embroidered on your belt in bright orange kanji.
I've always wanted to put "This side up" in kanji on the back of the gi I wear to judo class.

- Don
"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough" - Albert Einstein
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