Obi (martial arts)

Obis for budō. The colours range from yellow to brown corresponding to judo kyū levels from 9th to 1st.

The 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.

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

In many martial arts the colour of the obi signifies the wearer's skill level. Usually the colours start from the beginner's white and end in the master's black, or red and white.master belt

Aikido

Unlike in many other martial arts, adult practitioners of aikido do not 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 5th 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 kyū	yellow
5th kyū	orange
4th kyū	green
3rd kyū	blue
2nd and 1st kyū	brown
1st-3rd dan	black
4th-9th dan	black and red, or white and red
10th dan	red

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.

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,^[3] 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.^[4] There are also other colour ranges used worldwide.

Judoka Level	Obi colour
Beginners	White
5th kyū	Yellow
4th kyū	Orange
3rd kyū	Green
2nd kyū	Blue
1st kyū	Brown
1st - 5th dan	Black
6th and 9th dan	Red and White
10th dan	Red

Jujutsu

The colours for obis used for jujutsu practise range as follows:^[5]

Level	Obi colour
beginners	red
10th – 8th kyū	red
7th kyū	white with a red stripe
6th kyū	yellow
5th kyū	orange
4th kyū	green
3rd kyū	blue
2nd kyū	violet
1st kyū	brown
Shōdan-ho	brown and black ("temporary black")
1st - 5th dan	black
6th dan and higher	red and white

Jūkendō

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

Karate

Wado-ryu The obis used in the wado-ryu style range in colour as follows:[6] Level Obi colour beginners white Turkos 10th kyū 9th kyū Red 8th kyū yellow 7th kyū orange 6th kyū green 5th kyū blue 4th kyū violet 3rd - 1st kyū brown 1st dan and higher black Shotokan The obis used in the shotokan style range in colour as follows:[7] Level Obi colour 10th kyū white 9th kyū red 8th kyū yellow 7th kyū orange 6th kyū green 5th kyū blue 4th kyū blue with a white stripe 3rd kyū brown 2nd kyū brown 1st kyū brown with a white stripe 1st - 10th dan black Shito-Ryu The obis used in the Shito-Ryu style range in colour as follows:[8] Level Obi colour 10th kyū White 9th kyū Yellow/White 8th kyū Yellow 7th kyū Orange 6th kyū Green 5th kyū Blue 4th kyū Purple 3rd kyū Brown 2nd kyū Brown (1 white stripe) 1st kyū Brown (2 white stripes) 1st-10th dan black

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.^[9]

Kyūdō

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

T'ai Chi Ch'uan

The outfit used for T'ai Chi is either loose-fitting, comfortable clothing or the same kind of uniform as Kung Fu. Some schools also include coloured sash, but no standard for their order has been established. They commonly follow the same basic rules as Kung Fu, beginning with white, yellow, orange, purple, blue, green, brown and black. Some may skip a rank, others may subdivide them with a stripe or tag.

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. Goodman p. 230-231
4. Goodman s. 134
5. Goodman s. 101
6. Goodman s. 32
7. Goodman s. 52
8. http://shitokai.com/cyber-academy/shitoryu-karate-do-grading-syllabuses
9. Goodman s. 214. This was mentioned in Sword Art Online when Kirito and his sister fought using Kendo.