[Tang Soo Do] Midnight blue belt as a black belt?

Discussion in 'Other Styles' started by 1eo, Mar 19, 2005.

  1. 1eo

    1eo Banned Banned

    How many of you guys use the Midnight blue belt instead of a black belt?? and what is the history behind...

    I hear that because black is the absence of color it's consider perfection.... And perfection is unateinable, therefore, our belts are a shade shy of black (Midnight blue :cool: )

    leo
     
  2. PsiCop

    PsiCop Antonio gets the women...

    We, and every other semi-local Tang Soo Do school have midnight blue for Dans. I feel this had to do with the original belt system which was white, green, red, midnight blue. Each color represented a season and state of development. White was associated with Winter and purity... a dormant understanding. Green was Spring... a blossoming of knowledge and technique. Red represented Summer... a high point when the knowledge is beginning to be understood and is almost overwhelming. Finally, midnight blue represented Autumn... A calm state in which one reflects upon and perfects their technique.

    However, the interesting part is the cyclical nature of this belt system, and the seasons that it was built around. When one reaches Dan level, they are in the final stage of development. Yet, they are now beginners. In fact Dan can be interpreted to mean beginner. The deeper meaning of this is found in that fact that once one reaches Dan level, they aren't finished... They're only beginning to learn the true nature of their style.

    ... You know me. I always like to elaborate ;)
     
  3. MALibrarian

    MALibrarian Valued Member

    My particular family of schools uses a midnight blue belt for cho dan bo (candidate for 1st dan ranking) and then a black belt after that.
     
  4. Kwajman

    Kwajman Penguin in paradise....

    I've never seen one but it seems plausible.
     
  5. Andy Cap

    Andy Cap Valued Member

    Yes, we wear midnight blue for dan level, and midnight blue with red stripe for 4th dan and above. As was said, black symbolizes finality. I prefer midnight blue.
     
  6. Thomas

    Thomas Combat Hapkido/Taekwondo

    I like the look of the midnight blue ones... how do they fade... to a gray or to a lighter blue?
     
  7. Andy Cap

    Andy Cap Valued Member

    LOL - Thomas it all depends on how you train or how you try to force them to fade. Also it depends on who manufactured them.

    My first Midnight blue faded to tattered denim sort of blue. My 3rd dan faded and tattered as well. My 4th dan has held its color but is seriously deteriorated.

    Now, the first two saw a lot of water work outs in the ocean (salt water) and in pools (chlorinated). When I would go into a pool, I would rinse the belt well.

    I had a student that received their midnight blue and a month later it looked purple - i asked them what happened and they sheepishly admitted to trying to fade it with a bleach solution - LOL.

    Many of teh belts now a days are a polyester blend and they deteriorate quickly, but hold their color well.
     
  8. Karate_Man_1288

    Karate_Man_1288 New Member

    my school goes: white, yellow, orange, purple, blue, green, red, brown, app. black, 1st degree black
     
  9. JunFan38463

    JunFan38463 New Member

    yes it is midnight blue in my dojang as well, 2 white stripes for E dan, 3 for Sam Dan, and Sa Dan, or Master is Midnight blue with the redstripe through the whole belt

    belts go
    white
    white blue stripe
    orange
    orange blue stripe
    green
    green 1 blue stripe
    green 2 blue stripes
    red 1 blue stripe
    red 2 blue stripes
    Cho Dan ( midnight blue)
    then what i stated above^
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2005
  10. NX01

    NX01 Valued Member

    That's what they say...

    My dad's instructor (Pak, Song-Ki) received his 1st Dan from the Moo Duk Kwan in 1951. He says he received a BLACK belt at 1st Dan, and not midnight blue. He said that the Moo Duk Kwan didn't switch to midnight blue until the late 1950's/early 1960's.
     
  11. PsiCop

    PsiCop Antonio gets the women...

    Hmm, maybe I need to look into it more. I know there's a lot of different tales going around. It's very possible I may be wrong.
     
  12. JunFan38463

    JunFan38463 New Member

    belts are used to keep your pants up thats there only practical use


    lol sry perfect time for a bruce lee quote
     
  13. PsiCop

    PsiCop Antonio gets the women...

    Yes JunFan. I like Mr Miyagi's better when Julie-san asks him what kind of belt he has, he says "Canvas, you like?". Even better is in the original when asked the same question, he said "JC Penney ... $3.98"

    :D Point taken, JunFan.
     
  14. NX01

    NX01 Valued Member

    I wouldn't say you're "wrong". You only know what you're told. It's very possible that I could have been told wrong.
    That's the problem with history, it varies depending on the source.
    :)
     
  15. PsiCop

    PsiCop Antonio gets the women...

    Heh true also, NX01. It's pretty hard to tell what's truth and what's propaganda these days... Hmm, is propaganda the right word? Let's just say preferable versions of history.
     
  16. Yossarian75

    Yossarian75 New Member

    My school uses the black belt for dans and midnight blue for cho dan bo. I like the idea of the midnight blue belt, i want one(and the trim). IMHO TSD has the coolest uniforms of any martial art bar none.
     
  17. Doppleganger

    Doppleganger Valued Member

    I have to agree that the TSD Do-Balks are really smart, especially when you to get to Red Belt and above and you get the right to have that lovely silk trim around the edges of the uniform.
     

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