It is not my
intention to assume what obi anyone should wear, rather just note many things
have changed in the past 100 years.
There was a time
no one on Okinawa wore any specific obi during their karate practice. It is
generally assumed when karate migrated to Japan in the 1920’s it’s use was
adopted (along with specific training uniforms) appropriated in principle from
obi use in Judo. Different colors showing where a student/practitioner was in
their practice.
But many
practices developed in Japan finally were adopted on Okinawa too. It is
generally assumed dan rank was first established on Okinawa during the 1950s.
Then dan any kyu rank became the standard, that and group specific obi
traditions.
And from the use
in Judo, the senior instructor began to wear a red obi (or in some cases a
white obi.) But more time passed, and the entire world began to adopt their own
karate obi traditions.
Some on Okinawa
even went to Obi such as Gold Obi. The groups developed their own standards on
that.
This is just an
example that even on Okinawa, the martial art of karate is constantly changing.
"Since
Karate is ever-advancing it is no longer possible to speak of the Karate to day
and the Karate of a decade ago in the same breath...Karate in Tokyo today is
almost completely different in form from what was earlier practiced in
Okinawa...
Precisely because it has its own life, do is subject to the inevitable cycle of growth and decline. It is ever-changing, but only in its outer form. The basic nature of do remains immutable."
Gichin Funakoshi
from Karate-do Nyumon (1st published 1925)
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