As some of you may know, on Saturday, September 11, 2010, Mr. Kelley presented me and my good friend Kevin Kuliga with a new red belt for each of our ranks. For those wondering, I am still a 6th Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo Karate, but all CKF black belts who are 5th Degree and higher are going to be wearing red belts with the corresponding black bar and number of stripes (to show the reverse of what is typically done in American Kenpo – a red bar and red stripes on a black belt). To be awarded this new belt from Mr. Kelley was a big honor, as we want to be different in the CKF, especially considering how the typical black belt has been so devalued in recent times as people jump through the dan ranks like candy. For more information about the history of the Red Belt, please see Bill Larson’s article at:
http://chinesekaratefederation.com/2010/06/the-history-of-the-red-belt-or-red-sash/
