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Grading Arm Bands - What do the colours mean?

I've often been asked by my students as to the origins of our grading syllabus, what the colours mean and if they they have any significance in Thai Culture.

Its widely recognised that Masters Sken, Toddy & Woody were the forefathers of the modern grading syllabus. In 1977 they looked for a way to asses their students in the art of Muay Thai. In Thailand there is no grading syllabus,  your merits as a Thai Boxer are measured in the ring. 

Understanding the wider reaches of Muay Thai (Not just for fighters) the Masters created an assessment processes which consisted of a series of examinations where successful applications would achieve a rank often known as a Khan.

Colours in recognition of rank is something first seen in Judo dating back to the mid 1800's, Japanese and Okinawan Martial Arts are believed to have followed suit in the early 1900's replacing the traditional white belts with a similar coloured system. 

In the UK there are many different grading syllabuses some with as few as 8 Khan's and some with Dan equivalent grades making the total amount of assessments reaching 20. 

We have an 11 grade syllabus and despite extensive research I've not yet found any correlation to the colours given to each grade and any significant meaning.. In fact colours are assigned to days of the week in Thailand. 
Monday (White)
Tuesday (Pink)
Wednesday (Green)
Thursday (Orange)
Friday (Blue)
Saturday (Purple)
Sunday (Red)

So taking these colours in particular the order of they fall in each week we have a similar progression to our grading syllabus. White being the first and Red being the last..? Coincidence - I'm not sure.

I was once told a different story as to the meaning behind the colours of our syllabus, unfortunately I can't find anything to back it up online but I quite like it - it helps the kids understand and remember the order and with Thailand being a Buddhist country I like the connection with the earth.

White - 1st Khan
White is a symbol of birth and beginning, indicating that the student is just starting to gain knowledge. Think of a seed first poking through the soil and being immersed in white light.

Yellow - 2nd Khan
Yellow symbolises sunlight, a new strength and the beginning of new life. This represents the student's progress as he receives knowledge from his instructor and become stronger and more skilled. Think of the yellow sunlight feeding the seed.

Green - 3rd Khan
As a martial arts student improves, The green khan represents the growth of a seed that sprouts upward, becoming a plant. Like the sprout, the student is becoming something greater.

Blue - 4th Khan
A blue khan represents the sky and signifies continued growth. A student moves upward in his development, just as a plant reaches up into the blue sky as it grows.


Blue / White - 5th Khan
The Blue & White khan recognises the relationship between the sky and the clouds without which there would be no water to feed the plant. Think of the relationship between student and beginners without which the club doesn't continue.

Brown - 6th Khan
Brown represents maturity. Like seeds that turn brown in the harvest season, the student has matured into something new at this stage in his development. The student will begin to see the benefits of his work, like a farmer reaping his crop at harvest.

Brown / White 7th Khan
Represents the seeds that fell from the harvested plant continuing the cycle of life. The students start to pass on knowledge to the next generation.

Brown / Yellow - 8th Khan
Brown / Yellow signifies that with the help of the mature plant the new seeds germinate and start to progress towards the sun. In the gym the next generation is being passed on knowledge to help with progression.

Brown / Green - 9th Khan
The cycle is almost complete, the new seeds are sprouting and growing strong as they continue upwards. The students knowledge is feeding the next generation of students and the camp is becoming strong.

Red - 10th Khan
Red is another representation of the sun - this time representing a close, hot sun. This proximity to the sun represents the student's detailed knowledge. 10th Khan is often associated with being equivalent to a black belt - Black, which is a mourning colour is worn at funerals and is a colour associated with death and grieving is not used in Muay Thai grading syllabuses, its taboo to wear a black except during the funeral.

According to the colour red - If you were born on a Sunday (Red Colour) your Character is thought to be respectable, wise and beloved by both friends and relatives, the idea job would be a doctor, police officer or other position of authority. - Quite fitting as our 10th Khan recognises successful participants as Kru Muay (Teacher of Thai Boxing)

Red / White 11th Khan
Symbolises the cycle continuing.


I like this concept of the grading colours, I'm not sure where the story came from but it works for our club and syllabus.

Training is a reflection of how you will perform for real..

One thing (ok another thing) that really winds me up about Martial Arts is the instructor who keeps using the words "Real Life" I take one look at these people and more often than not the most dangerous situation they face on a daily basis is dropping a pen on their foot while at work (for which the company provides safety boots)

I stand their and completely switch off when I hear it, its like the secret password to disconnect my hearing. This is a real shame because often what they are teaching is actually quite effective (although not in the scenario that is being described)

I have worked the doors, I have been in street fights and I can honestly say I disliked every minute of the experience. During this time I have never seen situations described by these instructors - they are disconnected with the real world and obsessed with what happened on the battlefield 1000 years ago in feudal japan.

The fact is - How you train is how you perform for real - and this is true for law enforcement, soldiers, fireman and all high stress situations.. Think what would have happened at the iranian embassy siege if the SAS hadn't spent hundreds of hours in the Killing House at Hereford... Practice = Perfection.

This is the controversial bit - This also apples to Martial Arts - Some instructors will shout and wave their arms about at this... If you don't train in your Martial Arts for real you will be proven wrong and possibly "dead wrong"

Here are a few examples of how things can quickly become unstuck for the seasoned Martial Artist..

1. Train to miss: Punches and kicks are pulled three or four inches from their opponent, you will create muscle memory and this will be your natural reaction under pressure - stopping a few inches from your aggressors face.
2. Has never been hit: Because students are taught to pull their techniques several inches short, they are not conditioned physically or psychologically to take a hit. It comes as quite a shock the first time it happens you get enraged, red mist descends and irrational thought processes start.
3. Take one, give one: Never been trained to take a hit and respond immediately by hitting back.
4. Train to pass by or pass over the target: High kicks are thrown so they pass over the opponent’s head. This is just showing off.
5. Ingrained ritual: Every drill or sparring exercise is preceded with a salute (sometime elaborate), a nod, a grunt or an “ooos,” and a pronounced step into a fighting stance. Time wasting - is the mugger going to wait while you bow?
6. Excessive politeness: Accidental contact is followed by a partial salute and an apology, accidents happen - understand that..
7. Acknowledgement of getting hit: A poorly controlled punch or kick hits and the recipient grabs the spot and calls time out or worse still stops to give respect to for a good shot.
8. Acknowledgement of hitting: A punch or kick scores and the hitter raises his fist in triumph, turns his back, and walks back to his starting position - ouch thats going to hurt when the attacker pulls a knife!
9. Over recognition of an error: An error in a drill receives a curse, a foot stomp, a shake of the head, or some other overt sign - miss the target in a night club would you get all emotional?
10. Stop on an error: When a defense move misses or a takedown technique is done poorly, the action stops and everyone starts over - never going to happen!
11. Stop in range: A technique is stopped for whatever reason and the attacker stays in range without doing anything - thats going to sting in the local taxi rank!
12. Stop after one hit scores: The attacker slams one in then stops, backs away, and basks in his glory - fantastic if your one punch has done the job - not likely.
13. False confidence: Believes his weak hits that earned points in a tournament would stop a brawl in the local..
14. Too many Hong Kong movies: Attacker does an excess of flippy-dippy kicks, somersaults, and tornado kicks - seen it so many times - tornado kicks on a slippery floor! "Pile on"
15. Dropping hands within range: Being in range with guard down and not attacking - stupidity.
16. Over reliance on safety equipment: Relying on the protective helmet to the extent that the head isn’t covered well. Relying on padded hands and feet too much - nothing beats a good elbow.
17. Telegraphing: Excessive wind up before punching - hours to react..
18. Never hitting low: Low blows are not allowed because they are illegal in sport - very effective on the street..
19. Targets ignored: Grapplers struggle for a hold while the opponent’s eyes, throat and groin are open and vulnerable.
20. Opponent can’t punch or kick: Grapplers defend against other grapplers who are not trained in how to throw quality kicks and punches - or how to punch with a pint glass in one hand!!
21. Focus on one technique: Over relies on his favorite technique, no matter how many times it gets blocked, misses, or fails to have an effect..
22. Hands the weapon back: Defender disarms a knife, stick, or gun and then hands the weapon back to the attacker for another go! Wang it high up out of the way!
23. Doesn’t consider other attackers: Takes opponent down and then fails to look around for other attackers - my pet hate - The one on one gentleman's style of fighting has long gone - now its all about groups from all angles.
24. Doesn’t get up strategically: When moving from the ground to a standing position, he doesn’t do so in a way that he could instantly defend himself.
25. Practices only in the air: Punches and kicks are only thrown in the air and never on a bag. He has no idea what they feel like impacting something solid - fingers would prob be all soft and gooey if he connects with something hard!
26. Always trains at the same intensity: Never pushes for greater speed, greater power, and greater explosiveness - Harder - Faster - Longer... The only way..
27. Never trains with mental intensity: Just goes through the motions as if they were half-hearted aerobics - get in the zone - get fired up and get ready to kick ass.
28. Doesn’t “see” the opponent: Practices in the air, on bags, and while shadow boxing without visualizing an opponent!
29. Never trained all-out: Never pushes training intensity into the anaerobic zone, that place where most fights occur. -fighting fit!
30. Doesn’t weight train: Never uses resistance training to increase strength, explosiveness and speed. Will burnout quickly with no stamina.

This is not a dig at any martial arts just practitioners talking rubbish - A friend of mine always says "There is no such thing as bad Martial Art, just bad instructors" this is so correct. Anyone preaching "Real Life" crap without being there is just kidding themselves... anyone believing them has got a stark realisation coming their way!