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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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