Is it distasteful to display one’s old belts? I know the saying that belts are only good for keeping your uniform closed, but as a martial artist progresses in rank they are also milestones to one’s accomplishments.
In my case, my husband and I trained together — martial arts not only helped us be better individuals, it also strengthened our bond. I want to display the belts we earned together. But, I’m not sure if it is appropriate, considering that a martial artist is supposed to be humble. I don’t mean this as a display of pride, rather, it would be a reminder of the blood and sweat I have put into training and the mutual encouragement between my husband and myself. But I worry that it would be mistaken as a display of arrogance and pride.
Thank you for any insight you may have. 
Thanks to all for the insightful responses.
To zygomartyr: I practice at a traditional taekwondo dojang. And not that it really matters, but we don’t even accept children.
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22 Responses to “Displaying martial arts belts – measure of accomplishment OR pride/arrogance?”
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What discipline are the belts from? Unless it’s something legit, like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or Kodokan Judo, don’t bother displaying them. They give Karate black belts to kids you know.
I have a closet full of earned belts. The only thing I have on display are three photos with different sensei and instructors and myself wearing our Gi’s and (latest) black belts. True accomplishment is in the knowing.
it’s all in your attitude. your intentions are good; you’re proud of what you accomplished. there’s absolutely nothing wrong or disrespectful about displaying your accomplishment.
it would be different if you were displaying them strictly for the bragging right. you know, if you had them up only so you could show them off to people. that’s wrong.
hang ‘em up…you’ve earned it.
By all means hang them. It will be a reminder for the two of you and a positive one at that. You aren’t displaying them with the intent of showing off and so I’m sure that your friends and family that may see them will know it isn’t pride or arrogance at all.
If someone sees the display and asks simply mention that your husband and yourself worked hard to earn them and it’s a part of your relationship, hence them being out; otherwise they aren’t good for anything but keep the uniform closed, as you said.
is displaying a trophies you won arrogance, or displaying you collage diploma.
you are right it is a stepping stone but it is no more arrogant or pride full to display them, then any other award or achievement you have earned or won.
there is nothing wrong with it.
while i do not display my belts anymore, all my certificates and trophies are displayed in my dojo which is located in a room inside my house. the only belt i have up there is my black belt when i’m not wearing it.
Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with displaying your belts. To me, its no different than displaying a high school or college diploma – they’re just a symbol of the hard work you put in and the accomplishment at the end. Be proud of what you’ve done.
Well the true measure of the persons you both have become cannot be completely or accurately measured by a belt display. I understand the level of commitment required to attain martial arts mastery. If it’s for the right reason, as it would appear – go ahead and display them. As a strong symbol of perseverance and dedication, properly displayed they can certainly enhance the right room.
For instance, maybe a home gym or training area?
Ones choice to display honor or integrity is never arrogance. All great martial artists display their perserverance, rather it be in material items mounted on a wall, or indomitable spirit mounted in their mind. Your accomplishments make what you are and all that surrounds you.
I don’t see a reason to display them at all. Keep them, of course, like you would keep a photo album, but displaying them only suggests you need reassurance. You should be proud of your accomplishments, but to need to put them on display tells me you are practicing martial arts for the wrong reasons. I don’t believe in putting any measure of accomplishment on display, you start to become your accomplishments and lose your sense of self.
Belt color rankings only came into use in the 1880′s, and are not part of an ancient tradition.
there is nothing wrong with displaying your belt as long as its done for the right reasons
Your intentions are pure. That is what matters. Reminding yourself of the hard work you had to do to get where you are is a reinforcement of training ethic. It also shows you where you’ve come from so that you never forget you were a white / colored belt once.
Displaying only your black belt – Pride/Arrogance
Displaying your white/colored belts – Reminder of who you are.
Best of luck and indomitable spirit in your training.
Respectully,
Joey
To some people displaying your belts can be taken in many ways. Sounds like you want to display them for the right reasons. There is nothing wrong with doing it. It has personal meaning to you. That is all that matters. Others may not understand. there is nothing you can do about that. There will always be someone around that misunderstands why we do or say something. However, does that mean that I should do or say nothing because of what others might think?….. I think not! Go for it. If you need help with the box, let me know, I designed one for a belt display in a dojo many years ago. Best of Luck!
Every stain, every frazzled thread, every rip, every discoloration on that belt reminds you of the hardship you had to endure to get where you are. Over time your black belt will become dull and moldy from the constant flow of sweat. Every time you fall to the mat or the ground, that grime sets in just a little bit deeper. In time your black belt will have turned into a dusty dull greenish red. The initial arrogance you once had as a hotshot, long gone…the belt will display both the pride you have in your work and the humility it took to get there.
So long as you don’t do it with neon lights around it that spell out "Aren’t we great?" then it’s fine. It is obviously a big part of your life together and deserves some place to show others who you are.
When I got my black belt my wife gave me a display for my certificate and my old belts hang underneath. I put it in my home office, but I did consider putting it near the front door where my daughter’s dates can see it when they come in
I’ll just hang hers there when the time comes instead.
I appreciate you earned your belts alongside your husband, but I would say displaying them openly, if I read this correctly would lean towards a bit of showing off. Of course you can display them for your own view in one room in your home, I have one room full of trophies and photos but really, it is all meaninglesss as part of the true martial journey, and non martial artists won’t know what you did to earn each belt, they will assume that anyone who does not have a black belt / sash as no good. Indeed the belts themselves show accomplishment, so you should bask in that (humbly!) I am sure you are both better for the experience, if anyone can learn that from you, then that is what worth displaying.
I don’t see anything wrong with it. I display my origional belts to always be a reminder to me that when I am teaching my students I once stood where they are now. They are not symbols of arrogance nor are they of pride but rather to help my students see that even their own Sensei went through what they are doing and was victorious. It is very humbling to look at my belts and remember how terrible I was when I was a green belt or all the years spent wearing that old crusty and faded brown belt. It helps keep my realities in check and I would recommend that everyone take a stroll down memory lane from time to time to remember that we all came from nothing to where we are today.
Its not a display of arrogance at all. IT shows that you have worked very hard to earn the black belt and that you overcame many obstacles along the way. Something to be very proud of especially if it’s a feat that you and your hubby did together. It is a display of your unity and is a metaphor for your ability to overcome life’s "tests".
I don’t think its arrogant. If taekwondo is such an important part of your life, why should you hide all of your taekwondo stuff away? Your meaning is not arrogant, but I guess I can see how it can be taken that way. When people come over then you can explain the meaning to them if you think they are getting the wrong impression.
You’ve earned it, right? Go ahead and display them. If they start to define you, maybe it’s gone too far, but by the sound of it that isn’t the case. And a little pride isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Actually, it’s all in how you display it, says Sam Gosling, Ph. D and author of Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You.
Awards for achievements placed in different locations mean different things. Sitting on a shelf, facing the entrance of a more public area (like your living area) says, "Look at what I did!" to everyone coming into the room. On the other hand, putting them in your bedroom or home office in a place that really only you would see them says, "This reminds me of what I’ve worked for."
This is an oversimplification of it all, but it should give you an idea. By the way you phrased it — your concern about appearing humble — seems to indicate you’d planned to put them someplace others would see. Instead, consider putting them in your bedroom or toward the private quarters of the house — someplace where you and your husband can see them and be reminded of what you two did together.
I almost got a belt rack to display my TKD belts. It’s more respectful than just letting them sit on top of a mini-refrigerator… I would get it to display my progress and accomplishments. Now that I take Ninjutsu it would be kind of pointless to display to get one since we only have three belts.
There is nothing wrong with pride. Display belts are just like tennis players or golfers display their trophies, that’s all. You worked hard for it, you deserved a little bit of recognition.