Martial Art Belts and Buckle of Truth

The white robe-like outfit for martial arts makes movement easier because it is light and loose fitting. Martial arts belts are used to represent the ranking and progress of students in martial art.

Martial arts belts consist of nine belt colors. [MA] It is widely accepted that your first belt is white and your belt signifying mastery is black. While they vary across disciplines, the colors in between signify various stages of growth and development.  [CMA] The black belt indicates the wearer is competent in a style’s basic technique. [WMAC]

The martial arts colored belt ranking system was originated by Dr. Jigoro Kano, who was Japanese and is known as the “Founder of Modern Judo” and first devised many of the concepts that are the foundation of Modern martial arts. Dr. Kano devised the colored belt system as a visible sign of a student’s progress, awarding the first “black belts” in the 1880’s. [WMAC]

It was a system put in place to reward the best students and show their progress until they attain to the highest rank after attaining a certain level of expertise.

There is “No universally accepted standard governs how the belt colors of martial art should be, each type of martial arts follows its own rules, explanations, and traditions and there are at times variations within the same type.” [MA]

Today, most forms of martial arts practice incorporate some form of colored belt ranking system to track students’ progress. [CMA]

The martial art belt is used to show ‘growth and development’ in the area of martial arts. The Buckle of Truth shows our ‘growth and development’ in standing on God’s Word [Truth] about His nature, character, Kingdom purposes, and our identity in Christ.

Buckle of Truth

“The ‘belt of truth’ was named after the belt with an apron that hung in front of the Roman soldier’s groin and lower abdomen. It clung closely to the soldier and shielded some of the most vulnerable areas of his body. Belts were used to tie up the garments so they would not get in the way while fighting.” [Rose]

Your Word is Truth. (John 17:17) “The truth of God’s word is foundational to our spiritual warfare. The man who hears God’s word and puts it into practice is likened to a house built upon a rock, which will stand against anything nature has to throw at it (Matthew 7). [Cheddie]

The man who meditates on God’s word day and night is like a tree with strong roots (Psalm 1). [Cheddie]

“If a person were to run or fight, the lower portion of the tunic would be raised up and tucked under the belt, a process called ‘girding the loins.’ In fact, the word gird means ‘to encircle or bind something with a flexible band. It encircled and bound the loose and flowing parts of the tunic to the soldier’s body so he could fight less encumbered, and it did the same for the civilian so he or she could work.” [Stedman]

“Truth is the belt that holds the believers’ armor together as well. Ultimate Truth can be found in God’s Word and in the person of Jesus Christ. (John 14:6) We must know this Truth in order to protect ourselves against our flesh, the world, and the father of lies. Truth grounds us and reminds us of our identity in Christ.” [Connect Us]

“In your hearts set Christ apart [as holy – acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.”

“And see to it that your conscience is entirely clear, so that every time you are slandered or falsely accused, those who attack or disparage your good behavior in Christ will be shamed [by their own words]. For it is better that you suffer [unjustly] for doing what is right, if that should be God’s will, than [to suffer justly] for doing wrong.”

“For indeed Christ died for sins once for all, the Just and Righteous for the unjust and unrighteous [the Innocent for the guilty] so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit.” (1 Peter 3:15-18 AMP)

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 WEB)

“Righteousness will be the belt of His waist, and faithfulness the belt of His waist.” (Isaiah 11:5 WEB)

Foundational Thoughts on the Buckle of Truth

“The soldier wore a tunic of loose-fitting cloth. Since ancient combat was largely hand-to-hand, a loose tunic was a potential hindrance and danger. A belt was necessary to cinch up the loosely hanging material. Girding up was a matter of pulling in the loose ends as preparation for battle.”

“The belt that pulls all the spiritual loose ends in is ‘truth’ or better, ‘truthfulness.’ The idea is of sincere commitment to fight and win without hypocrisy – self-discipline in devotion to victory. Everything that hinders is tucked away.” [MacArthur]

“In the ancient world girding oneself is done in preparation for strenuous activity (Pr. 31:17; 1 Peter 1:13). It is foundational to be girded with God’s truth – that Word that He has proclaimed.” [Moody]

“Satan is a liar, but the Christian who knows the truth will not be deceived.” [WEO]

“Satan is a liar, but the believer whose life is controlled by truth will defeat him. The [belt] held the other parts of the armor together, and truth is the integrating force in the life of the victorious Christian. A man of integrity, with a clear conscience, can face the enemy without fear.”

“The [belt] also held the sword. Unless we practice the truth, we cannot use the Word of truth. Once a lie gets into the life of a believer, everything begins to fall apart. For over a year, King David lied about his sin with Bathsheba, and nothing went right. Psalms 32 and 51 tell of the price he paid.” [WBC]

“We must be faithful in holding the truth of God’s word, but it is also necessary for the truth to hold us. We must apply it to our daily lives. As we test everything by the truth, we find strength and protection in the combat.” [MacDonald]

Buckle of Truth Application

“The call to gird up your loins with truth is a call to be prepared. Christians always need to be ready to defend themselves against the powers of darkness and not be caught unaware. You can be prepared by knowing Jesus and living as a person of integrity.” [Rose]

“The point of girding a belt around one’s waist is to prepare and ready oneself. To have ‘the belt buckled about your waist’ simply means: get ready for action. So, to pray on the belt of truth signifies we understand a struggle is just ahead of us, and we are preparing ourselves for the fight.” [Stedman]

“Truth is God’s view of reality. Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’ When we put on the belt of truth, His light, love, and truthfulness shine in us.” [Stedman]

Full Armor of God Scripture

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly [supernatural] places.

Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious].

So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart), and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news].

Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. (Ephesians 6:10-17 AMP)

Scripture References

Isaiah 11:5; John 3:16, 17:17; Ephesians 6:10-17; 1 Peter 3:15-18

Recommendations

Helmet of Salvation – One of 6 Pieces of God’s Armor Helmet of Salvation – One of 6 Pieces of God’s Armor – Strength with Dignity

Breastplate of Righteousness – One of 6 Pieces of God’s Armor Breastplate of Righteousness – One of 6 Pieces of God’s Armor (strengthwithdignity.com)

References 

Amplified Bible. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation, 2015.

Armor of God. Kindle edition. Rose Publishing, 2005.

Belt Basics: What a Martial Arts Belt Means. Published by Century Martial Arts [CMA] on August 21, 2018. Retrieved July 27, 2021 from  https://blog.centurymartialarts.com/martialarts/what-a-martial-arts-belt-means

Cheddie, Dr. Denver and Indira Rampaul-Cheddie. Spiritual Warfare without the Spiritual Weirdness. Kindle edition. Published by Denver Cheddie, 2019.

MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Bible Commentary. Thomas Nelson, 2005, page 1706.

MacDonald, William. The Believer’s Bible Commentary. Thomas Nelson, 2016, page 1992.

Martial Arts Belts: Everything You Need to Know. Published by Way of Martial Arts. [MA] Written by Robert. Retrieved July 27, 2021 from https://wayofmartialarts.com/martial-arts-belts

New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Purpose of the Belts. Published by the World Martial Arts Center [WMAC]. Retrieved July 27, 2021 from www.wmacenter.com/page/purpose-of-the-belts

Stedman, Rick. Praying the Armor of God – Trusting God to Protect You and the People You Love. Harvest House Publishers, Kindle edition, 2015.

The 7 Pieces of the Armor of God and How to Use Them. Written by the Editor in Chief of Connect Us. Published December 2, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2021 from https://connectusfund.org/7-pieces-of-the-armor-of-god

The Moody Bible Commentary. General Editors: Michael Rydelnik and Michael Van Laningham. Moody Publishers, 2014, page 1855.

Wiersbe, Warren B. The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete New Testament. [WBC] Published by David C. Cook, 2007, page 623.

Wiersbe, Warren B. Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament. [WEO] Published by David C. Cook, 1992, page 554.

World English Bible (WEB) by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.