belt colours

[Nadine]

Hi,
I wonder why there are originally no different belt colours for ranks beneath
1-kyu ( in Japan and other countries it's still the case)?
Why did some federations change that?
If a 3-kyu or 2-kyu with a brown belt trains in a country where these belts are coloured green or blue, should he better adapt during his stay?

[Laurent]

Why did some federations change that?
Perhaps the belt colors were created to encourage the beginners.

If a 3-kyu or 2-kyu with a brown belt trains in a country where these belts are coloured green or blue, should he better adapt during his stay?
In this case, you can take a white belt...

[Blue Popovic]

No surprise in the fact that outside Japan, it is not uncommon to see kyu grades with different belts : westerners have let's say a need for immediate gratification or recognition of achievement.
Maybe we progress better if we can see (and therefore for all to see) a material, a physical reminder of our achievements. One can argue as well that it is easier for instructors to immediately see the different levels in a group they are facing...
I think the senseis that have opted for this choice rather than the Japanese way have done so out of a purely practical choice... but as we are seeing more and more uniformity of all aspects of Shorinji Kempo (one identical gi for all, etc...), I understand belt colours might be unified in the very near future too.