Ranking

[Butch Voss]

For my own research I'm looking into when the belt ranking system was started in the Okinawan islands? I'm looking for a date as to when and by who may have used this first.
Butch

[Webmaster]

The belt system we know today was not started in Okinawa. It was a creation of Jigoro Kano, the founder of Kodokan Judo. I was later adopted by other martial arts, I believe starting with Funakoshi Sensei (Shotokan Karate) and later just "caught on" with everyone else as a means to measure progress.

[Butch Voss]

Webmaster,
Sir, I already know this. What I'm looking for is when and who started the ranking system in Okinawa. I've read all the more resent materal but there is no mention of the ranking system's date or when it started.
Butch