About Martial Arts

There are three basic Types of Martial Arts:
 

Kung-Fu is Chinese based on Animal styles developed around 15 A.D., There are no Belts in Kung-Fu so there is no such thing as a Kung-Fu Black Belt.
 

Karate is Japanese developed around 1920 and Shotokan is the oldest but there are many more. There are many types of belt rankings and Degrees at each level, with 10th Degree Black Belt being the highest.
 

Korean Karate is from Korea developed around 1946 like Tae Kwon Do & Hapkido, but there are many more. There are many belt rankings and Dans with 10th Dan Black Belt being the highest.

History
(History of Chinese Martial Arts)

Kung-Fu or Martial Arts as we translate it in the West, has a long history, going back over 5,000 years in China. To fully understand and master both the philosophy and the practice of the Martial Arts requires lifelong study and dedication, though shorter study and practice can still have life-improving benefits. People of all ages and all physical conditions can gain from studying and practicing Kung-Fu. Chinese Martial Arts combined with the philosophy became "Internal" Martial Arts.
Kung-Fu philosophy is that one should live as a vessel that contains energy yet remains in harmony with all that is around it. Kung-Fu believe that one needs to understand the Yin and the Yang, parts of ourselves, and to know when each is appropriate to the situation at hand. We need to recognize the Chi (internal force) required by a situation and to respond accordingly.
The first book of thought is the "Yi Jing" (I Ching), which is translated in the West as "The Book of Changes". This book was written in 2852 BC by Fu Xi, and was revised and reclassified by Wen Wang, the first ruler of the Zhou Kingdom in China, in 1122 BC. The book sets out in detail the guiding principles of how they apply to living one's life. The second significant written record is the "Huang Di Nei Jing" or "The Yellow Emperor's Classic on Internal Medicine". This sets out how Yin and Yang simultaneously assist and oppose each other; how Chi (energy), Jing (essence) and Shen (spirit) transform into each other and how the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water interact. The fighting techniques were to be used to defend ourselves, improve our health and emotions, and to enhance and develop our spirit.
The oldest of the martial arts is 18 hands of Lo Han and Those that have gained popularity in the west is what is now called Wushu (martial technique) or Gung Fu or Kung Fu in the West. This dates at least to around 500 AD and is credited to the Indian Buddhist monk Da Mo, who studied and taught at the Shaolin Temple in Southern China. Da Mo is known as Sardili and also as Bodhidarma, and is thought to be the author of the "Yi Jin Jing" (Changing Muscle and Tendon Classic), and the "Xi Sui Jing" that discuss Wai Dan (external) Chi Kong training for strengthening the body.
There are over four hundred kinds of Kung-Fu. Some forms resemble Karate and are extremely active, while others resemble Taijiquan (Taiji, Tai Chi) and are less physically (outwardly) active. Weapons are used in some forms of training but not all. The number of weapons used is countless, everything from pitchforks to wooden benches to long ropes with weights on the end. All Kung-Fu schools teach posture, fist attacks, foot attacks, and defense as well as forms. Kung-fu styles are classified into "Northern" and "Southern" and "inner" and "outer," but such distinctions can prove a trap since there is such a range of Kung-Fu styles and forms.

At certain times during the 20th Century, traditional martial arts practice was forbidden by the Chinese Government. By the 1950s, the martial arts were rapidly disappearing in China outside of certain small areas. Thankfully, a core of diligent students and knowledgeable instructors continued to study and train. Traditions were passed down from Master to student, and many styles were conserved. Newer "Contemporary" forms were also developed. Wushu or Kung Fu started to gain popularity in the West in the 1960s and 1970s because of Bruce Lee's films and the David Carradine television show "Kung Fu."
Today the disciplines of Wushu and Taijiquan are carried on by a younger generation of Masters, who combine the ancient philosophy and rigorous training of traditional martial arts with modern physical fitness management and health information to continue the traditions, while at the same time embracing the modern world.
Types
In this world there are many different types of Martial Arts. First there are the Family kinds handed down from fathers to siblings. Second there are the secret society type that are thought to a small, group for a purposes. Some of these have no belts and some only carry family names. Some are secret organizations as Ninjas. Some have special uniforms. but most have no belts or uniforms. Third there is the Priest, Monks, Shaolin, Buddhist, etc, who taught martial arts to their students and orders. Fourth .there is the martial art that is taught and marketed all over the world. All have some kind of ranking and all the ranking is different. There are White belts, Black belts, Brown Belts, etc. There are different kinds like Tae-Kwon-Do, Kembo, Aikido, Tai Chi, Kenpo, Judo, Kung-Fu, Jujitsu, etc. These and many more are taught world wide and everyone is somewhat familiar with them. Many of these have also been popular in the movies and magazines. The point is that we could spend days and volumes of books reading about different types of Martial Arts and still not cover all of them. Anyone who says he knows all or says one is better then the other doesn't know what he is talking about.
For the quality of the art is in the Master and not in the art itself. Many who have black belts with many degrees walk around like their invincible or think that because of their belt no one can beat them in a fight. That is far from the truth. I have seen people with no knowledge of Karate beat Black Belts with Degrees in a fight.