It was Kano Jigoro, the fonder of judo, who implemented Dan/Kyu obi (belt) system in the late 1800's. Kano realized the need to visually distinguish between the students martial arts ranks. The belt ranking system also helped to give the student a sense of accomplishment. The original obi colors were white, brown and black.

It is interesting to note that before the obi was introduce by Kona Jigoro, he would have his students wear a colored sash tied around their kimono. Before the obi (belt) ranking, many dojos followed the Chinese titling system. You were either a student, instructor, or master. In Okinawa and Japanese Kenpo systems: Renshi (trainer), Kyoshi (teacher), and Hanshi (instructor of teachers).

The use of the hakama appeared between the 13 th and 14 th centuries. The hakama was traditionally worn by the Samurai. The Samurai were the Japanese warriors used to police the island of Okinawa . It was during Japan 's occupation of the island of Okinawa that the hakama became popular formal wear among the Okinawans.

As time pasted, the political significants of the Samurai diminished on the island of Okinawa . And the wearing of the hakama gained greater popularity among the indigenous men of the island. Many merchants began wearing the hakama for business affairs; it soon began to appear in ceremonial and wedding events.. And finally, nearly every male adopted the hakama as part of their formal attire.
It was also during this time that many martial arts schools included the hakama as official dojo attire. The use of the hakama in the dojo is intended to symbolized the spirit and seven virtues of Budo: Each pleat of the hakama represents a virtue:jin (benevolence), gi (honor and justice), rei (courtesy and etiquette), chi (wisdom and intelligence), shin (sincerity), chu (loyalty), kon (piety).

History of the Obi.

Hakama history