Joe Rogan Experience #2561 - LL Cool J · Aired Oct 6, 2026
Claim summary · not a verbatim quotation
The tradition of martial arts belts turning black was originally due to them getting dirty and worn out from heavy usage and lack of washing.
The finding
What the evidence shows
USA Judo's promotion history dates Kano's deliberate dan-rank system to 1883 and the instruction for dan holders to wear black belts to 1886. Black belts marked rank; they did not originate as white belts turning black from dirt. LL Cool J presents the dirty-belt story here.
Read the supporting source · docs.usajudo.net ↗Quick answer & review status
Quick answer
Is it true that the tradition of martial arts belts turning black was originally due to them getting dirty and worn out from heavy usage and lack of washing?
No, not as stated. USA Judo's promotion history dates Kano's deliberate dan-rank system to 1883 and the instruction for dan holders to wear black belts to 1886. Black belts marked rank; they did not originate as white belts turning black from dirt. LL Cool J said it (matched by voice) on Joe Rogan Experience #2561 - LL Cool J, aired Oct 6, 2026, at 1:30:42. The supporting source is docs.usajudo.net, linked below.
The context belongs here.
No separately verified on-air correction is recorded for this check. That is not a claim that nobody corrected it.
- Attribution
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- Editorial context review
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- Coverage
- One selected claim from the episode
Revisions to this check
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