Here’s a handy tip for adding the necessary two or three stripes to your belt whenever you reach a level that requires that sort of distinction from the plain color of the belt.
Instead of stitching on a cross band of ribbon or material, simply reach into your tool box, pull out a roll of white PVC insulation tape, wrap that around the belt and cut off the ends to make it neat.
It sticks really well, looks very neat, and is a doddle to remove when you finally grade next and get a new ranking with that color band.
And as an example, allow me to provide a photo of my very own brown belt three, recently achieved with the surprise grading ceremony held after the Funakoshi Karate International South Africa Gushku 2011 at Oak Valley Wine Estate on the 7th of May 2011.
Pretty, isn’t it?