The History of this belt comes from the Tracy's Kenpo Karate home page
This page contains a brief history of this Kenpo Karate Kyu ranking.
Sankyu is the lowest brown belt rank in Kenpo Karate, karate and all martial arts that use the Japanese Kyu/Dan ranking. It is the first awarded brown belt and is the next rank above Green Belt. See Ikkyu for an explanation of Kyu ranking. The Japanese numbers 1, 2, 3, are ichi, ni, san, and therefore, Ikkyu (1-Kyu) Nikyu (2-Kyu) Sankyu (3-Kyu). This numbering system is followed in Kenpo Karate, with 3-Kyu being lower than 1-Kyu. Kempo, American Kenpo and Chinese Kenpo, however, do not usually use the Japanese terms. Kenpo Karate also uses the English words to avoid confusion. Thus, in Kenpo Karate, the first awarded brown belt is always Sankyu, and the belt certificate will often have the English equivalent next to it, or under it. Sankyu is a rank of skill and honor that can only be awarded by a Kenpo Karate Yudansha (one who holds a Dan rank) who has received Shodan from a Sandan. The skill and requirements for Sankyu in Original Kenpo Karate are, therefore, higher than what is required for 3rd degree brown belt in American Kenpo, and Sankyu represent the time honored tradition of the Japanese belt ranking that was originally begun in Hawaii in 1942.