haʊˈɛvɚ, ðɪs pɹˈæktɪs hɐz lˈɑːɹdʒli bˌɪn ɹᵻplˈeɪst ˈæftɚ ðə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi z, wɪð bˈoʊθ kəmpˈɛɾɪɾɚz nˈaʊ wˈɛɹɪŋ blˈæk bˈɛlts ænd ðɪ ˈæθliːt dˈɛzɪɡnˌeɪɾᵻd æz ˈækɐ wˈɛɹɪŋ ɐ θˈɪn ɹˈɛd tˈæsəl ˌɔn hˈɪzɔːɹhˈɜː bˈɛlt.
However, this practice has largely been replaced after the 1980s, with both competitors now wearing black belts and the athlete designated as aka wearing a thin red tassel on his/her belt.