BELT RANKING AND GRADING SUBJECTS
The belt ranking colours and subjects as well as time between testing varies with different styles and clubs in karate. Karate as a whole is not unified under one system like Judo so a rank in one style is not necessarily recognized in an other style. Belt ranking is rather new to karate, being borrowed from Judo. Master Miyagi actually never gave out belt rankings and no one ever received a black belt from him. As karate became more popular, being taught in schools and universities, the belt ranking system made it easier to tell apart different levels of expertise.
Most karate schools do however follow the same principle of ten levels of kyu (student) rank and ten levels of dan (black belt rank). Some clubs have a different colour for each kyu rank, some use stripes on different coloured belts. At black belt level some schools use stripes on black belts to denote different dan rankings. Some also have checkerd red and white belts for senior black belts usually starting at sixth or seventh dan. The highest level is sometimes a solid red belt for the master of the style.
In Shorei-Kan Karate the kyu ranks have three colours of belts starting with white going to green and then brown. Stripes are sown on the belts for rankings in between the colours. Once black belt is achieved there is no dan ranking on the belt. Shorei-Kan black belts have Japanese calligraphy embroidered on their belts. On one side is their name and on the other is usually Shorei-Kan Goju Ryu and the Dojo.
BELT COLOUR
RANK
ADULT SUBJECTS TO REACH NEXT RANK
CHILDRENS SUBJECTS TO REACH NEXT RANK
MINIMUM TIME BETWEEN TESTING
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10th kyu
Fukyu Kata #1
Bunkai Fukyu Kata #1
Kumite Shodan
Fukyu Kata #1
Kumite Shodan
3 Months
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9th kyu
Fukyu Kata #2
Bunkai Fukyu Kata #1
Kumite Nidan
Fukyu Kata #2
Bunkai Fukyu Kata #2
3 Months
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8th kyu
Kata Gekisai #1
Bunkai Kata Gekisai #1
Kumite Nidan #2
Kata Geiksai #1
Bunkai Kata Geiksai #1
Kumite Nidan #1
3 Months
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7th kyu
Kata Gekisai #2
Bunkai Kata Gekisai #2
Kumite Sandan
Kihon Bo #1 / Kumi Bo #1
Kata Geiksai #2
Bunkai Kata Geiksai #2
Kumite Sandan
Kihon Bo #1 / Kumi Bo #1
3 Months
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6th kyu
Kata Gekisai #3 / Kata Sanchin
Bunkai Kata Gekisai #3
Kumite Yondan
Kata Bo Jyutsu #1
Kata Geiksai #3 / Kata Sanchin
Bunkai Kata Geiksai #3
Kumite Yondan
Kata Bo Jytsu #1
6 Months
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5th kyu
Kata Gekiha #1 / Kata Saifa
Kata Sanchin /Bunkai Gekiha #1
Kumite Godan
Rythem Bo #1 / Kihon Bo # 2
Kata Gekiaha #1
Kata Sanchin / Kata Saifa
Bunkai Gekiaha #1 / Kumite Godan
Rythem Bo #1 / Kihon Bo # 2
6 Months
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4th kyu
Complete review of all
previous subjects
Complete review of all
previous subjects
6 Months
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3rd kyu
Kata Gekiha #2
Kata Seiyunchin / Kata Sanchin
Bunkai Gekiah #2 / Kumite Rukodan
Bo Jyutsu #2 / Rythem Bo #2
Kata Gekiha #2
Kata Seyunchin / Kata Sanchin
Bunkai Gekiah #2 / Kumite Rukodan
Bo Jyutsu #2 / Rythem Bo #2
6 Months
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2nd kyu
Kata Kakuha #1 / Kata Seisan
Kata Sanchin / Kata Tensho
Bunkai Kata Kakuha #1
Kumite Nanadan
Kata Kakuha #1 / Kata Seisan
Kata Sanchin / Kata Tensho
Bunkai Kata Kakuha #1
Kumite nanadan
6 Months
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1st kyu
Complete review of all
previous subjects and
Teaching Test
Complete review of all
previous subjects
By invitation after
one year minimum
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Shodan
Kata Seipai / Kata Kakuha #2
Saifa Bunkai
Kumite Hachidan
Kata Seipai / Kata Kakuha #2
Kata Sanchin / Kata Tensho
Saifa Bunkai
Kumite Hachidan
2 Years
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Nidan
Hakutsuru / Shisochin / Sanchin
Tensho / Bunkai Seisan
Kumite Kudan / Sai Kata #1
Bo kata Cho un no kun / Kaisai
Hakutsuru / Shisochin / Sanchin
Tensho / Bunkai Seisan
Kumite kudan / Sai Kata #1
Bo kata Cho un no kun / Kaisai
3 Years
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Sandan
Kata Sanseiru
Kata Sanchin / Kata Tensho
Bunkai Kata Seisan
Kaisai
Seyuenchin bunkai
Upon reaching 18 years of age,
children will be tested for their
adult belt – ranking to be determined
by the Shihan
4 Years
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Yondan
Kata Kururunfa / Kata Suparinpei
Kata Sanchin / Kata Tensho
Bunkai Seisan / Kumite Judan
Kaisai all koriyu (Clsaaical) Kata
N/A
5 Years
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Godan
No further formal testing. Time
and contribution to karate is a determining factor
N/A
After Godan by
invitation from
Kaicho, Hombu dojo
Japan