INTERNATIONAL RYUKYU KARATE ASSOCIATION GRADING SYSTEM

A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL BUDO ASSOCIATION

The Okinawan Karate Jutsu which gave rise to Karate-do had no need for grades of competence since it was a fighting system in which you either excelled or failed. Master Chojun Miyagi made this point succinctly when he said that, if a student was good enough, he did not need a mark of competence such as a coloured belt, if he was good enough he wouldn`t get one anyway.

Nevertheless, it was considered appropriate to institute a series of examinations, conducted at regular intervals during training, with the object of evaluating the student`s competence and identifying it by means of a coloured belt.

At first there were only three colours of belt: The white belt was used to denote the novice, the green belt, the intermediate, the brown belt, the advanced student. Later on, additional colours were added as the number of grading examinations increased. A typical progression of belt colours is given below:

 

10th Kyu     Red

9th Kyu      Yellow

8th Kyu      Orange

7th Kyu      Green

6th Kyu      Blue

5th Kyu      Purple

4th Kyu      Purple/Brown Stripe

3rd Kyu      Brown

2nd Kyu     Brown/2 Red Stripes

1st Kyu      Brown/ Black Stripe

1st Dan      Black Belt, 1st Level

2nd Dan     Black Belt, 2nd Level

 

There may be as few as six, or as many as ten Kyu grades in any Ryu. In order to pass from one to another, the student takes comprehensive examination based upon the techniques he has learned thus far. Those required for each grade are listed in the syllabus of the Ryu. The average time which must elapse between gradings is three months. In the case of the brown belt six months must elapse between second and first Kyu and first dan.

The black belt is a mark of competence and is usually attained with five years of joining the club. There are stages within the black belt known as the dan grades and as in Kyu grades, examinations are governed by the length of time a grade has been held. The following table is that of the world union of karatedo organisations, the governing body for world karate:

 

2nd Dan      1st Dan must be held for two years

3rd Dan      2nd Dan must be held for three years

4th Dan      3rd Dan must be held for four years

5th Dan      4th Dan must be held for five years

6th Dan      5th Dan must be held for six years

7th Dan      6th Dan must be held for seven years

8th Dan      7th Dan must be held for eight years

9th Dan      8th Dan must be held for nine years

10th Dan    9th Dan must be held for ten years

 

THEREFORE, a person who has gained his first dan at the age of 18 would, assuming that he took and passed all of the intermediate grades, become a ninth dan at the age of 62.

A tenth dan is the highest grade that can be awarded within a Ryu. The founder, or Kancho, may take this grade. Some founders consider that are beyond grades in their Ryu.

Seventh and eight dans are allowed to wear a belt that alternates red and white banded, while ninth and tenth dans wear all red belts. Since the red belt is often used to denote the complete novice, the masters return to red symbolizes the principle of karate, that he has` forgotton `all techniques and returned to the beginning.

With the grade held goes a specific title. Above sixth dan, the title Shihan ( synonym= hanshi ) is used. Between third and sixth dan the title Sensei applies. Below third dan the correct title Sempai. If, however, a first or second dan operates his own dojo, then it is correct to call him sensei. The corps of black belts withina Ryu are known as yudansha. Advancements in grade up to and including the rank of third dan are taken by examination against the syllabus of the Ryu. Above that level, they are conferred in reoginition of diligent training. The Karateka carries a record of his training in the form of a licence book. Wach time he advances a grade the book is endorsed accordingly..

 

Karate is like boiling water, if you do not heat it constantly, it will cool

 

Karate begins with a courtesy and ends with a courtesy

 

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