Kanzenki Shotokan Karate: belts and grades

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Grades and belts

Karate is something of a personal journey - everyone will have their own starting point, their own abilities and limitations, and their own goals and aspirations. Getting the next belt is not the aim of karate, but it is useful - as a measure of progress, as an incitement to improve, and as a recognition of commitment and achievement.

The following chart shows the levels and their belt colours, as well as the kata associated with that level.

Belt	Level & training time	Kata for grading

	10th kyu white belt beginner	-
	9th kyu red belt about 16 training sessions (about 2 months)	Taikyoku Shodan
	8th kyu orange belt another 20-24 training sessions (about 3 months)	Heian Shodan
	7th kyu yellow belt another 20-24 training sessions (about 3 months)	Heian Nidan
	6th kyu green belt another 20-24 training sessions (about 3 months)	Heian Sandan
	5th kyu purple belt another 20-24 training sessions (about 3 months)	Heian Yondan
	4th kyu purple belt + white stripe another 20-24 training sessions (about 3 months)	Heian Godan
	3rd kyu brown belt another 20-24 training sessions (about 3 months)	Tekki Shodan
	2nd kyu brown belt + white stripe another 20-24 training sessions (about 3 months)	Bassai Dai
	1st kyu brown belt + 2 white stripes another 20-24 training sessions (about 3 months)	Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai Jion or Empi
	1st dan black belt - shodan another 40-48 training sessions (about 6 months)	Any previous + Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai Jion or Empi
	2nd dan black belt - nidan at least another 2 years training	Any previous + Bassai Sho, Kanku Sho, Tekki Nidan, Gankaku or Hangetsu
	3rd dan black belt - sandan at least another 3 years training	Any. Katas at this level might include Sochin, Nijushiho, Tekki Sandan, Chinte, Jiin or Chinte, etc.
	4th dan black belt - yondan at least another 4 years training	Any. Katas at this level might include Meikyo, Gojushiho Dai, Unsu, Wankan, etc.
	5th dan black belt - godan at least another 5 years training	Any
Some schools (or sometimes it's down to the individual) will have bars on their black belt to indicate their dan-level, but this is not necessary. The times between training at black belt (yudansha) level can vary greatly, it does not always keep strictly to the years indicated, but these are generally a minimum. Shodan usually takes between 2 and 3 years; most Godans will probably have been training for around 20-30 years to reach that level. Again, it differs between schools and styles, but many systems will go up to 10th Dan - though this high level will be extraordinarlity rare and not usually seen in someone less than about 70 years old or more!