BASIC LEVELS (KYU)
Members shall observe the following ranks before achieving Black Belt level.
Mukyu (Shoshinsha) or 10th level—————–Solid white belt/first 10 weeks
Kyukyu or 9th level —————————-White belt/yellow stripe/10 weeks
Hachikyu or 8th level—————————–White belt/black stripe 15 weeks
Nanakyu or 7th level—————————-Yellow belt/black stripe/15 weeks
Rohkkyu or 6th level—————————Orange belt/black stripe/15 weeks
Gohkyu or 5th level——————————Green belt/black stripe/15 weeks
Yonkyu or 4th level——————————–Blue belt/black stripe/15 weeks
Sankyu or 3rd level——————————Purple belt/black stripe/15 weeks
Nikyu or 2nd level———————————–Red belt/black stripe/15 weeks
Ikkyu or 1st level *——————————Brown belt/black stripe/15 weeks
PHASING – Black belt/white stripe. This is the time period prior to black belt APPRENTICE testing during which study, experimentation
and research of all kyu (levels) is done.
–DAN OR MASTER LEVELS–
YUUDANSHA
Shodan (Sempai/senior student/apprentice-eligible)
Black Belt 1st degree is achieved after 1 year training in black belt patterns.
Nidan (Assistant Sensei-eligible)
Black Belt 2nd degree after 1 ½ to 2 years of achieving Shodan.
Sandan (Sensei-eligible) master of weapons
Black Belt 3rd degree after an additional 1 ½ to 2 years after achieving Nidan.
Yondan (Renshi-eligible)
Black Belt 4th degree (master apprentice); after an additional 1 ½ to 2 years
after Sandan.
KOUDANSHA
Godan (Kyoshi-eligible)
Black Belt 5th degree (mastership-eligible); an additional 2 years after Yondan.
Rohkudan (Kyoshi-eligible)
Black Belt 6th degree (full master); after an additional 1 to 2 years after Godan.
Nanadan (Shihan-eligible)
Black Belt 7th degree (Doctor apprentice/master-teacher); after 2 years of Rohkudan.
Hachidan (Shihan-eligible)
Black Belt 8th degree (Doctor/master –teacher/co-creator); after 30 years of service.
Kudan (Hanshi-eligible)
Black Belt 9th degree (Lead Master –Teacher/next in line as grandmaster/head of system)
Judan (Shihan Cho/Saiko Hanshi/grandmaster-eligible)
Black Belt 10th degree (an honorary degree bestowed as the inheritor of the tradition)
Soshi/Soke/O’Sensei
No degrees are awarded, for it is reserved only for one grandmaster upon the death of
another, for a life time of work.
Kancho (usually reserved for the Soke)
President/Head of the family or tradition; overseer in charge of preserving the tradition.
All ranking is a measure of the person’s character, skills and a life-time of devotion to our tradition.