| BTF Belt Ranking
Requirements |
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Rank promotions or "gradings" are mostly
held by the dojo sensei during the early Kyu ranks
and by a board of three or more black belts from
the fifth Kyu test and higher.
Karate is divided into two main grades or ranks
which are called "Dan" and "Kyu"
grades. The Dan grades refer to 1st degree black
belt (Sho Dan) and above. Kyu Grades refer to
the colored belts. The Dan grades rise upwards
from 1st to indicate the higher skill, but in
kyu grades, it is the reverse; thus 1st kyu immediately
precedes 1st Dan.
All promotion tests are formal tests, meaning
clean, pressed white gis (uniforms) will be worn
and all karate etiquette will be observed. In
Isshinryu Karate, everyone starts off as Ju Kyu
or 10th Kyu White Belt and the requirements for
promotion listed below.
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| Ju Kyu means 10th
Kyu White Belt. |
| Everyone starts here.
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| Ku Kyu means 9th
Kyu - one stripe on White Belt. |
| One month study at
the school as a 10th Kyu White Belt. Student must
be able to perform basic exercises taught in class.
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| Hachi Kyu means
8th Kyu Yellow Belt. |
| 3 months study at
the school as a white with one stripe belt. Student
must be able to perform Seisan Kata reasonably well
and 15 basic techniques as taught in class with
recommended reading of Isshinryu Karate. Student
will perform the 9 basic Isshinryu Karate kicks
and pass a written test on Isshinryu Karate. |
| Shichi Kyu means
7th Kyu Green Belt. |
| 3 months study at
the school as a yellow belt. Student must be able
to perform Seisan and Seiuchin Katas reasonably
well. Must be able to Kumite reasonably well showing
a variety of techniques. Must be able to pass a
written test on karate. |
| Roko Kyu means 6th
Kyu Blue Belt. |
| A minimum of four
months study at the school as an orange belt. Student
must be able to perform Seisan, Seiuchin, Naihanchi
and Wansu Katas reasonably well and will write a
paper on the history of karate. This rank is assigned
to those individuals of good moral character who
have been accepted as students by the school and
have completed the above requirements. Must pass
a written test on Isshinryu Karate and the Martial
Arts. Student must show better Kumite techniques
and have control of techniques during Kumite. Recommended
reading: "The Weaponless Warriors" by
Richard Kim. |
| Go Kyu means 5th
Kyu Green Belt. |
| Four months study
at the school as a blue belt. Students must be able
to perform Seisan, Seiuchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, and
Chinto Katas reasonably well. Student must compete
in Kumite contests in the Dojo and in tournaments,
write a paper on karate etiquette, be a member in
good standing of the Dojo. Student must pass a written
test on Isshinryu Karate. |
| Yon Kyu means 4th
Kyu Brown Belt or Purple Belt. |
| Four months study
at the school as a green belt. Student must be able
to perform Seisan, Seiuchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto
and Sanchin Katas reasonably well. Student must
compete in Kumite and Kata contests. Student must
write a paper on "What Karate Means to Me".
To be promoted to this rank, a person must have
sound knowledge of the origin of Isshinryu Karate
and its development. Student must know a little
of the Okinawan terminology and color and order
of the Isshinryu Karate ranking system. Student
must be well versed in karate etiquette and have
regular attendance at the Dojo. Student must pass
a written test on "The Weaponless Warriors"
by Richard Kim. Recommended reading: "The Greatest
Salesman in the World" by Og Mandino. |
| San Kyu means 3rd
Kyu Brown Belt. |
| Four months study
as a 4th kyu. Student must be able to perform Seisan,
Seiuchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto, Sanchin, and
Kusanku Katas. Compete in Kumite and Kata contest.
Student must Must pass a written test on the Martial
Arts. Student may also be asked to perform board
breaks, 1 or 2, with both hand and foot techniques.
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| Ni Kyu means 2nd
Kyu Brown Belt. |
| Four months study
as a 3rd Kyu brown belt. Student must be able to
perform Seisan, Seiuchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto,
Sanchin, Kusanku, and Kusanku Sai Katas reasonably
well. Student must compete in Kumite and Kata contests.
Student must have good Dojo attendance and pass
a written test on Isshinryu Karate and its origin.
Student may also be required to perform board breaks.
2 or 3 boards with both hand and foot techniques
of the students choosing. |
| Ik Kyu means 1st
Kyu Brown Belt. |
| Four months study
as a 2nd kyu brown belt. Student must be able to
perform Seisan, Seiuchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto,
Sanchin, Kusanku, Kusanku Sai, and To Ko Meni No
Kun No Dai Katas reasonably well. Student must compete
in Kumite and Kata contests. Student must be a member
in good standing with the Dojo. Student must be
a capable and willing assistant in teaching karate
classes. Student must be able to judge Kumite and
Kata contests under supervision of instructors.
Student must write a paper on Isshinryu Karate.
Student will be asked to break at least 2 or 3 boards
with both a hand and foot technique of his/her choice.
Student must be of good moral character. Student
must be at least 16 years of age and have good,
regular attendance in class. |
| Sho Dan means 1st
Degree Black Belt. |
| Student must have
a minimum of 2 years and 3 months of continuous
study of Isshinryu Karate. Must be of age to compete
with adults.. Must be able to perform Seisan, Seiuchin,
Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto Sanchin, Kusanku, Kusanku
Sai, To Ko Meni No Kun No Dai and Sunsu Katas with
total command of moves and knowledge of interpretation
of each. Student must know the history of Isshinryu,
completely. Student must be able to defend, orally,
Isshinryu history, Okinawan terminology and fundamental
principles of Isshinryu Karate. Student must have
a sound knowledge of all lower rank requirements.
Student must be well versed in karate etiquette.
Student must understand promotional standards and
their restrictions. Must write a paper on a subject
of their choice. Must pass a written test on any
subject in the Martial Arts. Must be able to Kumite
one on one, two on one, and three on one. Must know
30 vital points and self - defense techniques for
15 different attacks. Must be able to do board breaks,
4 with hand and 4 with kicking techniques. Must
be able to extinguish a candle with a punch and
a kick of their choice. |
| Ni Dan means 2nd
Degree Black Belt. |
| One year of continuous
study as a sho Dan. More knowledge of Isshinryu
Karate. More complete knowledge of 8 Empty Hand
Katas and 3 weapons katas. Must have achieved and
furthered Isshinryu Karate. Must have actively supported
and advanced Isshinryu Karate, either nationally
or locally. Student's attitude must be constant
and predictable. Student must be of good moral character
and know the meaning of humility. Student must submit
a two page paper on how attitude and humility go
together with karate etiquette and must be able
to defend the paper, orally. Black Belt must show
self - defense techniques, 20 holds, and one technique
each for 40 vital points. |
| San Dan: 3rd Degree
Black Belt |
| Two years study as
Ni Dan. Must know 8 empty hand kata plus 5 weapons
kata, Kusanku Sai, Tokomeni no Kun, and Chie Fa.
Must have furthered the advancement of Isshinryu
Karate. Other special requirements include oral
exams on Isshinryu etiquette and attitude, dedication
and importance of practice. Must have additional
knowlege and deeper understanding of Sanchin Kata.
Must know 50 vital points. |
| Yo Dan: 4th Degree
Black Belt |
| Four years study
as San Dan. Must know 8 empty hand Kata plus 6 weapons
kata: Kusanku Sai, Tokumeni No Kun, Chie Fa, Chata-Yara
no Sai, Urashi Bo, and Shishi no Kun. Must know
80 vital points and be able to demonstrate techniques
to each. Other requirements will be conveyed to
applicant after acceptance to test for Yo Dan. Support
Isshinryu Locally and Nataionally. Typed paper on
"Loyalty". |
| Go Dan: 5th Degree
Black Belt |
| Four years study
as Yo Dan. Must know all 14 Isshinryu Kata. Must
have 14 years of continuous study in Isshinryu Karate.
Must know 90 vital points and be able to demonstrate
techniques to each. Must write a 4 page paper on
"Patience, Itegrety and Loaylty". Other
requirements plus special permission of promotional
board. Oral test on "Book of Five Rings"
and "Greatest Salesman in the World".
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| Roku Dan: 6th Degree
Black Belt |
| To attain this rank,
applicant's history in Isshinryu is presented to
board 6 months before test date. Must meet all previous
requrements. Oral exam on Isshinryu history, origin
of karate, Okinawan/Japanese terminology, and American
history of Isshinryu since 1960. Must have furthered
Isshinryu Karate nationally and written articles
for newspapers and their organization's newsletter.
Must know 100 vital points with application. |
| Nana (Shichi) Dan: 7th Degree
Black Belt |
| Must be nationally
recognized, head of organization or leader in a
recognized Isshinryu organization. Must be active
in national Isshinryu Karate events. |
| Hachi Dan: 8th Degree Black
Belt |
| A recognized leader
and exemplary member of the Isshinryu community.
A recognized teacher of teachers. |
| Ku Dan: 9th Degree Black Belt |
| A recognized leader,
organizer, teacher of masters and Sensei of masters. |
| Ju Dan: 10th Degree Black Belt |
| Has furthered the teachings of
Isshinryu Karate to a level of unquestionable accomplishments
and recognition.
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