Rank in Karate

Kyu Test
Date:	Sunday April 20, 2014
Time:	9:00am-1:00pm
Location:	Dance Fremont Studio 4015 Stone Way N. Seattle, WA

Ranking Structure
	WHITE BELT	8th Kyu (haichikyu) 7th Kyu (shichikyu) 6th Kyu (rokkyu) 5th Kyu (gokyu) 4th Kyu (yonkyu)
	BROWN BELT	3rd Kyu (sankyu) 2nd Kyu (nikyu) 1st Kyu (ikkyu)
	BLACK BELT	1st Dan (shodan) 2nd Dan (nidan) 3rd Dan (sandan) 4th Dan (yodan) 5th Dan (godan)

In SKA, your rank indicates your level within a 13-step system. Master Funakoshi's original ranking system is still used which consists of: White Belt-5 kyus; Brown Belt-3 kyus; Black Belt-5 dans. SKA does not award belts of other colors.

Gradings to determine rank are held in November and April (the months of Master Funakoshi's birth and death). At the grading, a panel of black belts evaluates your level based on your technical ability, your age, your length of practice, special circumstances, the number of Special Trainings you have attended, and your training mentality. Whether and how much your rank increases at a grading is not as important as using the feedback from your seniors to improve your level in the future.

All SKA students begin with a White Belt (unranked) and may advance through different levels of White, Brown, and Black. The ultimate rank achievable is Godan (5th degree Black Belt), the highest rank ever awarded by Master Funakoshi. SKA students should not confuse or compare this original ranking system, maintained by SKA out of respect for Master Funakoshi, to various other groups that award different color belts or higher black belt degrees.

Grading Requirements

Kyu	Kihon*	Kata**	Kumite	Other
8th	All basics	Taikyoku or Heian kata as favorite No requested kata	Sanbon kumite Ippon kumite	Rules of conduct & etiquette from Student Manual Regular attendance at practice
7th	All basics	Taikyoku or Heian kata as favorite Heian 1-3 as request	Sanbon kumite Ippon kumite	Understand Japanese practice commands Help clean dojo Regular attendance at practice
6th	All basics	Taikyoku or Heian kata as favorite Heian 1-4 as request	Sanbon kumite Ippon kumite	Ten no kata Tekki Shodan introduction Regular attendance at practice
5th	All basics	Taikyoku or Heian kata as favorite Heian 3-5 as request	Sanbon kumite Ippon kumite	Self-defense Falling practice Regular attendance at practice
4th	All basics	Recommend Heians as favorite Heian 3-5 as request	Sanbon kumite Ippon kumite	Jiyu-ippon kumite introduction Bassai & Tekki Nidan introduction Regular attendance at practice
3rd	All basics	Recommend Heians as favorite Heian 4-5 as request	Sanbon kumite Ippon kumite	Jiyu kumite introduction Tekki Sandan introduction Attend Senior Practice Duties of dojo senior Regular attendance at practice
2nd	All basics	Recommend Heians or Tekki kata as favorite Tekki Shodan as request	Sanbon kumite Ippon kumite	Introduced to all 19 kata Gate of Heaven Contributing to dojo activities Leadership introduction Black belt duties introduction Regular attendance at practice
1st	All basics Maegeri-fumikomi	Recommend Heians or Tekki kata as favorite Bassai as request	Sanbon kumite Ippon kumite Jiyu-ippon kumite	Refine all kata through Kwanku Contributing to dojo & regional activities Practice with other dojos Lead kihon, kata, kumite at kyu test Regular attendance at practice

*Kihon: Down block, rising block, hammer fist block, inside forearm block, knife hand block, reverse punch, front punch, front kick, round house kick, side up kick, side thrust kick, crescent kick, stamping kick.

**The student is free to choose their favorite kata. The recommended kata provide guidance. If a requested kata is done as a favorite, a second kata will be chosen by the examiners from the recommended list.