BTF Belt Ranking Requirements

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.

• ku Kyu means 9th Kyu White Belt.

  Everyone starts here.

• Hachi Kyu means 8th Kyu � Yellow Belt.

  1 month study at the school as a White Belt. Student must be able to perform basic exercises, basic blocks, basic punches and basic katas taught in class.

• 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.

  3 months study at the school as a Green 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.

• Go Kyu means 5th Kyu Purple Belt with one Stripe.

  4 months study at the school as Blue belt. Student must be able to perform Seisan, Seiuchin, Naihanchi Katas reasonably well. 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. Student must show better Kumite techniques and have control of techniques during Kumite.

• Yon Kyu means 4th Kyu Purple Belt with two Stripes.

  4 months study at the school as a Purple I belt. Students must be able to perform Seisan, Seiuchin, Naihanchi, Wansu 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.

• San Kyu means 3rd Kyu Brown Belt with one Stripe.

  4 months study at the school as a Purple II belt. Student must be able to perform Seisan, Seiuchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto and Toku Mini No Kun 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.

• 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.

• Ni Kyu means 2nd Kyu Brown Belt with two Stripes.

  4 months study as a Brown I belt. Student must be able to perform Seisan, Seiuchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto, Kusanku Toku Mini No Kun and Hachichi Gaeshi Katas reasonably well. Compete in Kumite and Kata contest. Student must pass a written test on the Martial Arts.

• Ik Kyu means 1st Kyu Brown Belt with three Stripes.

  4 months study as a Brown II belt. Student must be able to perform Seisan, Seiuchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto, Kusanku, Sanchin, Toku Mini No Kun, Hachichi Gaeshi and Chikaro Tonfa 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.

• 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, Kusanku, Sanchin, Sunsu, To Ko Meni No Kun, Hachichi Gaeshi, Chikaro Tonfa and Kusanku Sai 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.