Grading System

There are 10 grades before Black Belt and 10 after. The grades before Black are known as Kyu grades, while the ones after are called Dan grades. There is a popular misconception among Karate students during the early years of Karate training, that being a Black Belt is where Karate ends. In fact, the reality is quite the opposite. Getting a Black Belt is where you truly begin to study Karate.

Originally, there were no grades in Karate at all. It was decided though that grading was a useful technique that helped keep students motivated, especially in the early years of training.

Belt Colour	Rank	Kata
	10th Kyu jukyu	Fukyu-gata Ichi
White belt is were everyone must start. A student wearing a white belt has much ahead, but all journeys are started with a single step.
	9th Kyu kukyu	Nihanchi Shodan
	8th Kyu hachikyu	Nihanchi Nidan
	7th Kyu shichikyu	Nihanchi Sandan
	6th Kyu rokkyu	Pinan Shodan
	5th Kyu gokyu	Pinan Nidan
	4th Kyu yonkyu	Pinan Sandan
	3rd Kyu sankyu	Pinan Yondan
	2nd Kyu nikyu	Pinan Godan
	1st Kyu ikkyu	Passai Sho
First Kyu is an interesting grade. The student is only one step away from becoming a black belt. So as a lesson in humility the student is required to wear a white belt for the duration of this grade. Perhaps it is also to remind us of where we have come from.
	1st Dan shodan	Passai Dai