White | 10th Kyu | Minimum usually 3 months and 24 lessons to 9th Kyu |
Yellow | 9th Kyu | Minimum usually 3 months and 24 lessons to 8th Kyu |
Orange | 8th Kyu | Minimum usually 3 months and 24 lessons to 7th Kyu |
Red | 7th Kyu | Minimum usually 3 months and 24 lessons to 6th Kyu |
Green | 6th Kyu | Minimum usually 6 months and 48 lessons to 5th Kyu |
Blue | 5th Kyu | Minimum usually 6 months and 48 lessons to 4th Kyu |
Purple | 4th Kyu | Minimum usually 6 months and 48 lessons to 3rd Kyu |
Brown & white stripe | 3rd Kyu | Minimum usually 9 months and 72 lessons to 2nd Kyu |
Brown | 2nd Kyu | Minimum usually 9 months and 72 lessons to 1st Kyu |
Brown & black stripe | 1st Kyu | Minimum usually 9 months and 72 lessons to 1st Dan |
BELTS
- YUDANSHA means DAN GRADES
- YUKYUSHA means KYU GRADES
- AKA OBI = RED BELT
- SHIRO OBI = WHITE BELT
- KIIRI OBI = YELLOW BELT
- OREJI OBI = ORANGE BELT
- MIDORI IRO OBI = GREEN BELT
- AO OBI = BLUE BELT
- MURASAKI OBI = PURPLE BELT
- KOI CHAIRO OBI = DARK BROWN BELT
- USU CHAIRO OBI = LIGHT BROWN BELT
- KURO OBI = BLACK BELT
Two years after testing to 1st Dan you are eligible to test for 2nd Dan. After this test you then have a minimum requirement of years that equates to the grade you are about to test for, i.e. three years more to 3rd Dan, then 4 more years to 4th Dan etc.
The cost of the grading also increase as you progress: 1st Dan is 5000 yen, 2nd Dan 6000 yen and 3rd Dan 7000 yen. In order to test for a JKF Goju-Kai Dan grade you will need to have JKF membership. This is 4000 yen for 1st and 2nd Dan and 5000 yen for 3rd Dan and above.
Examinations are not based purely on attendance and neither are they based just on ability. Under normal circumstances, the test requirements require both. Some students will overtake others, but it is still three years minimum for those with extra ability.
Shihan Paul has been teaching since 1975 and is one of the JKF Goju-Kai examiners for Europe, of which there are only three people. He is the second highest grade and examiner in Europe. Complaints from parents about their children not testing while others are will be asked not to interfere as their knowledge of Karate is of no consequence.