THREE STAGES OF ADVANCING
We do not hold 'tests', 'promotions', or 'graduations'. The real testing takes place every day during class, where members are not only watched for how well they learn Karate movements, but also their attitude, motivation, and personal growth. We hold Shinsa quarterly, where those who meet the criteria may advance in rank.
1) SHINSA: Judging; examination; investigation. Your abilities are evaluated and you are certified the appropriate rank.
2) HAPPYO: Announcement; publication of the Shinsa results. A time to congratulate those who have advanced in rank. Most obvious indications of the results are publication in the newsletter, and the new rank itself, which may now be worn.
3) KAISETSU: Explanation; interpretation; commentary on the Shinsa. An evaluation of one's strong points and weaknesses. This gives the student a gauge as to improvement, and should be viewed as a valuable learning experience.
* Important Note on Video Clips:
Many of the video clips displayed were taken at shinsa where Black Belts and Black Belt candidates tested for higher rank. Each candidate goes through dozens of katas, at least 89 two-man ippon defenses, kobudo (Okinawan weaponry), several rounds of kumite (single and two-on-one sparring), and tameshiwari (wood breaking). Some kata clips may show hesitations, bobbles, even a bad move or two, all of which were addressed at kaisetsu.
* To the viewer: These candidates shown are tournament champions many times over. You may not see tournament-quality performances on all of these clips; shinsa more becomes a test of stamina and endurance. With this in mind, the video clips still give a fair representation of how each kata is performed.
Underbelt (Kyu) Ranks:
Kata: Ten-no-kata 5-count, Taikyoku Sho Dan, Taikyoku Ni Dan, Taikyoku San Dan. Students can earn 1, 2, or 3 black stripes on their white belt as they advance. Chest patch must be worn to test for 9th Kyu.
Kata: Ten-no-kata 4-count, Heian Sho Dan, Heian Ni Dan. Minimum training time: 3 months. Students may also receive a white stripe (9th Kyu-ho) - low version of the rank, or a black stripe (9th kyu-dai) - high version of the rank.
Kata: Heian San Dan, Heian Yodan. Minimum training time: 3 months. Students may also receive a white or black stripe on this rank.
Kata: Heian Go Dan. Minimum training time: 3 months. Students may also receive a white or black stripe on this rank.
Kata: Bassai Dai. Minimum training time: 6 months. Tournament requirement: should have at least one. Students may also receive a white or black stripe on this rank.
Kata: Tekki Sho, Tekki Ni. Minimum training time: 6 months. Tournament requirement: should have at least one. Back patch must now be worn. Students may no longer receive a low or high stripe on their belt, as this full Kyu-rank has a stripe.
Kata: Bassai Sho, Jutte. Both kata defend against bo attacks. Bo is taught at the next rank. Minimum training time: 6 months. Tournament requirement: should have at least one.
Kata: Tekki San, Ni-Ju-Shi. Weapons: Demura no Bo, Shushi no Bo. Minimum training time: 6 months. Tournament requirement: must have at least one.
Kata: Chinte. Weapons: Naihanchi no Sai, Kihon Sai, Kumi-sai (attacks) 1-10. Minimum training time: 9 months. Tournament requirement: must have at least two.
Kata: Hangetsu, Jiin. Weapons: Kihon Tonfa, Pinan no Nunchaku, Demura kumi-bo, Kumi-sai (attacks) 11-20. Minimum training time: 12 months. Tournament requirement: must have at least two.
Not a formal rank. The last stripe is removed at Sensei's judgment. The belt now shows fully Brown, alerting the student to prepare for a Black Belt test at next Shinsa.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Kyu" and "Dan" Ranks
"Kyu" indicates 'class', or 'grade'. "Dan" indicates 'level', or Americanized as 'degree'. The following article appeared in the Autumn 1997 edition of Do Gakuin News:
The difference between Black Belt (Dan) ranks and underbelt (Kyu) ranks can be related to class grades in school. When a child is in first grade s/he is called a first grader. The child has not yet learned all the curriculum for first grade. On completing first grade the child becomes a second grader, even though s/he has not yet learned second grade material. Being a second grader actually means the child has completed first grade and is now working on second grade material.
Kyu (under Black Belt) ranks in Karate work much the same way. A student begins training and is given White Belt. This means the student is now working within the White Belt curriculum. On successful performance during Shinsa (rank examination), the student is awarded Yellow Belt and may now work within that curriculum.
Sho Dan-ho is the first Black Belt rank (apprentice first degree, or level). This only means the student has graduated Brown Belt and now begins working on Black Belt material. After a minimum of one year's training the Black Belt then tests for Sho Dan (full first degree) on this Black Belt material. Unlike Kyu ranks and Sho Dan-ho, where the student is now first working on material within that rank, a Sho Dan has earned the rank and is a full first degree. To simplify the difference: an underbelt wears the rank they're working on, full Black Belts wear the rank they have achieved.
