Dō GAKUIN - Ranks & Requirements

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; posting the Shinsa results. A time to congratulate those who have advanced in rank. Most obvious signs of the results are listing in the newsletter, nameplate moved up on the nafuda, 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 Dan ranks and Ikkyus 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 multiple-opponent sparring), and tameshiwari (wood breaking). Far from ideal, some kata clips may show hesitations, bobbles, even a bad move or two, all of which were addressed at kaisetsu.

* To the viewer: All 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.

Kobudo (weapons) videos are on the bottom right side of this page.

White and Black Stripes on Belts

White stripes and black stripes may be placed on belts. A white stripe lowers the rank (showing closer to the White Belt end of the spectrum), and a black stripe raises the rank (showing closer to the Black Belt end of the spectrum). These stripes cannot be used past 6th Kyu Green Belt, as 5th Kyu and above have stripes assigned to them. From this rank on a student either passes or fails.

Black stripes ("-dai") on a white belt and white stripes ("-ho") on a color belt are used when a student has shown improvement, but does not meet the standards to reach the next full kyu. This serves as a visual reminder to the student and Sensei that they need a little more polish to come up to expectation for full rank.

A black stripe on a color belt ("-dai") may be awarded to a student with exemplary test results, making the student senior in that kyu. Students who do not test very well may also be given a "-dai" rank on the belt they presently hold.

Sho Dan-ho has graduated the kyu ranks and is an apprentice Black Belt, indicated by a white stripe on the end of the belt. This stripe is removed after the apprentice passes a test on Black Belt material for full Sho Dan.

Ni Dan-ho and San Dan-ho are not apprentice ranks; the member is already a full-fledged Black Belt. Higher degrees take many years, with much improvement needed. Ni Dan-ho and San Dan-ho are used if the Black Belt is not quite ready for the next full Dan rank, but no white stripe is placed on the belt. Within a year or so, assuming there are no problems, the member's rank automatically converts to full Ni Dan or San Dan.

"Kyu" (級) and "Dan" (段) Ranks

"Kyu" (級) indicates 'class', or 'grade'. "Dan" (段) indicates 'level', or Americanized as 'degree'. The following article appeared in the Autumn 1997 edition of Dō 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 the entire first grade curriculum. 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 can now work 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 student then tests for Sho Dan (full first degree) on this Black Belt material. Unlike Kyu ranks and Sho Dan-ho, where the student now first works 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.