The belt system of So-kyokushin karate, also known as Kyokushin karate, is a ranking system that is used to indicate a practitioner's level of skill and knowledge in the art. The belt system is hierarchical, with each level indicating a higher degree of proficiency.
The belt system in So-kyokushin karate follows the traditional kyu/dan system, which is used in many Japanese martial arts. The kyu grades, represented by colored belts, are the lower ranks, while the dan grades, represented by black belts, are the higher ranks.
The kyu grades are as follows, in ascending order:
White Belt - New student, your training has just begun, you are working towards your first grading.
Orange Belt (10th Kyu) - Students should hold this grade for a minimum of 3 months before being considered for the next grade.
Orange Belt with stripe (9th Kyu) - Students should hold this grade for a minimum of 3 months before being considered for the next grade.
Blue Belt (8th Kyu) - Students should hold this grade for a minimum of 3 months before being considered for the next grade.
Blue Belt with stripe (7th Kyu) - Students should hold this grade for a minimum of 3 months before being considered for the next grade.
Yellow Belt (6th Kyu) - Students should hold this grade for a minimum of 3 months before being considered for the next grade.
Yellow Belt with stripe (5th Kyu) - Students should hold this grade for a minimum of 3 months before being considered for the next grade.
Green Belt (4th Kyu) - Students should hold this grade for a minimum of 6 months before being considered for the next grade.
Green Belt with stripe (3rd Kyu) - Students should hold this grade for a minimum of 6 months before being considered for the next grade.
Brown Belt (2nd Kyu) - Students should hold this grade for a minimum of 12 months before being considered for the next grade.
Brown Belt with stripe (1st Kyu) - Students should hold this grade for a minimum of 12 months before being considered for the next grade.
After achieving the level of 1st kyu, a practitioner is eligible to test for black belt, or dan grade. The dan grades are as follows:
Shodan (1st Dan) - Senpai
Nidan (2nd Dan) - Senpai
Sandan (3rd Dan) - Sensei
Yondan (4th Dan) - Sensei
Godan (5th Dan) - Shihan
Rokudan (6th Dan) - Shihan
Shichidan (7th Dan) - Shihan
Hachidan (8th Dan) - Shihan
Kudan (9th Dan) - Shihan
Judan (10th Dan) - Shihan
Essentially Godan and above are ALL Shihan. The other titles you may know such as: Hanshi, Kancho and Sosai are all titles given for various reasons.
Hanshi is essentially Master of Masters, or The Masters Teacher. This title is sometimes given if they are the head of an organization or have trained for a considerable length of time.
Kancho is not actually a karate term. Kancho just means Director. In business that would be someone like a CEO.
Sosai is President/Founder and is reserved for ONLY 10th Dan.
It's important to note that the requirements for testing and promotion can vary between different organizations and styles within So-kyokushin karate. Generally, promotion is based on a combination of factors, including skill level, experience, knowledge, character, and contributions to the art. Additionally, the time required to progress through the ranks can vary, as each individual's progression is unique and dependent on factors such as training frequency, dedication, and ability.
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