Promotion and Grading
10th Kyu
Yellow Belt
(12 and under)
- Standing basics
- Tenno kata
- Ippon kumite: outside block, down block, rising block
- Self defense: back bear hug
- Good attendance, good etiquette
- minimum 20 classes total
9th Kyu
Orange Belt
- Standing basics
- Moving Basics
- Tenno kata, Chino kata
- Ippon kumite: outside block, down block, rising block
- Self defense: one hand wrist grab
- Good attendance, good etiquette
- if white->orange, 24 classes
if yellow->orange 16 classes at yellow
8th Kyu
Blue Belt
- Standing basics
- Moving Basics
- Heian Nidan, Heian Sandan
- Ippon kumite: shuto uke, nenoude
- Self defense: lapel grab
- Jyu kumite
- Consistent attendance, good work ethic
- minimum 32 classes at 9th kyu
7th Kyu
Red Belt
- Improved 9th and 8th kyu criteria
- Heian Shodan, Heian Yondan, Heian Godan
- Additional ippon kumite using kata
- Self defense: front choke hold
- Jyu kumite
- Can teach assigned basics to beginning students.
- Demonstrates strong and consistent practice
- minimum 32 classes at 8th kyu
6th Kyu
Purple Belt
- Improved 9th through 7th kyu criteria
- Two advanced katas including niseishi or jitte
- Additional ippon kumite with takedowns
- Self defense: any two techniques
- Improved jyu kumite
- Improved instructional skills.
- Can lead warm-ups for general class
- Emerging understanding of Karate-do
- minimum 48 classes at 7th kyu
5th - 4th Kyu
Green Belt
- Improved 9th through 6th kyu criteria
- Four advanced katas including Rohai and one of Niseishi or Jitte
- Additional ippon kumite
- Self defense: any three techniques
- Strong jyu kumite
- Can teach basics through 6th kyu
- Can lead warm-ups for general class
- Good Karate-do
- minimum 64 classes at 6th kyu
3rd - 1st Kyu
Brown Belt
- Improved 9th through 4th kyu criteria
- Six advanced katas including Rohai, Niseishi, Jitte
- Additional ippon kumite
- Self defense: any three techniques
- Strong jyu kumite
- Can teach general class
- Shows leadership in all phases of training
- minimum 104 classes at 4th kyu
Shodan
1st Degree Black Belt
- Sound knowledge of basic curriculum
- 8 advanced katas including Bassai Dai, Seienchin and Kosukun dai kata
- Ippon using bunkai for Heian 1 - 5
- Self defense: any three techniques
- Strong jyu kumite
- Sanbon kumite
- Good Instructional skills
- Excellent Karate-do
- minimum 156 classes at 1st kyu
Criteria for Shodan
Certified first degree Black Belts in the Pacific Karate
Organization must be a minimum of 18 years of age. Individuals under the age
of eighteen may achieve the rank of Shodan-ho (probationary black belt) and
re-test for Shodan at the age of eighteen. Testing criteria for Shodan and Shodan-ho
are the same. Candidates for Shodan-ho must exhibit the same exemplary attributes
of character as required for Shodan. These characteristics of Karate-do are
cultivated and displayed in the following ways:
Diligence in training. Positive attitude. Humility. Good instructional skills. Serves as an
example for students of lower rank. Supports dojo functions. Understands that
all their actions, whether public or private, reflect on their family, Instructor,
dojo, the Pacific Karate Organization and the culture of traditional Karate.
Junior Black Belt (Shodan-Ho)
Many of our junior students have outstanding physical
skills and a sound knowledge of the Shito-ryu system. Some will have trained
in traditional Karate for 10 to 12 years by the time they reach their middle
teens. These students would not have advanced without developing a solid karate
basic and a strong sense of inner discipline. Their leadership within the dojo
serves as an example for students of all ages. Young people who have attained
this high degree of expertise in Karate-do may be candidates for the rank of
Shodan-ho.
A characteristic of adulthood is the willingness to
assume the responsibility for the values of our society and culture. Maturity
is as much a function of accountability and responsibility as it is age and
experience. Values cultivated in the protected environment of the dojo, however,
must be tested and seasoned by life. While we consider Junior Black Belts to
be individuals in whom the foundation for adulthood is clearly formed, formal
recognition of a student's ability to shoulder the commitment and freedom
of adulthood is withheld until the child comes of legal age.
Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, Godan -- Second through Fifth Degree Black Belt:
Testing shall be done before representatives of the Pacific Karate-do
Shito-ryu Kai. Individuals must be able to teach all aspects of the
Pacific Karate Organization basic curriculum. In addition they must
show an emerging knowledge of the advanced training concepts of
Shito-ryu karate.
Nidan and above must be knowledgeable in all phases of dojo operation and
shall be accountable to assigned areas of responsibility within their individual
dojos and the Pacific Karate Organization. Referee certification is encouraged.
Black Belts, regardless of grade, are accountable to the principles and
values of traditional Karate-do. They serve as representatives of the
Pacific Karate Organization both on the training floor and in their community.
They carry within them the seeds of an historic culture that has been
handed from one generation to another over hundreds of years. A
true Black Belt understands that the pathway to perfection never ends.
For a Black Belt, the commitment to training is far more than personal, it is a
commitment to the betterment of mankind.