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Traditional Karate Ranks A brief explanation of the traditional Karate belt ranking system. The true martial arts practitioner is not worried about rank as much as acquiring skill. Too often, rank is given without the appropriate skill to justify the rank. The following ranking system should be used to clear up the ranking confusion. Remember "Rank does not equal knowledge, Knowledge equals rank". Color Belt Ranks: These ranks are used to show the progress of individual students as to their proficiency. These ranks can vary from art to art and style to style. There is no set standard to use when searching for the next color belt rank. Usually a school sets their own color belt ranking system. There is however, an attempt to keep the colors in order as from light (lowest) to dark (highest). Sho Dan Ho Black Belt: (Temporary) Should be retested after a year to become a 1st degree. If not retested rank is withdrawn. Training time may vary however, usually in Untied States terms a three year length of time is appropriate. This can translate in to about a thousand hours or more of training. Some individuals have received black belts from overseas study in a years time, but that study usually entailed two (2) to three (3) hours practice daily six days a week. 1st Degree Black Belt: Advanced student, should have a minimum of about three (3) to five (5) years training. Some traditional school may reserve this rank for an individual sixteen (16) of age or older. 2nd Degree Black Belt: Senior Student, a minimum of ten (10) years of Martial Arts training. 3rd Degree Black Belt: Senior Advanced Student, a minimum of fifteen (15) years of Martial Arts training. 4th Degree Black Belt: Skilled Martial Artist, minimum of twenty (20) years of Martial Arts training. 5th Degree Black Belt: (Renshi) Senior Skilled Martial Artist, a minimum of twenty five (25) years of Martial Arts training. 6th Degree Black Belt: (Shihan) A minimum of thirty (30) years of Martial Arts training. 7th Degree Black Belt: (Kiyoshi) A minimum of thirty five (35) years of Martial Arts training. 8th Degree Black Belt: (Hanshi) A minimum of forty (40) years of Martial Arts training. 9th Degree Black Belt: (Hanshi) A minimum of forty five (45) years of Martial Arts training. 10th Degree
Black Belt: (Soke) = (founder) A minimum of fifty (50) years of Martial Arts
training. Usually this rank is held by only one individual being the highest
rank of the style. Usually passed hereditarily from an existing style, and not
purchased. Meijin: The title of Meijin is given to those who display a knowledge and physical ability beyond the normal. This individual should be the example from which all others are judged. Not just because they have started their own "style". Very few individual hold the title of Meijin. To see an organization that has Meijin's listed in their organization care should be taken as to the truth of the title.
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