As you may already know, the various colored belts worn in karate signify a practitioner's rank. A beginner starts as a white belt, and works towards earning a black belt. In Shotokan, there are nine levels of colored belts before black, which are called kyu ranks. At the club, there five color belts covering these nine kyu ranks. Different schools may use more colors, or belt stripes to separate these ranks. Less colors means fewer new belts to buy for broke college students, right? Kyu ranks count backwards, so you begin as a white belt at ninth kyu, and each new promotion brings you closer to first kyu. At 1st kyu, you may then test for black belt.

What you may not know is that there are also nine grades of black belt in Shotokan. These count upwards, and are called dan ranks. So, after reaching 1st kyu and being promoted to black belt, you start as a first degree black belt - a first dan, also called shodan. After that, you become a second dan, third dan, and so on. In most karate organizations, ranks beyond 3rd-5th dan are political posts, and promotion to those ranks is based on your contribution to the karate organization and management of your own school and region, as well as advanced karate research. But, you probably don't need to worry about that just now.

Perhaps the most useful aspect of rank is its potential to serve as a goal setting system, depending on how you manage your progress. Learning new techniques and new body dynamics is best done in the small increments served up by a reasonable ranking system. With a standardized syllabus, you can more easily set yourself a goal of improving just what you will need to achieve the next rank. The "discrete" skill levels defined by rank can also serve as guidelines for instructors. Rather than correcting you on every mistake you make, or correcting you inconsistently, your instructor can consistently critique you in a focused fashion according to what he or she needs to see during a test.

Earning a new color belt means passing a kyu examination. At a rank exam you typically stand with other students testing for the same rank before a board of examiners, and perform various techniques required for the new rank. After the test, the panel of instructors issues you a pass/fail grade. As you progress in rank, the requisite techniques become more numerous and complex, and you must also demonstrate a deeper understanding of the dynamics involved. A kyu test is broken down into the three areas of training; kihon, kata, and kumite, each of which you are tested on. The UMN Club administers its own kyu exam at the end of every semester, which is optional and open to any club members. Check the Class Calendar for this semester's exam schedule.

Typically, ranks are standardized and regulated through a national governing organization for Shotokan. Today there exists many different Shotokan affiliations within the United States, and ranks granted by one are not recognized by another. At the time you take a kyu exam, you usually pay a membership fee to the organization, and recieve a paper rank certificate in the mail when you pass. The UMN Club conducts its rank testing through the American Amateur Karate Federation (AAKF).

For a more in depth discussion of any questions you may have on rank, head over to The F.A.Q.

Kyu Syllabus and Belt Colors

Shown in the table below are the various belt colors the UMN Club ascribes to Shotokan ranking. Listed alongside the belts are the corresponding kyu ranks. Each rank is a link which will summon a pop-up window containing the requisite kihon techniques, kata, and kumite drills for that level.
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White Belt		Orange Belt		Green Belt
	9th Kyu		8th Kyu 7th Kyu		6th Kyu
Purple Belt		Brown Belt		Black Belt
	5th Kyu 4th Kyu		3rd Kyu 2nd Kyu 1st Kyu		Shodan Nidan Sandan Yondan Godan