Jump to content
  • advertisement_alt
  • advertisement_alt
  • advertisement_alt

A question about ranks...


Recommended Posts

There's something I've been wondering. At our dojo we start rank at 10th Kyu-Ho go to 10th kyu and then proceed down to 1st Kyu, then go to Shodan-Ho which is a blackbelt, but then you progress to shodan, nidan, and so on. I always thought shodan was the first black belt you got. Are you not officially a black belt until shodan? Is this like a preliminary black belt status?

There's no place like 127.0.0.1

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • advertisement_alt
  • advertisement_alt
  • advertisement_alt

We do not have the shodan-ho rank, but my understanding of those that do is that it is almost like a probationary black belt. Personally I think that defeats the whole pupose of black belt, but that's just my personal opinion.

Tokonkai Karate-do Instructor


http://www.karateresource.com

Kata, Bunkai, Articles, Reviews, History, Uncovering the Myths, Discussion Forum

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We do not have the shodan-ho rank, but my understanding of those that do is that it is almost like a probationary black belt. Personally I think that defeats the whole pupose of black belt, but that's just my personal opinion.

I agree wholeheartedly.

.

The best victory is when the opponent surrenders

of its own accord before there are any actual

hostilities...It is best to win without fighting.

- Sun-tzu

Link to comment
Share on other sites

At some schools it can be a probationary or conditional Black Belt. In order to advance to the full rank the student can be required to fulfill some prerequisites such as teaching a predetermined amount of classes or completing some other obligations. It depends on the style, but depends more on the organization or Instructor.

The best way to find out would be to ask the Instructor or a high ranking student in the class.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I also agree that Shodan Ho should not be used as a probationary rank. If there are some requirements that need to be met for a full black belt, why not just get them to wait till they have satisfied those requirements?

For us, as is traditional in our lineage, Shodan Ho is a junior rank. It is a black belt for those under 16. It is done to signify that while they have reached a certainly level, they will need to re-grade to a Senior Black Belt as an adult and show a greater theoretical understanding that is not possible to expect of a Junior.

The mind is like a parachute, it only works when it's open.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

At some schools it can be a probationary or conditional Black Belt. In order to advance to the full rank the student can be required to fulfill some prerequisites such as teaching a predetermined amount of classes or completing some other obligations. It depends on the style, but depends more on the organization or Instructor.

The best way to find out would be to ask the Instructor or a high ranking student in the class.

This is how it is done in our school, and in some others I have seen as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We use Sho-dan-ho as the rank for Jr. Black Belt.

In my school you can not promote to a full adult black belt until you are 15 years old. I start students at 8 years old...so if a student starts at 8 and progresses normally, by the time they are 12 or 13 they should know everything they need to test for sho-dan. We do not test them for full black belt by rather for sho-dan-ho instead.

The best is one of those black belts with the white stripe down the middle. When that same student gets 15, they test for sho-dan and get the regular black belt.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We use Sho-dan-ho as the rank for Jr. Black Belt.

In my school you can not promote to a full adult black belt until you are 15 years old. I start students at 8 years old...so if a student starts at 8 and progresses normally, by the time they are 12 or 13 they should know everything they need to test for sho-dan. We do not test them for full black belt by rather for sho-dan-ho instead.

The best is one of those black belts with the white stripe down the middle. When that same student gets 15, they test for sho-dan and get the regular black belt.

That's pretty much how we do it. I started at 6, got my Junior Black (which apparently is called a shodan-ho :D ) at 13, which is the minimum, and then tested for my regular at 16. I'm still not in favor of junior black or probationary black. It may as well be a different color all together.

American Kenpo Karate- First Degree Black Belt

"He who hesitates, meditates in a horizontal position."

Ed Parker

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's just not fair. I take my black belt this December, and I will have just turned 17. So I will need to retake my entire grading again a year later! As junior grades are below 18 years.

The best armour is to keep out of range.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...