rank is individual and personal

[Spartacus Maximus]

In martial arts and specifically systems of East Asian origin, anyone training would agree that grade level or belt rank is entirely subjective. 

They are marks of technical skill and understanding of a specific curriculum based on the evaluation of specific individual teachers and/or seniors. At the same time, each practitioner’s progress is different, even from those of equal grade. This is why time-in-grade minimums are often used. These are also usually unique to each teacher/dojo’s instruction style.

For discussion’s sake, how many kyu or dan(or equivalent) grades does your dojo use and what is the minimum time one must train before being tested? 

Also, what was the longest time you have stayed at one level before being tested and promoted?

My instructor used 3 kyu levels(3,2,1) and then shodan-10th dan. Minimum before being told(nothing is automatic) to test are like so:

3kyu blue: 6mths

2kyu green: 8mths 

1kyu brown: 10mths

shodan black: 1 year

nidan: 2 years

sandan: 3 years…et cetera

that is provided one trains 10~12hours/week in the dojo plus outside/at home. Due to distance and irregular work and travel(and COViD prevention) my time between tests has been very long. Reached 2nd dan in early 2018 and still working towards 3rd.

[Montana]

23 hours ago, Spartacus Maximus said:

For discussion’s sake, how many kyu or dan(or equivalent) grades does your dojo use and what is the minimum time one must train before being tested? 

Also, what was the longest time you have stayed at one level before being tested and promoted?

 

In my dojo, as with my sensei and his teachings, I used these MINIMUM times between a students belt testings

10-7th kyu. Minimum of 2 months of training per belt.

6th-4th kyu. Minimum of 3 months of training per belt.

3rd-1st kyu. Minimum of 4 months of training.

1-2nd Dan. 2 years

3rd Dan. 3 years

 ETC.

Just because a student has that amount of time in doesn't mean they automatically advance. Requirements and skills must be met.

As for the longest time I have had between testings, it was 9 years from 1st Dan to 2nd Dan. My sensei left the state about 6 months after I received my 1st Dan and I had no way to advance. It took me 9 years to find somebody. 

[sensei8]

On 8/31/2025 at 12:56 AM, Spartacus Maximus said:

For discussion’s sake, how many kyu or dan(or equivalent) grades does your dojo use and what is the minimum time one must train before being tested?

Shindokan has 10 Kyu and 10 Dan levels.

Kyu minimum is 3 months to 1 year, depending on the Kyu level. Dan minimums matches said current Dan…Shodan minimum is 1 year…Godan minimum is 5 years…Nanadan minimum is 7 years.

All Testing Cycle Candidates must petition the Hombu to be considered; minimum rank doesn’t guarantee approval!!

On 8/31/2025 at 12:56 AM, Spartacus Maximus said:

Also, what was the longest time you have stayed at one level before being tested and promoted?

I was a JBB for 5  long years!! That’s a very long time for a kid!!

Edited Monday at 08:51 AM by sensei8

[KarateKen]

On 8/31/2025 at 12:56 AM, Spartacus Maximus said:

 

Also, what was the longest time you have stayed at one level before being tested and promoted?

I stayed a green belt for three and a half years, but for three of those years I was not training.  

[sensei8]

I’m at the highest rank that I can ever achieve. With that, I’ll be at Hachidan for the rest of my life!!

Yes…I know my current rank is Kudan. However, I earned Hachidan under Dai-Soke, which I embrace far more than my Kudan, which was earned under the SKKA Hierarchy, and under my very strong protest.

[Nidan Melbourne]

We have 9 Kyu + 11 Dan* (There is context)

Our Kyu Grades; you have two requirements to be eligible to grade, Training Hours and 'Tags' Awarded. Regardless of how many classes you attend in row (7pm Class then 8pm Class same day) you get credited for one. 

'Tags' you need 5 on your belt to be permitted to  attend a grading.

• 9th Kyu (White Belt) - 5th Kyu (Green Belt) -
  • 30 Classes + 5 'Tags' = 3-4 months
• 4th Kyu (Purple Belt) - 1st Kyu (1st Brown Belt) 
  • Technically the same as above, however students tend to take a lot longer at these grades. 
  • On average 50-90 Classes + 5 'Tags' = approx 12 months+ per belt 
  • This greatly depends on the student their ability to understand the material 
• Shodan-Ho (This is why i said 11  Dan above) 
  • 18  Months Time in Grade 
• Shodan (1st Dan) 
  • 12 Months TIG
• Nidan (2nd  Dan) - 2 Years TIG
• Sandan (3rd Dan) - 3 Years TIG
• Yondan (4th Dan) - 4 Years TIG
• Godan (5th Dan) - 5 Years TIG
• Rookudan (6th Dan) - 6 Years TIG
• Nanadan (7th Dan) - Judan (10th Dan) 
  • Years TIG OR 
  • Awarded for official contributions to the community.

 

[Nidan Melbourne]

10 hours ago, sensei8 said:

I’m at the highest rank that I can ever achieve. With that, I’ll be at Hachidan for the rest of my life!!

Yes…I know my current rank is Kudan. However, I earned Hachidan under Dai-Soke, which I embrace far more than my Kudan, which was earned under the SKKA Hierarchy, and under my very strong protest.

I respect the fact you would rather stay at the grade awarded by your Dai-Soke.

Were you formally assessed for Kudan or is it strictly because you became the head of the organisation? 

If I was the head of a club, I would have formally awarded you the rank of Kudan for your contributions to the community. 

A few friends of mine (who are practitioners) have joked that if I ever get to the rank of 6th Dan,  that they would promote me to 7th Dan for my work here and within' the community.

[Wastelander]

I have separate belt systems for kids and teens/adults. For my youth program, the minimum time-in-grade requirements are:

10th Kyu - White

9th Kyu - Orange/White Stripe - 4 months

8th Kyu - Orange - 4 months - 2 peer model selections

7th Kyu - Orange/Black Stripe - 6 months - 2 peer model selections

6th Kyu - Blue/White Stripe - 6 months - 4 peer model selections

5th Kyu - Blue - 8 months - 6 peer model selections

4th Kyu - Blue/Black Stripe- 10 months - 10 peer model selections

3rd Kyu - Green/White Stripe - 12 months - 12 peer model selections

That brings you to a total of a little over 4 years, at the bare minimum for someone to progress from white belt up to 3rd Kyu, and that's just the highest I allow kids to reach. After they are at least 14, they can move on to the adult curriculum at 4th Kyu if they haven't completed the youth curriculum, or they can join at, essentially, a probationary 3rd Kyu if they have completed the youth curriculum. As you can see, I also have a "peer model selections" requirement, which is how many times during the time-in-grade period I select them to come up in front of the class to be the example. I've found that this helps build confidence in the kids, and gives them an incentive to work hard in class.

The adult requirements are different, as I only have 4 Kyu grades, and 1 Dan grade:

4th Kyu - White - At least 14 years old

3rd Kyu - Yellow - 12 months

2nd Kyu - Green - 16 months

1st Kyu - Brown - 24 months - 40 teaching hours

1st Dan - Black - 48 months - 100 teaching hours - At least 18 years old

That brings you to a total of a little over 8 years to go from white belt to black belt, or potentially a total of 11 years if you progressed through the entire youth curriculum, first. You'll notice that I do require some teaching hours for 1st Kyu and 1st Dan. This is because I am a strong believer in the "when one teaches, two learn" philosophy, and I think it is good for more advanced karateka to be comfortable with at least teaching the basics. Instead of doing more Yudansha grades above 1st Dan, I simply have 1st Dan, and a Shidoin (Instructor) certification. The Shidoin certification isn't a rank, but is more like an old-school Menkyo Kaiden, and means that you have been certified to teach my entire curriculum (both the youth and teen/adult programs, as well as KishimotoDi). There is no time-in-grade requirement for this, but it is a learning and assessment process that I work out with students on an individual basis after they have achieved their black belt.

Edited 20 hours ago by Wastelander

[sensei8]

16 hours ago, Nidan Melbourne said:

Were you formally assessed for Kudan or is it strictly because you became the head of the organisation

Great question!!

At my very strict insistence, I was “formally assessed” for my Kudan. Even though I’ve always suspected that due to my being currently the Kaicho at that time, that my Kudan Testing Cycle was forthcoming one way or another whether I wanted it or not!!

Our Testing Cycles only go up to Hachidan. My Kudan Testing Cycle, at my strictest insistence, had to be a Testing Cycle that would’ve made our Dai-Soke most proud of. If at any time during my Testing Cycle that I suspected that my Testing Cycle was a “give me”, I would’ve walked out the Testing Cycle; but they tried to kill me…I was never tested so hard before in my life.

 

Edited 17 hours ago by sensei8