Belts Grades of Kempo Ryu

The Belt grades of Kempo Ryu remain within the original Five (5) Kyu Grade system of Kempo. However in lieu of the teaching syllabus and methods of teaching every Kyu Grade has a Kyu Level within it. This is explained below and is used to separate more advanced students within each Kyu Grade.

Juniors receive the Kyu Level in the form of a white stripe through their belt prior to being eligible in wearing a solid (solid colour) Kyu Grade Belt. Adults will wear a solid Kyu Grade belt and then will need to qualify for a senior Kyu Grade in the way of a coloured belt with a black stripe through the belt. Once this is achieved the student may then progress to qualify for the next Kyu Grade. Qualifying for a Belt basically means attendance in class, technical & mental skill & maturity for the grade being targeted at, via a physical and mental grading system.

Note: Belts are earned through physical training and development of mind and spirit not just by attending a number of classes. A formal grading process does take place in the art of Kempo Ryu to ascertain far more than technique and attitudes. True students of Karate Do understand the value of formal gradings and respect far more than the belt once they partake in a formal grading. They begin to understand who they are as people and what they can achieve in Life and it begins to open the window of what true Karate training is teaching them - it teaches them about Life and themselves

Shodan

1st Dan

Sempai Title

Nidan

2nd Dan

Sempai Title

Sandan

3rd Dan

Sensei Title

Yondan

4th Dan

Sensei Title

Godan

5th Dan

Shihan Title

Rokudan

6th Dan

Shihan Title

Nanadan

7th Dan

Shihan Title

Hachidan

8th Dan

Kancho Title

Kyudan

9th Dan

Kancho Title

Judan

10th Dan

Kancho Title

The Black Belt in Kempo Ryu (like most styles) is the pinnacle of one's achievements in Karate training, however when one does achieve this grade he/she will begin to realise this is truly the beginning.

Whilst Shodan is achieved the learning starts from the beginning where the new Shodan (Yudansha - Black Belt holder) begins to now refine and tailor the art from the beginning into a journey of perfecting the application.

It is not easy being a Black Belt, as being one throws the responsibility to person that every action is timed, thought of and practiced over a thousand of times - every action. When we mean every action we mean 'every' action including in the outside world, at work, at school, with friends, with family.

It is tough as a true Black Belt measures and refines constantly everything they do. This is NOT to say or give an illusion that Black Belts are not infallible, they are human and mistakes will always occur. It does mean that true Black Belts are constantly refining themselves and constantly working on self improvement and that of others around them.

Time frames from grade to grade are as follows, depending on students attitude and determination in perfection of technique and character. Bear in mind these time frames are guidelines only and not set in policy, the truly important part is the learning and understanding of the martial art. Minimum approximate timeframes are:

White

to

Yellow

6 months

Yellow

to

Orange

6 months

Orange

to

Blue

6 months

Blue

to

Purple

6 months

Purple

to

Brown

6 months

Brown

to

Shodan

6 months

(Brown

to

Shodan-Ho)

Shodan

to

Nidan

1-2 years

Nidan

to

Sandan

2-3 years

Sandan

to

Yondan

3-4 years

Yondan

to

Godan

4-5 years

Godan

to

Rokudan

5-6 years

Rokudan

to

Nanadan

6-7 years

Nanadan

to

Hachidan

7-8 years

Hachidan

to

Kyudan

8-9 years

Kyudan

to

Judan

9-10 years

Students who are under the age of 17 years can be graded up to the rank of Shodan Ho, When they reach the age of 17 years they may attempt the rank of Shodan. This will distinguish the rank of junior Black Belts from the senior Black Belts (who become an instructor 1st Dan etc).

Note: Students who are 14 years old and above will qualify to participate in a Shodan Ho grading, and when they achieve the age of 17 years old and above may attempt a Shodan (1st DAN) grading. Students under the age of 14 years can only achieve a Junior Shodan Ho (Black Belt with a white stripe) until they can qualify (14yrs plus) for a Shodan Ho grading. Maturity and experience plays a large role in wearing a Black Belt let alone wearing any shade of Black Belt being a Probationary Black Belt or a Full Black Belt.

Whilst our intention is to get as many of our students to the Black Belt level it must be understood a Black Belt is a special grade therefore, skill, age and maturity plays important side to this grade. At times people may witness individuals wearing a Black Belt and lacking is skill and/or age and/or maturity and in same cases all three are lacking. Our goal is to teach everyone that the standard of Black Belt cannot be reduced to accommodate the individual rather the individual needs to step to the mark to the standard of what a Black Belt is capable.

Black Belts will have the above grading periods as a minimum however in the Kempo Ryu organisation only one individual will hold the rank of Kancho and the other ranks of Hanchidan and below will keep their title of Shihan. When the Kancho of the organisation is promoted to a higher grade (i.e. Kyudan or Judan) the other Shihan(s) may be promoted to a higher rank of Hanchidan. Therefore, the rank of Judan will be awarded to the head of the organisation when the grade requirements have been met. This rank will be the only rank within the organisation and all other Black Belt holders will be eligible to achieve a rank up to the Kyudan grade.

Eligibility for Dan grades involves continual training, skill, teaching and a supportive contribution to the Kempo Ryu Way and to that of the overall Martial Arts community.