SKA Rank & Grading

SKA: Shotokan Karate of America

BLACK
BELT BROWN
BELT WHITE
BELT UNRANKED
(White Belt)
Godan
5th Dan Ikkyu
1st Kyu Yonkyu
4th Kyu
Yodan
4th Dan Nikyu
2nd Kyu Gokyu
5th Kyu
Sandan
3rd Dan Sankyu
3rd Kyu Rokkyu
6th Kyu
Nidan
2nd Dan Shichikyu
7th Kyu
Shodan
1st Dan HachiLyu
8th Kyu
NOTE: The highest rank within each belt color appears at the top its column!

BLACK BELT	BROWN BELT	WHITE BELT
Godan 5th Dan	Ikkyu 1st Kyu	Yonkyu 4th Kyu
Yodan 4th Dan	Nikyu 2nd Kyu	Gokyu 5th Kyu
Sandan 3rd Dan	Sankyu 3rd Kyu	Rokkyu 6th Kyu
Nidan 2nd Dan		Shichikyu 7th Kyu
Shodan 1st Dan		HachiLyu 8th Kyu

Rank is an award of recognition presented to indicate the progress of the student with regard to both the physical and the mental aspects of Karate. All SKA students begin with a White Belt and may advance to Brown, then Black Belt. (SKA does not award belts of other colors.) Black Belt candidates have had a minimum of three-and-a-half to four years of practice and must have attended at least one Special Training. The ultimate rank achievable in Shotokan Karate is Godan, Fifth Degree Black Belt, which was the highest rank ever awarded by Master Funakoshi. SKA students should not confuse nor compare this system to various other groups that award higher black belt degrees.

Because all students have different potential it is important not to compare your progress with that of another. Grading and grades should only be used as a means by which to measure your own improvement. During the grading your examiner must take into consideration many factors when judging your performance, including your degree of expertise in the following areas:

Spiritual and philosophical knowledge
Form and technique
Correct timing
Mental and physical strength
Etiquette

As a further aid in giving a grade representative of the total person, the following guides are also taken into consideration:

Moral character
Training attitude
Length of time training
Number of Special Trainings
Age of student
Handicaps
Physical and mental potential

It is important to remember that the student has asked to be graded. It is therefore your responsibility to do your best during the grading, and to accept the rank awarded with dignity and humility.

Gradings are conducted twice a year, as near to November 10th as possible to commemorate the anniversary of Master Funakoshi's birth, and April 26th to commemorate the anniversary of his death.

All students must be current in their SKA and Dojo dues before being graded. Black Belts must also be current in their Black Belt Council dues.

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Utah SKA
Jay Deuel
October 23, 1997