What do the different belts mean?
As students progress, their improvement, and our expectations of them, is recognized by ranks. Each rank requires a test. A students rank is displayed by the belt they wear. The number of ranks, the skills required for it, and the type of belt worn at that level varies with the organization. Some groups use the same belt system for adults and children. The Japan Karate-do Genbu-kai does not. The ranks are divided into kyu and dan ranks. Kyu ranks are lower and begin at 9 and count down to one. Dan ranks come after kyu ranks and begin at one. First dan (Shodan in Japanese) in an adult rank is a first degree black belt. The kyu ranks are: Rank Child Belt Adult Belt 10 White White 9 Yellow White with One Stripe 8 Yellow one stripe Orange 7 Yellow two stripe Orange with One Stripe 6 Purple Green 5 Purple one stripe Green 4 Purple two stripe Green 3 Blue Brown 2 Blue one stripe Brown 1 Blue two stripes Brown Dan Ranks Red Black Ranks give students goals to shoot for and one way to measure t
