Ranking system
Canada Shotokan Karate (CSK) uses a traditional ranking system established by Master Funakoshi. Students begin with a white belt and may advance through the various levels of white, brown and black belt. CSK does not award belts of other colours.
| WHITE BELT | BROWN BELT | BLACK BELT |
|---|---|---|
| Unranked | 3rd kyu (sankyu) | 1st dan (shodan) |
| 8th kyu (hachikyu) | 2nd kyu (nikyu) | 2nd dan (nidan) |
| 7th kyu (shichikyu) | 1st kyu (ikkyu) | 3rd dan (sandan) |
| 6th kyu (rokkyu) | 4th dan (yodan) | |
| 5th kyu (gokyu) | 5th dan (godan) | |
| 4th kyu (yonkyu) |
Gradings for ranks below black belt 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. Gradings for black belt are held once a year. Each grading covers all elements of Karate — kihon, kata, and kumite.
Members of CSK will be invited by the instructor to participate in gradings.
Every student has different potentials. It is important not to compare your progress with that of another. Gradings and ranks should only be used as a means by which to measure your personal improvement. There are multiple factors that are taken into consideration in awarding rank other than one’s technical level including age, time practicing, previous experience, physical condition, physical potential, personal situations, attitude toward practice, attitude toward others, concern for responsibilities, and number of special trainings.
It is the student’s responsibility to do his or her best during the grading and to accept the rank awarded with dignity and humility. The most important point is the student’s mental attitude.
All students must be current in their CSK and Dojo dues before being graded. Black belts must also be current in their Black Belt Council dues.
Generally speaking, the requirements for kyu test and shodan (first degree black belt) test are:
- Basics
- Blocks (down block, rising block, inside forearm block, hammer fist block, knife hand block)
- Punches (front punch, reverse punch)
- Kicks (front kick, round kick, side up kick, side thrust kick, stomping kick)
- Kata
- 1 required kata from the 5 Heian kata.
- Brown belts must perform Bassai, plus a favourite kata.
- Sparring
- Ippon gumite (1 time engagement match)
- Sanbon gumite (3 time engagement match)
- Special training
- Candidates for shodan must also have completed at least 1 special training. Information about special training may be found on the Canada Shotokan Karate Special Training page.