Belt colors and ranks reflect each student's experience and skill level. Ranks up to black belt are called "Kyu" or junior ranks, and start with 12 Kyu and end with 1 Kyu. Black belt ranks start with 1st Dan and advance to 10th Dan. Each Kyu or Dan up to 3rd Dan includes a letter grade of A, B, or C based on the student's proficiency.
Testing up to 1st Dan (black belt) may take place every six months.
White, no stripes - All students begin here
White, 1 stripe - 12th or 11th Kyu [nursery school or kindergarten students]
White, 2 stripes - 10th Kyu
Yellow, no stripes - 9th Kyu
Yellow, 1 stripe - 8th Kyu
Yellow, 2 stripes - 7th Kyu
Green, no stripes - 6th Kyu
Green, 1 stripe - 5th Kyu
Green, 2 stripes - 4th Kyu
Brown, no stripes - 3rd Kyu
Brown, 1 stripe - 2nd Kyu
Brown, 2 stripes - 1st Kyu
Black, no stripes - 1st Dan - 10th Dan
The First Test
The grade to be achieved on a student's first test depends in part on the student's age.| School Year/age | 1st Test (after 6 months) | 2nd Test (after 1 year of training) |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery School | 12 Kyu B | 11 Kyu C |
| Kindergarten | 12 Kyu B | 11 Kyu B |
| 1st Grade | 11 Kyu B | 10 Kyu B |
| 2nd Grade | 10 Kyu C | 9 Kyu C |
| 3rd Grade | 10 Kyu B | 9 Kyu B |
| 4th Grade | 10 Kyu A | 9 Kyu A |
| 5th Grade | 9 Kyu C | 8 Kyu C |
| 6th Grade | 9 Kyu B | 8 Kyu B |
| 7th Grade | 9 Kyu B | 8 Kyu A |
| 8th Grade | 8 Kyu C | 7 Kyu C |
| 9th Grade | 8 Kyu C | 7 Kyu B |
| High School | 8 Kyu B | 7 Kyu A |
| Adult (age 16+) | 7 Kyu B | 6 Kyu B |
Testing up to 1st Dan (black belt) may take place every six months.
Black Belt (Dan) Grading Standard
A black belt (Dan) grade requires a minimum number of years of training in Seigokan Goju-Ryu, depending on the student's age. A student with a middle school 2nd Dan may advance to Adult 1st Dan at age 16.| Grade | Years required and minimum rank | School year or age/years of experience in Seigokan |
|---|---|---|
| Child 1st Dan | Child 1st Kyu holder | Elementary school/More than 5 years in Seigokan |
| Child 2nd Dan | Child 1st Dan holder | Middle school/More than 2 years in Seigokan |
| Adult 1st Dan | Adult 1st Kyu holder or Child 2nd Dan holder | Age 16 or over/More than 3 years in Seigokan |
| 2 Dan | 2 years after 1st Dan issued | Over age 18/more than 5 years in Seigokan |
| 3 Dan Special terms | 4 years after 2nd Dan issued*3 years after 2nd Dan issued | Over age 22 and 10+ years in Seigokan; Over age 30 and 7+ years in Seigokan; over age 23 and 15+ years in Seigokan |
| 4 Dan Special terms | 4 years after 3rd Dan issued*3 years after 3rd Dan issued | Over age 26/more than 12 years in Seigokan*Over age 35/more than 12 years in Seigokan or over age 27/more than 19 years in Seigokan |
| 5 Dan | 5 years after 4th Dan issued | Over age 31 and 15+ years in Seigokan |
| 6 Dan | 7 years after 5th Dan issued | Over age 38 and 22+ years in Seigokan |
| 7 Dan | 8 years after 6th Dan issued | Over age 46 and 30+ years in Seigokan |
| 8 Dan | 10 years after 7th Dan issued | Over age 56 and 40+ years in Seigokan (w/recommendation by the directors) |
| 9 Dan | (recommendation by the directors) | |
| 10 Dan | (recommendation by the directors) |
Seigokan Grading Minimum Requirements
Examiners are looking for proper form, concentration, speed, power, and balance.| Grade | Kata | # of Katas | Yakusoku Kumite | Jiyu Kumite | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White/ Yellow | Child | Kihon Tsuki-No Kata or Gekisai 1 or 2 | 1 | 2 | N |
| Adult | Kihon Tsuki-No Kata or Gekisai 1 or 2 | 1 | 2 | Y | |
| Green | Child | Kihon Tsuki-No Kata or Gekisai | 1 | 2 | N |
| Adult | Kihon Tsuki-No Kata or Gekisai | 1 | 2 | Y | |
| Brown (currently 4th Kyu) | Child | Any kata | 1 | 4 | N |
| Adult | Sanchin and another kata | 2 | 4 | Y | |
| Brown (3rd Kyu-2nd Kyu) | Child | Any kata | 2 | 4 | N |
| Adult | Sanchin and another kata | 2 | 4 | Y | |
| Black (currently 1st Kyu) | Child | Uke-no-kata and another kata | 2 | 5 | N |
| Adult | Uke-no-kata and another kata | 2 | 5 | Y | |
| Black (currently 1st Dan) | Child | Uke-no-kata and another kata | 2 | 5 | N |
| Adult | Uke-no-kata and any other kata | 2 | more than 5 | Y | |
| Black (currently 2nd Dan) | Child | Uke-no-kata and any other kata | 2 | 5 | Y |
| Adult | Uke-no-kata and any other kata | 2 | more than 5 | Y | |
| 3rd Dan | Adult | Uke-no-kata and any other kata | 2 | more than 5 | Y |
| 4th - 5th Dan | Adult | Uke-no-kata and any Goju-ryu kata (except Kihon Tsuki-no, Gekisai 1 and 2, Sanchin, and Tensho)*(and analysis of two kata applications) | 2 | more than 5 | Y |
| 6th - 7th Dan | Uke-no-kata and two other katas (except Kihon Tsuki-no, Gekisai 1 and 2, Sanchin, and Tensho)*(analysis of three kata applications) | 3 | Not required | N |
Seigokan USA Goju-Ryu Belt Colors
White, no stripes - All students begin here
White, 1 stripe - 12th or 11th Kyu [nursery school or kindergarten students]
White, 2 stripes - 10th Kyu
Yellow, no stripes - 9th Kyu
Yellow, 1 stripe - 8th Kyu
Yellow, 2 stripes - 7th Kyu
Green, no stripes - 6th Kyu
Green, 1 stripe - 5th Kyu
Green, 2 stripes - 4th Kyu
Brown, no stripes - 3rd Kyu
Brown, 1 stripe - 2nd Kyu
Brown, 2 stripes - 1st Kyu
Black, no stripes - 1st Dan - 10th Dan
