Seigokan USA and SF Bay Area Goju-ryu Karate-do: Grading

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.

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	First Test(after 6 months of training)	Second Test (after 6 months to 1 year of training)
Nursery School	12 Kyu B	11 Kyu C
Kindergarten	12 Kyu B	11 Kyu B
Elementary 1st Grade	11 Kyu B	10 Kyu B
Elementary 2nd Grade	10 Kyu C	9 Kyu C
Elementary 3rd Grade	10 Kyu B	9 Kyu B
Elementary 4th Grade	10 Kyu A	9 Kyu A
Elementary 5th Grade	9 Kyu C	8 Kyu C
Elementary 6th Grade	9 Kyu B	8 Kyu B
Middle School 7th Grade	9 Kyu B	8 Kyu A
Middle School 8th Grade	8 Kyu C	7 Kyu C
Middle School 9th Grade	8 Kyu C	7 Kyu B
High School	8 Kyu B	7 Kyu A
Adult (age 16 and over)	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/more than 10 years in Seigokan*Over age 30/more than 7 years in Seigokan or over age 23/more than 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/more than 15 years in Seigokan
6 Dan	7 years after 5th Dan issued	Over age 38/more than 22 years in Seigokan
7 Dan	8 years after 6th Dan issued	Over age 46/more than 30 years in Seigokan
8 Dan	10 years after 7th Dan issued	Over age 56/more than 40 years in Seigokan(requires recommendation by the directors)
9 Dan		(requires recommendation by the directors)
10 Dan		(requires recommendation by the directors)

Seigokan Grading Minimum Requirements

In Seigokan testing, examiners are looking for proper form, concentration, speed, power, and balance.

Grade		Kata	# of Katas	Yakusoku Kumite (set sparring)	Jiyu Kumite (free sparring)
White/Yellow	Child	Kihon Tsuki-No Kata or Gekisai 1 or 2	1	2	Not required
	Adult	Kihon Tsuki-No Kata or Gekisai 1 or 2	1	2	Required
Green	Child	Kihon Tsuki-No Kata or Gekisai	1	2	Not required
	Adult	Kihon Tsuki-No Kata or Gekisai	1	2	Required
Brown (currently 4th Kyu)	Child	Any kata	1	4	Not required
	Adult	Sanchin and another kata	2	4	Required
Brown (3rd Kyu-2nd Kyu)	Child	Any kata	2	4	Not required
	Adult	Sanchin and another kata	2	4	Required
Black (currently 1st Kyu)	Child	Uke-no-kata and another kata	2	5	Not required
	Adult	Uke-no-kata and another kata	2	5	Required
Black (currently 1st Dan)	Child	Uke-no-kata and another kata	2	5	Not required
	Adult	Uke-no-kata and any other kata	2	more than 5	Required
Black (currently 2nd Dan)	Child	Uke-no-kata and any other kata	2	5	Required
	Adult	Uke-no-kata and any other kata	2	more than 5	Required
3rd Dan	Adult	Uke-no-kata and any other kata	2	more than 5	Required
4th - 5th Dan	Adult	Uke-no-kata and any Goju-ryu kata (except Kihon Tsuki-no, Gekisai 1 and 2, Sanchin, and Tensho)*(requires analysis of at least two applications of the kata)	2	more than 5	Required
6th - 7th Dan		Uke-no-kata and two other katas (except Kihon Tsuki-no, Gekisai 1 and 2, Sanchin, and Tensho)*(requires analysis of at least three applications of the kata)	3	Not required	Not required