Kyu Testing Information

Karate is a journey and life-long pursuit of physical, mental, and spiritual growth.  Attaining belts and ranks should never be your goal in karate.  Instead, you should strive to achieve the mental discipline of karate.  Your Sensei will decide when you are ready to test for belt.  An invitation to test is no guarantee of a promotion to the next level.

Your attitude, spirit, etiquette, commitment to the dojo and your training, and respect for others are a big part in the consideration of every belt/rant test.  Everyone’s unique physical ability will also be taken into consideration.  

For kids, the ranking consists of white belt (where you start), followed by yellow belt, yellow belt with one stripe, and yellow belt with two stripes.  From there you may test for the purple belt, purple belt with one stripe, and purple belt with two stripes.  Next, you may test for the blue belt, blue belt with one stripe, and finally blue belt with two stripes.

Typically there is a minimum of three months between your yellow belt tests, six months between your purple belt tests, and six to nine months between your blue belt tests.  

After your final blue belt test, you may be invited to test for your Red Belt (the junior equivalent of black belt in our system).  

For adults, the testing process and timing is much the same, but the belts are different.  As an adult student you will start at 9th Kyu (white belt, no stripes).  From there you may test for the white belt with one stripe, and then the white belt with two stripes.  Generally there should be at least three months of continuous practice in between these tests.

Next you may test for your 6th Kyu (green belt).  From there you may continue and test for the next two levels of green belt:  5th Kyu and 4th Kyu.  Generally there should be at least six to nine months of continuous practice in between these tests.

Next you may test for your 3rd Kyu (brown belt).  From there you may continue and test for the next two levels of brown belt:  2nd Kyu and 1st Kyu.  Generally there should be at least nine months of continuous practiced in between these tests.

After a student has achieved 1st Kyu, there will be a one year waiting period before being invited to test for black belt.  Contiuous practice is of utmost importance.  The student will first become a Shodan Ho (*black belt in training) and later receive the full Shodan rank and certificate.  

Following Shodan, students may test for progressively higher degrees (dan) of black belt, with appropriate waiting and training periods in between each successive rank. 

Kyu Testing Costs

16 & Older