Gradings for Black Belts and all Dan Gradings
Senior Dan Gradings
Shodan – Title, “Sempai”
First degree: Minimum of 12 months training at least twice a week after Sho-Dan Ho. (See senior book for all requirements.)
Up to date level 2 First Aid required.
Nidan – Title, “Dai Sempai”
Second degree:
Required.
1 Minimum of two years after First Degree (Sho-Dan.).
Must average a minimum of once a week training and take/instruct at least 25 classes.
2 One hour sparring.
3 Up to date level 2 First Aid required.
4 Must be able to organise and take classes confidently.
Must be able to run classes by delegating and at the same time helping those that are delegating.
Plus one of the following:
5 Must participate in at least one outside tournament per year. (Can be any category, sparring, kata etc.)
6 Participate in at least two gradings per year.
Sandan – Title, “Sensei”
Third Degree.
Required.
1 Minimum of three years after second degree.
2 Demo, including multiple attackers (minimum of four students)
3 Must show continuous training week with Bukido.
4 Must take/teach at least 50 classes from 2nd degree grading or, Know how to independently organise and run all level grading days; Tiny Tigers, Ninjas, Above can be applied to, Dragons, Intermediates and seniors.
Plus two of the following:
1 Demonstrate all kata to a higher grade in lead up to grading. (Can be one at a time.)
2 Must run a half-hour lecture for mixed grade levels other than basic karate. for example may be on tournament rules. (At least one other black belt in attendance.)
3 Must run at least one social event.
4 Up to date level 2 First Aid required.
YONDAN – TITLE, “RENSHI”
FOURTH DEGREE:
1 More than four years after 3rd degree. This grading is also known as “apprentice master.”
3 Continuance of training (in karate) with a minimum average of once a week over the last two years.
4 Should be able to independently produce Shodans and Nidans. (from white belt)
5 Must train and live and pass on a positive attitude.
6 An essay in advance on “Your own personal journey.” “How and why we grade students the way we do and include the different teaching methods.”
The essay should include your favourite part of the Martial Arts, dislikes and who you have helped to achieve Black belt or higher. Also comment on Gichin Funakoshi teaching “Seek perfection Of Character.” Other subjects or questions may be chosen by Shidoshi or Shihan.
8 Up to date first aid level 2
Shidoshi reserves the right to grade anyone in Bukido to the standard he deems as appropriate.
Godan – Title Shihan
Fifth degree:
Required
1 More than five years after fourth degree.
2 Should be able to independently produce all students up to and including Sandans, taking the students from white belt to third degree without outside help.
3 Help to make sure all instructors are teaching the correct Bukido curriculum and being prepared to make sure everyone has the correct attitude.
4 Should have a strong insight into the financial side of Bukido .
5 On presentation day, show high level kata plus a top level weapons kata.
Shihan is an honorific title for expert, master, or senior martial arts instructors and is created using two Japanese characters: “shi” meaning example or model and “han” meaning master or exemplary practitioner.
These grading requirements are referenced from the Japanese karate organisation.
This is a very basic idea of where each age level stands compared to senior grades.
Rokudan – Sixth degree: More than six years after fifth degree.
Shichidan – Seventh degree: More than seven years after sixth degree, plus a minimum age requirement of 40 years.
Hachidan – Eight degree: More than eight years after seventh degree, plus a minimum age requirement of 50 years.
Kudan – Ninth degree: More than nine years after eighth degree, Plus a minimum requirement of 60 years.
Judan – Tenth degree: more than ten years after ninth degree, plus a minimum age requirement of 70 years. (some styles only award this grade posthumously).
Shidoshi reserves the right to grade anyone in Bukido to the standard he deems as appropriate. (except himself 🙂
These grading requirements are referenced from the Japanese karate organisation.