Grade System
All karatékas have the possibility to pass belt examinations. All examinations proceed on basis of the valid examination order. The examiners are licenced by TSTKA. The grade of difficulty increases from step to step. Black belt examinations have to be passed in front of an examination commission.
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Mudansha: pupils' grades (deshi) |
| 1.) Mukyu: Lower grade |
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Pupils who did not yet acquire a grade | Lower grade |
| 2.) Gekyu: Lower grade |
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9th kyu (white belt - kukyu) | Lower grade |
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8th kyu (yellow belt - hachikyu) | Lower grade |
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7th kyu (orange belt - shichikyu) | Lower grade |
| 3.) Chukyu: Intermediate grade |
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6th kyu (green belt - rokukyu) | Intermediate grade |
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5th kyu (blue belt - gokyu) | Intermediate grade |
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4th kyu (blue belt - yonkyu) | Intermediate grade |
| 4.) Jokyu: Upper grade |
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3rd kyu (brown belt - sankyu) | Upper grade |
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2nd kyu (brown belt - nikyu) | Upper grade |
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1st kyu (brown belt - shokyu) | Upper grade |
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Yudansha: master (sensei) |
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1st - 4th dan (black belt) | Shodan, Nidan, Sandan,
Yondan The Sandan is also termed as "fuku shidoin" (assistent trainer), who supports the Yondan (trainer, "shidoin") during independent training. |
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Kodansha: grandmaster (shihan) |
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5th - 10th dan (black belt) | "Renshi", expert
of practise resp. scholar of training: Godan, Rokkudan "Kyoshi", expert of instruction: Shichidan, Hachidan "Hanshi", ideal scholar: Kudan, Judan The titels "Renshi", "Kyoshi", and "Hanshi" are exclusively awarded by the chief of the style ("Soke") of the respective style / school ("ryu"). Normally these titels are awarded by Okinawan or Japanese grandmasters and are constituting a high award. |