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Grading Standards

Zenkoku Budō Kyōkai logo
Zenkoku Budō Kyōkai logo

ZENKOKU BUDŌ KYŌKAI - Grading Standards and Time in Grade

It is the goal of the Zenkoku Budō Kyōkai to afford all eligible members the opportunity to participate in the Dan Certification process. Applicants whose current rank was not awarded by a Zenkoku Budō Kyōkai member school/organization, whose rank cannot be verified by a reference, or whose documentation cannot be produced for review, etc., may be required to provide additional karate rank related background information at the request of the Zenkoku Budō Kyōkai Technical Committee.

RANK (DAN) CERTIFICATION TESTING AND PROCEDURES

The following is the testing protocol and statement of requirements for the Zenkoku Budō Kyōkai 'Dan Rank' certification program. The goal of the program is to encourage a broad understanding of the techniques and different schools, which make up modern Karate-do. The Zenkoku Budō Kyōkai 'Dan certification program' is based upon the requirements of the World Karate Federation program. It is not the intent of the Zenkoku Budō Kyōkai Dan Certification program to replace or promote any particular style of Karate-do.

Each candidate for certification must hold a karate rank and validate that ranking by presenting: a copy of their rank certificate and/or verifiable evidence of the candidate’s current karate rank, a Zenkoku Budō Kyōkai Karate Dan Certification application and/or other required documentation, if requested, to the Zenkoku Budō Kyōkai for consideration.

Note that instructor teaching ranks are separate from Dan level ranks and have a different award criteria.

Shodan (1st Dan) Level:

Nidan (2nd Dan) Level:

Sandan (3rd Dan) Level:

Yondan (4th Dan) Level:

Godan (5th Dan) Level:

Rokudan (6th Dan) Level:

Nanadan (7th Dan) Level:

Hachidan (8th Dan) Level:

The higher ranks of 7th Dan and above could be awarded at the discretion of the Board of Directors and/or Chairman.

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