Kyu Belt Ranking System
Grade	Belt Colour	Minimum time in grade before next test	Classes
New Student	White	Two months	16
10th Kyu	Yellow	Two months	16
9th Kyu	Orange	Two months	16
8th Kyu	Blue	Two months	16
7th Kyu	Purple	Two months	16
6th Kyu	Green	Three months	24
5th Kyu	Green White Stripe	Three months	24
4th Kyu	Green Black Stripe	Three months	24
3rd Kyu	Brown	Six months	48
2nd Kyu	Brown White Stripe	Six months	48
1st Kyu	Brown Black Stripe	Six months	48
Kyu ranks are authorized by local instructor and Certificates are awarded from Hombu Dojo

Black Belt Ranking System
Rank	Years of training	Minimum Age
Sho Dan Ho	One Year
Sho Dan	Minimum of three years	16
Ni Dan	Two years after Sho Dan	18
San Dan	Three years after Ni Dan	21
Yon Dan	Four Years after San Dan	25
Go Dan	Five years after Yon Dan	30
Roku Dan	Six years after Go Dan	36
Nana Dan	Seven years after Roku Dan	46
Hachi Dan	Eight years after Nana Dan	51
Years in rank requirements may be waived on a case by case basis.

Teaching Titles
Title	Minimum Required Rank
Shidoin-Ho	San Dan
Shidoin	Yon Dan
Shihan Dai	Go Dan
Shihan	Nana Dan
Instructors do not receive teaching titles by virtue of rank. Teaching titles are tested independently based on teaching status, knowledge and skills.

Soke (Head Master)	Similar to Judan. Normally there is only one Judan per system or style but there are exceptions. If there are three Judan in a Ryu then one is called the Supreme Head Master. Soke is also called Grandmaster. Soke in Japanese means "Source-House".
Meijin and O-Sensei	Meijin in Japanese means "Name-Person" and O-Sensei means "Great Teacher". These two titles are not very common and translated into English mean "Master of Masters".
Kaiso or Shiso (Founder)	The founder of the Ryu (Style). His or her rank is beyond Judan (10 Degree) and usually wears a white belt that is double in size. Kaiso in Japanese means "To Open-Group".
Meikyo Kaidan	Basically, this is a head master way of saying "I have taught you everything that I know". Meikyo Kaidan is very rare.
Sempai	Students refer to their seniors as Sempai
Sho Dan (First Degree)	All basic techniques have become conditioned reflexes. Kata have been repeated so often that he or she can go through them while carrying on a conversation. 1000 hours of training is a rule of thumb for the first dan. +40% for physical condition and mental attitude and up to +60% for previous training.
Ni Dan (Second Degree)	A Ni Dan is a Sho Dan who no longer needs to impress people with the fact that he or she is a black belt.
San Dan (Third Degree)	The San Dan has had several years experience as a black belt and is at his or her peek in fighting. He or she is usually involved in some form of instructor training program at this time. This is usually the minimum rank at which the "Okuden" (Advanced Teachings) are revealed.
Yon Dan (Forth Degree)	Yon Dan is generally the minimum rank for an instructor.
Go Dan (Fifth Degree)	Go Dan is the average rank of an instructor.
Roku Dan (Sixth Degree)	Roku Dan are senior instructors. By this time he or she is in his 40's and has mastered all of the techniques of the Ryu (Style). He or she is not as fast as the Sandan, but much more dangerous. A Roku Dan is normally the head of the instruction department of a large dojo. This is the last rank where promotion is based on technical ability.
Shichi Dan (Seventh Degree) Hachi Dan (Eighth Degree) Ku Dan (Ninth Degree)	These ranks are Master Level. Dignity is the single most important characteristic of a Shichi Dan, Hachi Dan, and Ku Dan. White hair is the rule. A young Master is a contradition in terms. A Go Dan and Roku Dan can impress you with a technique, but a Shichi Dan to Ku Dan can impress you with a look.
Ju Dan (Tenth Degree)	Normally, there is only one Ju Dan per system or style but there are many exceptions. A Ju Dan should be an inspiration to the Ryu (Style). An age between 60 to 80 is about right. He can sit in Seiza (Kneeling position) and lecture forever. In non-family Ryu there will be no further Ju Dan promotions after the death of the founder.