The Time It Takes to Progress Through Belt Levels in Karate

if you are considering learning karate, you are probably wondering how the different belt levels work and how you progress through them. Most people who hear of karate immediately think of the famous black belt, a prestigious symbol of the proficient and dangerous martial arts practitioner. However there are many colored belts to precede the black belt, and many months or even years of training separating them, depending on the student and the school.

  1. History

    • Colored belts are given to students of a karate school as they continue to advance and gain new strength, skills and endurance. According to an article published by Don Cunningham on the Edo Machi-kata Taiho Jutso web site, the use of colored belts to represent one's rank, or Dan, in karate began in the 1920's when Gichin Funokoishi, a karate master from Okinawa, Japan, came into contact with a school of judo that used the belt system. Being simpler than previous forms of ranking, Gichin Funokoishi adopted the use of belts into his own karate school, and from then on colored belts became a powerful symbol of karate and other Japanese martial arts.

    Colors

    • As students grow in their capabilities and rise through the levels of karate (kyu), and their original white belt is dyed to darker colors to symbolize their journey from being a pure beginner (white belt) to the full accumulation of knowledge (black belt). Student's belts progress from white to yellow, green, blue, brown, and finally black. According to an article published in the magazine "Black Belt" in 1995, William Durbin states that other colors have been added to karate over the years, including brown, red and white, full red and double-white. Depending on the style or school of karate, the colored belts may be awarded in a different order.

    Progression

    • The length of time it takes for a student to go from white belt to black belt depends on both the dedication and ability of the student, as well as the style and teachings of the sensei. According to the American Shotokan Karate Alliance, the most basic techniques of karate can be taught within three to four months, but it takes an average of about three years for a student to progress through kyu levels to a black belt. Children as young as seven years old can begin studying karate, and karate teachers will guide students as to when they are ready to take the test for their next ranking.

    Black Belt Levels

    • Becoming a black belt is not the final accomplishment of a karate student -- in fact once you become a black belt, there are many other levels, known as the Dan ranks, which you can progress through. According to the University of Connecticut JKA Karate Club, it can take between three and five years of training to reach the first degree of black belt (shodan), one year to reach the second degree of black belt (nidan), three years to reach the third rank of black belt (sandan), and at least four years to reach the fourth degree (yondan). Becoming a teacher after this may take a student a further two to ten years of study and training.