Belt Ranking

• Register for Belt Grading

Belt ranking at Simba Dojo is based on a variety of factors.  Students are observed and graded both while in class and in formal testing with a panel of judges.  Factors that are considered important is Skill level, knowledge, etiquette, character, discipline and perhaps most important is spirit.  Once you are ranked you can be assured, we have done our best to do so accurately and void of personal biases through our panel process.  Proper grading is important as you enter tournaments comparing your skill against individuals of like rank from other schools.  This keeps competitions safe and fair.  If at one point in time you move your studies from us and enter a new dojo, we want you performing at the same level or better than those students with the same rank.  More importantly, we consider proper belt ranking important in your preparatory journey toward your black belt.  The black belt is most often the goal of students who come to our dojo to learn karate.  Simba Dojo is a preparatory school of sorts, and we see our job to help prepare you for the black belt exam.  But before we even talk about that we need to talk about the journey.  Karate is not simply a pastime, nor can you excel at it with passive effort.  It is something that you must work at and if you expect improvement and advancement then you must put in the effort and the time.  In essence, our belts are not given out or bought.  

Our ideal student is not the rank hungry person who expects a black belt in a year or two.  In fact, we only have one or two evaluations per year.  We are looking for students who has a passion for the martial arts with the desire to improve oneself every day.  Karate is not something that is mastered in a short time and is often considered a lifetime pursuit.  There is always something to learn or improve upon.  Our ideal student has a good heart and loves to work with other people.  Students of our dojo also become our friends with family-like compassion for each other as we work and play.  If you have patience, willingness to work and put forth your best effort, you are our ideal student!

The Japanese term for a grade or rank is kyu.  Kyu designations are given before earning your first black belt then you will get a dan designation.  There are 10 kyu in the system and it is ordered as if counting down to your black belt.  So, the 10th kyu being a lower rank to the 9th kyu and so on until you get to the 1st kyu which is below the 1st dan black belt.  See the chart at the end of this article.

When you first sign up for classes with Simba Dojo you come in with a white belt but no grade.  You do not become an official member of our dojo until you have earned your 10th kyu.  To obtain this rank, you must attend class to learn the basic techniques show effort and spirit in the dojo.  You will then be allowed to attend a grading session with us for the opportunity to advance in rank.  When signing up for a grading there is no guarantee that you will get a promotion.  Promotion will be based on what you bring to the table.  There is a small fee that is required to secure your spot in the grading exercise.  You are not buying your grade (or belt).  We use the grading fees to pay for the expenses associated with the activity.

Grading with Simba Dojo is done with a panel of judges.  The panel may consist of higher ranked students, instructors from other dojos or outside members of the community.  All promotions will be endorsed by Sensei CC the head instructor of our dojo.  We have always used a panel to keep our grading fair, unbiased and consistent with other dojos.  If you are promoted in rank with Simba Dojo you will receive a certificate and a belt if different from what you already own.  

Our certificates are among the most beautifully crafted in our martial art community.  We import a specialty paper from Japan that is both beautiful and translucent.  Half of the certificate is written in Japanese Kanji and the other half in English. Each student will have his or her name translated and written in Katakana, a Japanese writing system for foreign words and names.   The certificates are hand stamped with our dojo seal using a special Chinese cinnabar ink.  There is a great deal of time spent on each individual certificate and is the pride of our dojo.

This year we have special commemorative belts custom made for us to celebrate the year of the dragon.  Each belt has a special label sown into the belt to designate the year you earned your rank along with the associated Chinese Zodiac.    Our next testing date will be in September, so if you plan to test, please sign up now as I have to craft the certificates and have the belts custom made ahead of time.  There is a limit of 10 spots for the grading first come first serve.  Don't worry though, we can make some exceptions to this rule if need be.

To register for testing go here.