Belt	Rank
Black	Godan (5th Dan)
	Yodan (4th Dan)
	Sandan (3rd Dan)
	Nidan (2nd Dan)
	Shodan (1st Dan)
Brown	Ikkyu (1st Kyu)
	Nikyu (2nd Kyu)
	Sankyu (3rd Kyu)
White	Yonkyu (4th Kyu)
	Gokyu (5th Kyu)
	Rokkyu (6th Kyu)
	Shichikyu (7th Kyu)
	Hachikyu (8th Kyu)
	Unranked

SKA karateka only wear traditional white, brown, and black belts (obi). Karateka should never wash their belt, so the colors represent practicing for a long time and symbolize experience. Also note that SKA’s highest rank is Godan because that was the highest rank ever given by Shotokan founder Gichin Funakoshi.

After practicing for a time, one will be encouraged to test for rank for free. SKA rank is an assessment of an individual’s proficiency in practicing the art of karate-dō as taught by our seniors.

Karateka strive to exhibit a strong, honest mentality inside and outside the dojo. When they do so, others can see and feel they are individuals of the highest caliber regardless of the color of their belts.

It is important to understand that rank should not be thought of as a scale with which to compare karateka, but rather an honest evaluation from seniors of each individual’s realization of his or her potential. After being given a rank by seniors, one must continue to practice regularly and maintain he or she truly deserves that rank and the honor of representing those seniors.