RYUKYU KOBUDO SHIMBUKAN ASSOCIATION

RUL E S F OR TE ST I NG
INCLUDING REGULATIONS REGARDING
KYU AND DAN GRADES AS WELL AS
ASSOCIATION TITLES
 RUL E S F OR TE ST I NG
INC LUDING REGULATIONS FOR KYU AND DAN GRADES AS WELL AS
A SSOCIATION TITLES (SHOGU) A ND LI CENSES (ME NKYO)

AR TI C LE I P U RP O S E

This document describes all matters regarding rank, titles, and testing in the Ryukyu Kobudo
Shimbukan Association. This includes all regulations for Kyu (below black belt ranks), Dan (black
belt ranks), Menkyo (licenses), and Shogo (official titles); herein after called ranks or rank.

A RT I C L E I I T YP E S O F R AN K

OVERVIEW OF RANKS IN THE OKINAWAN SHORINRYU MUKENKAI ASSOCIATION.

1. Grades below black belt or Kyu grades shall be comprised of ten ranks. They shall
start at the 5th grade and proceed to the 1st grade in a manner that descends in Kyu
as the rank ascends toward the black belt grades.

2. Black belt grades or Dan grades shall consist of ten ranks from Shodan (1st Degree
Black Belt) up to 10th Dan in an ascending manner.

3. There shall be two types of licenses (Menkyo). These are Shidoin (Licensed
Instructor) and Shihan (Master Instructor).

4. There shall be three official titles (Shogu). These shall be Renshi, Kyoshi, and
Hanshi – the traditional titles of Okinawan Karate. These titles roughly correlate to
the ranks as follows.

Renshi 6th Dan

Kyoshi 7th and 8th Dan

Hanshi 9th and 10th Dan

A RT I C L E I I I U S E O F B EL T S ( O B I )

The use of belts to designate grade or rank shall be subject to qualifications, skills,
experience, and accomplishments as designated in Appendix 1.

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 AR TI C L E I V AU T H O RI T Y TO P RO M O TE

All promotions will adhere to the standards of qualification as outlined in Appendix 1

regardless of where the promotion occurs. In the event of Kyu grades, licensed dojo
heads are authorized to judge and promote their own students up to the First Kyu. All
Dan grades, licenses, and titles shall only be issued by the President of the Association.
Form 1 in Appendix 1 is for Kyu ranks, Form 2 is for Dan ranks, and form 3 is for
special titles. Form 1 will require the name of the branch school as well as the name of
the head of that dojo to be affixed to the left hand of the rank certificate in the indicated
blanks.

A RT I C L E V AU TH O R I T Y TO J U D G E R AN K PRO M OT I O N S

The ranks issued by this association shall be judged in accordance with the standards for
examinations as described in Appendix 2. Authority to officiate the judging is as
follows:

(1) Kyu grade examinations shall be administered at the Shibu or branch school level by
the heads of the various Shibu.

(2) Black Belt grade examinations up to 5th Dan shall be administered by those who
hold a Shihan (Master) license. Examinations for grades above the 5th Dan can only
be administered by the President.

(3) In addition to degrees above the 5th Dan, all official titles will only be issued per the
judgment of the President.

(4) The licensure of Shidoin and Shihan is at the discretion of the President.

AR TI C L E V I R E GU L A R E X AM I N A TI O N S

Regular examinations will be held twice a year on the second Sundays of May and
November at the Hombu Dojo (Headquarters).

ART I C L E V I I S PE C I A L E X A M I N A T I O N S

(1) Those who cannot attend the regular examinations stipulated in the previous article
may take special examinations at the request of the dojo head concerned when
specially approved by the President.

(2) The date and time of such special examinations will be decided by the President in
each case.

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 AR TI C LE V I I I S P E C I A L AP P L I C A N TS

Those who hold ranks issued by other organizations can apply for examination to the
appropriate rank as determined by the President.

A RT I C L E I X AP P L I C A T I O N FO R E XAM I N A TI O N

Those who intend to apply for ranks shall do so as follows:

(1) In the case of Dan grades, Licenses, and Titles, applications shall use Form 4. The
applicant will need to secure the recommendation of their instructor.

(2) In the case of Kyu grades, applications shall use form 5. Those forms will be
submitted to the dojo head concerned.

(3) All dojos shall keep a record of all Kyu grades issued, including the date that the
grade was issued.

A RTI C LE X M E TH O D O F J U D G EM E N T

Judgment shall be per the standards stipulated in Appendix 2.

1. Kyu grades through the 5th Dan shall be judged based on points as follows:

(1) Points for the performance of test kata will be awarded on a range of 6.5 to 8.0.
The total points awarded will be averaged across the judging panel.

(2) Applicants with a score of 7.0 and above will pass the test. Those with a score
below 7.0 will fail the test. The second decimal point will not be taken into
consideration.

(3) Applicants may repeat each kata once during each test.

2. The following shall result in disqualification.

(1) Dropping a weapon

(2) Stopping or forgetting the same test form twice.

(3) Performing the wrong kata or committing a major error in that kata.

3. Licenses, Ranks above the 6th Dan, and Titles shall be at the discretion of the
President in accordance with the standards laid out in Appendix 2 – The Standards
of Examinations.

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A RTI C LE XI E XA M I N A T I O N S F O R T H O S E R E S I D I N G O U T SI D E O F O KI N A WA

1. Examinations for those residing outside of Okinawa Prefecture shall be conducted as

follows:

(1) Students at a Shibu (Branch or Chapter) dojo shall be tested by the head of that dojo.

(2) Students in a region or country where there is no chartered branch dojo shall take
their examinations at the Hombu Dojo.

(3) Heads of Shibu dojos shall take their examinations at the Hombu Dojo.

2. Licensed Dojo Heads may administer exams and recommend ranks for ratification by
the President up to one grade below their own. For the examination for 5th Dan
however, it shall be administered only at the Hombu Dojo with the following exception.

3. The President may dispatch a special judge that he designates for special promotions.

AR TI C L E XI I T ES T A N D R E G I S T R A TI O N F O R M S

1. Test and registration fees will be paid according to Appendix 3

2. Applicants must pay their test fees after the results are announced.

3. When tests are administered outside the Hombu Dojo, fees shall be submitted along
with the testing application form (Form 4).

A RTI C LE XI I I FE E S O U T SI D E O F J A PA N

1. Special test fees and registration fees outside of Japan will be determined by the
President if necessary.

A RTI C LE XI V P ROTO C O LS F O R T ES T S O U TS I D E O F TH E H O M BU D O J O

1. Where tests are administered outside of the Hombu Dojo, as stipulated in Article 10,
the person administering the test shall arrange for video of the test to be sent to the
Hombu for review with the testing application and recommendation. This is to aid the
President in his review of the testing application.

AR TI C LE X V OTH E R M A T T E RS

1. The President will have final judgment in any matters not covered by these Articles.

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 AR TI C L E X V I E XC EP TI O N S

1. The President may set up exceptions to these articles regardless of other stipulations.

A RTI C LE X V I I S U P P L E M EN TA RY RU L ES

1. These Articles are effective as of July 1, 2011

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Appendix 1
Minimum Requirements for Grading
Adults Children（15 yrs and under）
Kyu / Dan Ranks Minimum Period of Training Minimum Period of Training
（Minimum Age） （Minimum Age）
5 Kyu／White 4 Months（None） 6 Months（7 years old）
4 Kyu／White 8 Months（None） 1 Year（8 years old）
3 Kyu／Brown 1 Year（None） 1 Yr 6 Mnths（9 years）
2 Kyu／Brown 1 Year 4 Months (None) 2 Years（9 years old）
1 Kyu／Brown 1 Year 8 Months (None) 3 Years（10 years old）
1st Dan（Black） 2 Years（16 years old） 4 Years（12 years old）
2nd Dan（Black） 3 Yrs（18）1 yr after 1st Dan
3rd Dan（Black） 5 Yrs（20）2 yrs after 2nd Dan
4th Dan（Black） 7 Yrs（22）2 yrs after 3rd Dan
5th Dan（Black） 10 Yrs（25）3 yrs after 4th Dan
Renshi 6th Dan 15 Yrs（30）5 yrs after achieving
（1 Gold Stripe on Black Belt） 5th Dan
Kyoshi 7th Dan 21 Yrs（40）5 yrs after achieving
（2 Gold Stripes on Black Belt） 6th Dan
Kyoshi 8th Dan 28 Yrs（50）5 yrs after achieving
（2 Gold Stripes on Black Belt） 7th Dan
Hanshi 9th Dan 36 Yrs（60）5 yrs after achieving
（3 Gold Stripes on Black Belt） 8th Dan
Hanshi 10th Dan 45 Yrs（70）5 yrs after achieving
（3 Gold Stripes on Black Belt） 9th Dan
Shidoin (Instructor's Licence) At least 3rd Dan and on recommendation of the applicants Instructor
Shihan At least 5th Dan and on recommendation of the applicants Instructor

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Appendix　２
Standards for Examinations
Kyu / Dan Rank Grading Requirements

5 Kyu／White

4 Kyu／White 　Bo Kihon１～10, Sai Kihon, Maezato no Tekko,

Maezato no Nunchaku, Shushi no Kon (Sho), Chikin
3 Kyu／Brown Shita Haku no Sai (The order of teaching and testing
the aforementioned requirements is up to the
2 Kyu／Brown individual instructors.)

1 Kyu／Brown
Sakugawa no Kon (Sho), Chikin Shita Haku no Sai,
1st Dan
Akamine no Nunchaku
Shushi no Kon (Dai), Chatan Yara no Sai, Hama Higa no
2nd Dan
Tunfa
Sakugawa no Kon (Dai), Hama Higa no Sai, Kanegawa no
3rd Dan
Tinbe
Yonegawa (Yuniga) not Kon, Kojo (Kugusuku) no Sai,
4th Dan
Kanegawa no Nicho Gama
Shirataru no Kon, Tawada no Sai, Tsuken Sunakake no
5th Dan
Eku
Regular practice, quality of instruction, assistance
Renshi 6th Dan given to the association , an essay on a topic designated
by the association president.
Regular practice, quality of instruction, assistance
Kyoshi 7th Dan given to the association , an essay on a topic designated
by the association president.
Regular practice, quality of instruction, assistance
Kyoshi 8th Dan given to the association , an essay on a topic designated
by the association president.
Regular practice, quality of instruction, assistance
Hanshi 9th Dan given to the association , an essay on a topic designated
by the association president.
Regular practice, quality of instruction, assistance
Hanshi 10th Dan given to the association , an essay on a topic designated
by the association president.
Demonstration of technique chosen by the association
Shidoin
president (Bo tai Bo, Bo tai Sai Kumite) Or write an
(Instructors)
essay exam.
Write an essay on a topic designated by the
Shihan
association president.

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Appendix３

Test and Registration Fees

Kyu/Dan Rank Test Fee Registration Fee Total
５　Kyu

４　Kyu
Fees are for each individual instructor to
３　Kyu
decide.
２　Kyu

１　Kyu

1st Dan 5,000 5,000 10,000

2nd Dan 5,000 10,000 15,000

3rd Dan 5,000 15,000 20,000

4th Dan 5,000 20,000 25,000

5th Dan 5,000 25,000 30,000

Renshi 6th Dan 10,000 30,000 40,000

Kyoshi 7th Dan 10,000 40,000 50,000

Kyoshi 8th Dan 10,000 50,000 60,000

Hanshi 9th Dan 10,000 60,000 70,000

Hanshi 10th Dan 10,000 70,000 80,000

Shidoin (Instructors) 10,000 10,000

Shihan 20,000 20,000

Ryukyu Kobudo Shimbukan

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年年年年 月月月月 日日日日
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○○○○道場
道場 主 ○○○○
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様式 ２ （
段 位 称 号 證）
第第第第 号号号号
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[テキストを入力]

10
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様式 ３ （
指 導 員 ・師 範 免 許 状 ）
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たるに付付付付きききき頭書 のとおり允 許すすすす
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年年年年 月月月月 日日日日
琉球 古武道 信武 舘
会長 赤嶺 浩浩浩浩
[テキストを入力]
様式４(Form 4) 古武道
審 査 料 登 録 料
Test Fees Registration Fees

昇段・称号・免許審査申込書
Application for Karate Rank and Promotion Test

琉球古武道信武館 Ryukyu Kobudo Shim

Shimbukan
会長 赤嶺浩 殿 TO: President Hiroshi Akamine

受験者名 / Applicant’s Name: ㊞

生年月日/ Date of Birth (Y/M/D):

申請段位・称号・免許
Rank Test Being Requested
履歴書 Applicant's Information
本籍
Permanent Domicile

現住所
Present Address
Ｔｅｌ：
道場名
Dojo Name
取得年月日
現段位
Date Ranking
Present Ranking
Acquired
職業 勤務先
Profession Workplace
武暦
Martial Arts Experience

上記通り相違ございませんので、認定審査をよろしくお願いします。
I find the above application to be true and request a test for promotion in rank for the above
mentioned person.
Year Month Day
年 月 日

道場主 / Signature of Dojo Head: ㊞

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様式５(Form 5) 古武道
審 査 料 登 録 料
Test Fees Registration Fees

級位審査申込書
Application for Koudo Rank and Promotion Test

琉球古武道信武館 Ryukyu Kobudo Shimbukan

Shimbukan
殿 TO:

受験者名 / Applicant’s Name: ㊞

生年月日/ Date of Birth (Y/M/D):

申請級位
Rank Test Being Requested

履歴書 Applicant's Information

現住所
Present Address
Ｔｅｌ：
取得年月日
現級位
Date Ranking
Present Ranking
Acquired
職業 勤務先
Profession Workplace

武暦
Martial Arts Experience

上記通り相違ございませんので、認定審査をよろしくお願いします。
I find the above application to be true and request a test for promotion in rank for the above
mentioned person.
Year Month Day
年 月 日

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