9. Karate Uniform and Rank

Karate Uniform and Rank

Originally, karate training in Okinawa did not use karate uniform and a ranking system.

They trained in everyday clothes or in their underwear. Before1920s, there was no official karate uniform. The standard uniform and the belt system used in karate today were adopted the idea from Judo by Gichin Funakoshi. These two adoptions were two of the four conditions that the Dai-Nippon-Butokukai required before recognizing karate as a real Japanese martial art in 1933.

Note— In 1907, Jigoro Kano, founder of Judo invented the modern Judo uniform (Jūdōgi) and its modern belt (Obi), with only white and black belt ranks. Later the idea was adapted by many martial arts.

Group training at Shuri City 1st Elementary School, 1937
(Instructor: Shinpan Shiroma)

Karate Uniform

The Uniform used in Japanese martial arts is called Keikogi (稽古着 or 稽古衣), Keiko means practice/traning, gi means dress/clothes. The word Keiko is often replaced with the name of the Japanese martial art being practiced, such as Judo-gi (Judo uniform), Kendo-gi (Kendo uniform), Aikido-gi (Aikido uniform), Jujutsu-gi (Jujutsu uniform), and Karate-gi (空手着 or 空手衣, karate uniform). Keiko can also be replaced by Do (the way). Hence, Keikogi or Dogi have the same meaning.

Karate Rank/ Belt System

In traditional schools, there are two kinds of ranks: Kyu (級) (color-belt rank) and Dan (段) (black-belt rank). There are nine grades of Kyu (some school use ten grades), rating from 9th/10th kyu to 1st kyu), and ten grades of dan (or eleven grades if the rank of probational black belt (Shodan-ho) is used), rating from 1st dan to 10th Dan. However, Funakoshi set only five Dan(s), and some school such as Shotokai have maintained this ranking system.

In order to be promoted to a higher rank, students have to study in the time required for each belt before being allowed to test for promotion. The grading tests include three aspects of karate for each grade, called 3K(s), Kihon, Kata, and Kumite. However, to gain promotion for the high dan grades from 6th to 10th dan require years of experience, contribution, and services to karate. This may be through instruction or research and publication. Though, the Jyudan (10th dan) is frequently awarded only after a notable karate master has passed away.

Original Belt System (3 Obi/belt colors)

Ungraded— white
8th kyu— 4th kyu – white
3rd kyu — 1st kyu – brown
Dan grades (1st dan—5th dan)— black

Résumé Table— Modern Karate Rank