Chito-Ryu Karate-Do
Grading Syllabus
From Yellow Belt through to Shodan — every level mapped with the time commitment, kata, fitness minimum, and key technique focus required to progress.
White Belt · 12th Kyu → 1st Kyu · Dan Ranks
Full Syllabus
Belt by belt — what each level demands
Times shown are minimums. A stripe from Sensei is required before any grading can be scheduled.
White Belt — White Belt
Time
Entry Level
Fitness Min.
—
Kata
—
Key Basics
Introduction · Etiquette · Ready position
Other Requirements
Starting rank before 12th Kyu
12th Kyu — Yellow Belt
Time
3 months
24 lessons
Fitness Min.
5
reps
Kata
Kihon Dosa 1
Key Basics
Kick · Punch · Block · Stances · Stepping
Other Requirements
Style name · Sit in seiza · Class ritual
11th Kyu — Orange White Stripe
Time
3 months
24 lessons
Fitness Min.
8
reps
Kata
Kihon Dosa 1
Key Basics
Metsuke · Hikite · Stance revision
Other Requirements
Repeat Showa · Count to 10 in Japanese
10th Kyu — Orange Belt
Time
3 months
24 lessons
Fitness Min.
10
reps
Kata
Kihon Dosa 2
Key Basics
Metsuke · Hikite · Seiken · Shibori
Other Requirements
Name of stances in Japanese · History of Chito-Ryu
9th Kyu — Green White Stripe
Time
3 months
24 lessons
Fitness Min.
14
reps
Kata
Kihon Dosa 2
Key Basics
Metsuke · Hikite · Seiken · Shibori
Other Requirements
Refine orange belt requirements
8th Kyu — Green Belt
Time
4 months
32 lessons
Fitness Min.
20
reps
Kata
Seiten no Migi-Hidari
Key Basics
Metsuke · Hikite · Seiken · Shibori
Other Requirements
Exchange Kumite — Kamai, Target, Distance
7th Kyu — Blue White Stripe
Time
3 months
24 lessons
Fitness Min.
22
reps
Kata
Seiten no Migi-Hidari
Key Basics
Kime · Seichusen · Breathing
Other Requirements
Exchange Kumite — Kamai, Target, Distance
6th Kyu — Blue Belt
Time
4 months
32 lessons
Fitness Min.
25
reps
Kata
Kihon Dosa 3
Key Basics
Kime · Seichusen (correct target) · Breathing
Other Requirements
Exchange Kumite — Kamai, Target, Distance
5th Kyu — Purple White Stripe
Time
3 months
24 lessons
Fitness Min.
27
reps
Kata
Kihon Dosa 3
Key Basics
Kime · Seichusen · Breathing
Other Requirements
Exchange Kumite — Kamai, Target, Distance
4th Kyu — Purple Belt
Time
4 months
32 lessons
Fitness Min.
30
reps
Kata
Zenshin Kotai
Key Basics
Kime · Seichusen (correct target) · Breathing
Other Requirements
Exchange Kumite — Kamai, Target, Distance
Sensei's Discretion — From This Point Forward
From 3rd Kyu (Brown White Stripe) onward, progression is at Sensei's sole discretion. There are no fixed minimum time requirements — advancement depends entirely on demonstrated mastery, attitude, and readiness as assessed by Sensei.
3rd Kyu — Brown White Stripe
Time
Sensei's Discretion
Fitness Min.
35
reps
Kata
Kihon Dosa 4
Key Basics
Kime · Seichusen (correct target) · Breathing
Other Requirements
Exchange Kumite — Kamai, Target, Distance
2nd Kyu — Brown Belt
Time
Sensei's Discretion
Fitness Min.
40
reps
Kata
Kihon Kata 1
Key Basics
Surashi · Shime · Kikkashi
Other Requirements
Bogu Jiyuu Kumite — Defence, Timing, Footwork
1st Kyu — Brown Black Stripe
Time
Sensei's Discretion
Fitness Min.
45
reps
Kata
Kihon Kata 2
Key Basics
Surashi · Shime · Kikkashi
Other Requirements
Bogu Jiyuu Kumite — Defence, Timing, Footwork
Dan Grades — 1st Dan & Beyond
Advancement through the Dan grades is a lifelong journey of mastery, teaching, and dedication. Belt colours move from Black through Kohaku Red & White and finally to Red.
1st Dan — Shodan
Time
Sensei's Discretion
Fitness Min.
100
reps
Kata
Seisan / Niseishi Dai
Key Basics
Kiai · Posture · Zanshin
Other Requirements
Niseishi Bunkai · Bogu Shai Kumite — Shai & Multiple Attacks
2nd Dan — Nidan
Time
Sensei's Discretion
Fitness Min.
—
Kata
Bassai
Key Basics
Bunkai depth · Teaching form · Advanced Kihon
Other Requirements
Full Shodan syllabus demonstration · Demonstrate teaching ability
3rd Dan — Sandan
Time
Sensei's Discretion
Fitness Min.
—
Kata
Chinto
Key Basics
Leadership · Kata refinement · Advanced Bunkai
Other Requirements
Full Nidan syllabus · Extensive teaching experience
4th Dan — Yondan
Time
Sensei's Discretion
Fitness Min.
—
Kata
Kusanku
Key Basics
Advanced Kumite strategy · Syllabus mastery
Other Requirements
Eligible for Shidoin teaching licence · Full Sandan syllabus
5th Dan — Godan
Time
Sensei's Discretion
Fitness Min.
—
Kata
Suparunpei
Key Basics
Kata mastery · Dojo leadership
Other Requirements
Full Yondan syllabus · Senior teaching experience
6th Dan — Rokudan
Time
Sensei's Discretion
Fitness Min.
—
Kata
Full Chito-Ryu Repertoire
Key Basics
Complete kata fluency · Advanced Bunkai depth
Other Requirements
Full Godan syllabus · Many years of dedicated senior teaching
7th Dan — Shichidan
Time
Sensei's Discretion
Fitness Min.
—
Kata
Full Chito-Ryu Repertoire
Key Basics
Mastery · Mentorship · Tradition preservation
Other Requirements
Kohaku Belt — Red & White · Recognised senior authority
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8th Dan — Hachidan
Time
Sensei's Discretion
Fitness Min.
—
Kata
Full Chito-Ryu Repertoire
Key Basics
Living tradition · Custodian of style
Other Requirements
Kohaku Belt — Red & White · National / international recognition
9th Dan — Kudan
Time
Sensei's Discretion
Fitness Min.
—
Kata
Full Chito-Ryu Repertoire
Key Basics
Highest authority · Guardian of the style
Other Requirements
Red Belt · Lifetime of dedicated service
10th Dan — Judan
Time
Lifetime Achievement
Fitness Min.
—
Kata
Full Chito-Ryu Repertoire
Key Basics
Founder / Head of style designation
Other Requirements
Red Belt · Highest achievable rank in Chito-Ryu
Before You Grade
How the grading system works at The Karate Institute
01
Invitation Only
Students do not enter themselves in grading. Sensei invites you when your technique and attitude are ready. Training time is a guide — character and consistency decide the timing.
02
The Stripe System
Before each grading, Sensei awards you a stripe on your current belt as recognition of consistent attendance and demonstrated improvement. The stripe must be awarded before grading to the next level can be scheduled.
03
Passing Is Not Guaranteed
A grading invitation is recognition of your effort, not a promise of promotion. Every grading is a test of real ability. Students who don't pass are given clear feedback and an honest pathway forward.
Little Dragons (4–7 Yrs)
White belt with coloured stripe progression
The federation standard belt chart shows juniors progressing through a white belt system using coloured stripes rather than the full coloured belt progression used in the main Children, Teens, and Adults pathway.
Once a junior student transitions into the main program, they continue under the Children, Teens, and Adults grading structure.
Step 1
White Belt
Starting junior belt
Step 2
Coloured Stripe Added
Stripe colour indicates progression
Next Step
Continue Through Stripe Colours
Yellow to Black stripe sequence
Juniors Stripe Colours
Standard junior progression shown in the federation belt colour chart.
All times shown are minimums — actual progression depends on attendance and Sensei's assessment.
Fitness minimums are continuous repetitions of the applicable movement performed to correct standard.
Kata requirements list the primary form only. Review of all previous kata is expected at every grading.
Kumite progresses from structured Exchange Kumite at Green Belt through to Bogu Shai with multiple attackers at Black Belt.
Leadership & Instructor Badges
National and international badge systems shown in the federation PDF
National Leadership Badges
S.W.A.T.
Leadership Level 1
S.W.A.T.
Leadership Level 2
National Instructor Badges
Instructors Assistant
Trainee Instructor
International Instructor Badges
Junshidoin
Assistant Instructor
JUNSHIDOIN
International Instructor Badge
Recognised international assistant instructor badge.
Shidoin
Instructor
SHIDOIN
International Instructor Badge
Recognised international instructor badge.
Shihan
Master Instructor
SHIHAN
International Instructor Badge
Recognised international master instructor badge.
International Master Instructor Belt Colours
Belt colours shown for Renshi, Kyoshi, and Hanshi
These visuals follow the master instructor belt colour panel shown in the federation PDF.
Renshi
Expert Instructor
International Master Instructor Belt Colours
Shown in the federation PDF with a red, black, red belt colour arrangement.
Kyoshi
Professor
International Master Instructor Belt Colours
Shown in the federation PDF with a red, white, red belt colour arrangement.
Our Kyoshi
Michael Noonan
Kyoshi
Hanshi
Model Teacher
International Master Instructor Belt Colours
Shown in the federation PDF as a solid red belt colour arrangement.
Start Your Journey
Ready to start your journey to Black Belt?
The first class is free. No uniform required. Come in, train, and see how The Karate Institute operates before committing to anything.