Black Belt Rank and Titles
Rank
|
Kempo
|
Wing Chun
|
Arnis_Kali
|
Hawaiian Lua
|
|
Rank
|
Title
|
Rank
|
Title
|
Rank
|
Title
|
Rank
|
Title
|
1st degree
|
Shodan
|
Sensei
|
Yiduan
|
Sifu
|
Lakan Isa
|
Guro
|
Mua Kekele'ele'ele Lua Kakiana
|
2nd Sergeant
|
2nd degree
|
Nidan
|
sensei
|
Erduan
|
Sifu
|
Lakan Dalawa
|
Guro
|
Lua Kekele'ele'ele Hapakolu Kakiana
|
3rd Sergeant
|
3rd degree
|
Sandan
|
Sensei
|
Sanduan
|
Sifu
|
Lakan Tatlo
|
Guro
|
Hapakolu Kekele'ele'ele Ha Kahiana
|
4th Sergeant
|
4th degree
|
Yodan
|
Master
|
Siduan
|
Sifu
|
Lakan Apat
|
Guro
|
Ha Kekele'ele'ele Hapalima Kakiana
|
5th Sergeant
|
5th degree
|
Godan
|
Renshi
|
Wuduan
|
Sigung
|
Lakan Lima
|
Tuhon
|
Hapalima kekele'ele'ele Lua Lukalena
|
2nd Lieutenant
|
6th degree
|
Rokudan
|
Shihan
|
Liuduan
|
Sigung
|
Lakan Anim
|
Tuhon
|
Ono Kekele'ele'ele Mua Lukalena
|
1st Lieutenant
|
7th degree
|
Shichidan
|
Professor
|
Qiduan
|
Sigung
|
Lakan Pito
|
Tuhon
|
Hiku Kekele'ele'ele kapena
|
Captain
|
8th degree
|
Hachidan
|
Hanshi
|
Baduan
|
Tai Sigung
|
Lakan Walo
|
Grand Tuhon
|
Walu Kekele'ele'ele Mekia
|
Major
|
9th degree
|
Kudan
|
Hanshi
|
Kiuduan
|
Tai Sigung
|
Lakan Siyam
|
Grand Tuhon
|
Iwa kekele'ele'ele Konia
|
Coloner
|
10th degree
|
Judan
|
Hanshi
|
Jiuduan
|
Tai Sigung
|
Lakan Sampu
|
Grand Tuhon
|
Umi Kekele'ele'ele Alihikaua
|
General
|
Black Belt in Hawaiian Lua
Title Kumu
Black Belt in Kempo under 4th degree
Title Sensei
Black Belt in Kombatan
Title Guru
Black Belt in Wing Chun
Title Sifu
Black Belt under 14 years old
TitleKyosei
Assistant Instructor under Black belt level
Sempai
Master Proficiency level or Title
Master may be awarded to the modern rank of 4th Dan or above.
Renshi Proficiency level or Title
The character "Ren" means "polished, tempered" and "shi" means "person". Thus Renshi indicates a "polished instructor" or expert. Renshi may be awarded to the modern rank of 5th Dan or above.
Shihan Title
Shihan a title attributed normally to a 6th Dan Black Belt and above "Shi" means teacher or "master" and "Han" means an example, model or pattern.
Kyoshi Proficiency level or Title
The "Kyo" in Kyoshi means "professor" or "philosophy". Therefore, Kyoshi equals a "professor" capable of teaching the philosophy of the martial arts. Kyoshi may be awarded to the modern rank of 6th Dan and above.
Hanshi TitleThe "Han" in Hanshi means "example, model" and indicates "a teacher that can serve as an ideal model for others", or a "senior master". Hanshi may be awarded to the modern day rank of 8th Dan and above.
Kaiso Title
The Kaiso title is for the founder of a Martial Art System.
The titles of Shihan, Professor, & Hanshi all can be use as the higher level title of a particular system; it depends on the lineage of the system.
Requirements for Dan Promotions
Shodan
|
At least 4 years of training Black belt in one system
|
Nidan
|
Minimum of 2 years after Shodan Total years 6 Black belt in two systems
|
Sandan
|
Minimum of 2 years after Nidan Total years 8 Black belt in three systems
|
Yodan
|
Minimum of 3 years after Sandan Total years 11 (Black belt in 4 systems Mo'o Dragon Certificate)
|
Godan
|
Minimum of 4 years after Yodan Total years 15 Years of teaching 10 years
|
Rokudan
|
By recommendation Minimum of 20 years in the Arts
|
Shichidan
|
By recommendation Minimum of 25 years in the Arts
|
Hachidan
|
By recommendation Minimum of 30 years in the Arts
|
Kudan
|
By recommendation Minimum of 35 years in the Arts
|
Judan
|
By recommendation Minimum of 40 years in the Arts
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