Rank in the Dojo is used to measure progress of all students following a commmon curriculum. The following is the Belt Ranking system used by the COLUMBUS DOJO; it is the officially recognized and sanctioned rank/belt system set by the International Okinawa Goshukan-Ryu Karate Association (IOGKA).

KYU/COLOR BELTS

• 10-Kyu     White Belt                          (All Beginner Students)
• 09-Kyu     White Belt/Yellow tip
• 08-Kyu     Yellow Belt
• 07-Kyu     Yellow Belt w/black tip
• 06-Kyu     Green Belt
• 05-Kyu     Green Belt w/black tip
• 04-Kyu     Purple Belt
• 03-Kyu     Purple Belt w/black tip
• 02-Kyu     Brown Belt
• 01-Kyu     Brown Belt w/black tip

YUDANSHA/ BLACK BELTS

• RANK   Color  Min. Age   ADDRESS/ TITLE
• 1-Dan    Black        13         Senpai
• 2-Dan    Black        15         Senpai or FukuShidoin (when awarded)
• 3-Dan    Black        18         Sensei or Shidoin (when awarded)
• 4-Dan    Black        22         Sensei or Shidoin (when awarded)
• 5-Dan    Black        30         Sensei or Renshi (when awarded)
• 6-Dan    Black        35         Sensei or Shihan (when awarded)
• 7-Dan    Black        42         Sensei or Kyoshi
• 8-Dan    Black        50         Sensei or Kyoshi
• 9-Dan    Red          60         Sensei or Hanshi
• 10-Dan   Red         65         Sensei or Hanshi

*10-Dan is reserved for Takamiyagi Hiroshi-The Founder/Soke of Goshukan-Ryu Karate.

* Every Licensed Instructor (3-Dan and higher) should be addressed personally as ‘Sensei’, not by the teaching title; teaching titles should only be used in formal ceremonies or events.