To many, the black belt is a sign that one has mastered the art of karate. However, holding a black belt, while a very impressive accomplishment, does not mean that one has reached the upper echelons of karate skills. Once a person tests into the black belt rank, there are still 10 levels that must be accomplished before he will get his final belt.
Dan Belts
Prior to getting your black belt, you must climb the ranks through the 10 kyu levels. The first five levels are signified with colored belts: white, orange, red, yellow, and green. The sixth and seventh levels are signified with a purple belt, and the eighth through tenth levels are represented with a brown belt. Getting your first black belt, or dan belt, does not mean that you have mastered karate, though. Although you have grown from the first 10 kyu belts, you still have a long way to go. All 10 levels of dan require continuous training in the martial arts, but the last five levels also are "[b]ased on contribution to [the] good of . . . mankind through martial arts," according to the Tao International Martial Arts Association.
First Five Dan Levels
Each level of dan, along with the numerical designation, has a name. The first through fifth levels of dan are designated, respectively, shodan, nidan, sandan, yodan and godan. Each of these levels is achieved through continual training; it can take upwards of 29 years of study and practice to reach the fifth level of dan.
Levels Six Through Nine
Black belt dan levels six through nine are named, in order, rokudan, nanadan, hachidan and kyuudan. These levels of dan include continued practice of your martial art skills as well as the practice of the tenets of the martial arts for the betterment of mankind. These tenets include secrecy, humility of the heart, courtesy in all matters, charity in giving, high moral character, martyrdom -- or sacrifice directed to the right causes -- unconquerable spirit and certain victory. All in all, getting to a ninth level black belt can take up to 40 more years of training and following of the martial arts tenets.
Dan Level Ten
The final black belt dan level is that of judan, and achieving this level is an exceptional accomplishment. The only way to reach this level is to gain your ninth belt and then be chosen by a group of ninth- and eighth-degree belt holders for the final belt. Tenth-degree black belts are chosen from and by a larger group of high-ranking black belts "to establish a hierarchy within a martial arts Organizational Body of High Ranking Black Belts," according to the Tao International Martial Arts Association.
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