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The Belt System of Kenpo

Kenpo Karate uses a belt ranking system to recognize a student’s progress, dedication, and growing skill. Each belt represents a new level of knowledge and achievement, building upon the foundations learned at earlier stages. On this page, you’ll find an overview of the belt colors and what they signify on your journey through Kenpo. Click here to read more about the History of Kenpo

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Colored Belts

Color
Chinese
Rank
Yellow
Hachikyu
8th Kyu
Orange
Shichikyu
7th Kyu
Purple
Rokkyu
6th Kyu
Blue
Gokyu
5th Kyu
Green
Yonkyu
4th Kyu

Brown Belts

Color
Chinese
Rank
3rd Brown
Sankyu
3rd Kyu
2nd Brown
Nikyu
2nd Kyu
1st Brown
Ikkyu
1st Kyu
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Close up of a karate student's black belt with white uniform on a black background

Black Belts

Color
Chinese
Rank
1st Black
Shodan
1st Dan
2nd Black
Nidan
2nd Dan
3rd Black
Sandan
3rd Dan
4th Black
Yodan
4th Dan
5th Black
Godan
5th Dan

Black Belt or Red & White Sections

Color
Chinese
Rank
6th Black
Rokudan
6th Dan
7th Black
Shichidan
7th Dan
8th Black
Hachidan
8th Dan
Close up of a karate student's red belt with white uniform on a black background
Close up of a karate student's black belt with black uniform on a black background

Black or Red Belt

Color
Chinese
Rank
9th Black
Kudan
9th Dan
10th Black
Judan
10th Dan

NOTE: A Red Belt, or a Red Belt with a black stripe running the length of the belt, can also be used as an Instructor's Belt. In some Korean styles the Red Belt is used in place of a Brown Belt.

Close up of a karate student's yellow belt with white uniform on a black background

Colored Belts

Color
Chinese
Rank
Yellow
Hachikyu
8th Kyu
Orange
Shichikyu
7th Kyu
Purple
Rokkyu
6th Kyu
Blue
Gokyu
5th Kyu
Green
Yonkyu
4th Kyu
Close up of a karate student's brown belt with white uniform on a black background

Brown Belts

Color
Chinese
Rank
3rd Brown
Sankyu
3rd Kyu
2nd Brown
Nikyu
2nd Kyu
1st Brown
Ikkyu
1st Kyu
Close up of a karate student's black belt with white uniform on a black background

Black Belts

Color
Chinese
Rank
1st Black
Shodan
1st Dan
2nd Black
Nidan
2nd Dan
3rd Black
Sandan
3rd Dan
4th Black
Yodan
4th Dan
5th Black
Godan
5th Dan
Close up of a karate student's red belt with white uniform on a black background

Black Belt or Red & White Sections

Color
Chinese
Rank
6th Black
Rokudan
6th Dan
7th Black
Shichidan
7th Dan
8th Black
Hachidan
8th Dan
Close up of a karate student's black belt with black uniform on a black background

Black or Red Belt

Color
Chinese
Rank
9th Black
Kudan
9th Dan
10th Black
Judan
10th Dan

NOTE: A Red Belt, or a Red Belt with a black stripe running the length of the belt, can also be used as an Instructor's Belt. In some Korean styles the Red Belt is used in place of a Brown Belt.

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