Ranks
Kyu ranks
Kyu is a Japanese term which describes a level of expertise in various fields, such as martial arts, tea ceremony, flower arrangements, strategy games, academics, etc.
In Karate, Kyu ranks are lower than Dan ranks (Black belt). The ranks are ordered so that 10th Kyu is the lowest and 1st Kyu is the highest.
Jukkyu
10th Kyu
Kyukyu
9th Kyu
Hachikyu
8th Kyu
Nanakyu
7th Kyu
Rokkyu
6th Kyu
Gokyu
5th Kyu
Yonkyu
4th kyu
Sankyu
3rd kyu
Nikyu
2nd Kyu
Ikkyu
1st Kyu
Dan Ranks
The literal Japanese translation of the word "Dan" means step or stage. The dan ranking system was first invented in the Edo period (17th to 19th centuries in Japan) as a skill leven in the game of go (A Japanese strategic board game). The degrees were first used in martial arts in 1883 when it was applied to Judo. The ranks are ordered so that 1st dan is the lowest and 10th dan is the highest.
Dan degrees are higher than kyu degrees and holders of dan degrees often wear black belts and in very high ranks also red belts.
