Every martial art has different advancement requirements. Traditionally in the Far East, there were no colored belts to differentiate rank or time spent training in the art. Traditionally white belts were issued and after years of training, falling, sweat, dirt, the white belt would turn darker and darker. This resulted in the color succession of belts. The colored belts in most schools start as a light color and continue on to darker colors.
However, once the arts were Americanized, the different colored belts were created, in order to show an individual’s advancement in the art. The following is the ranking order in the Yin Yang Karate Do Association:
Hachikyu 8th Kyu (White Belt )
Shichikyu 7th Kyu (Yellow Belt)
-Basic stances, blocks, punches, strikes and kicks
-Kata: Omoto Ten, Karumpha, Shorei One
-Geri Wasa 1 & 2
-Taezu-Naru Waza 1
Rokkyu 6th Kyu (Green Belt)
-Kata: Shorei Mege, Tai Chi Gedan, Gai Sai, National Dance, Neko Buto Ich, Pinan Ich,
-Geri Wasa 3 & 4
-Taezu-Naru Waza 2
-Open and closed hand tension wazas
Gokyu 5th kyu (Blue Belt)
-Kogekis 1-7
-Kata: Neko Buto Ne, Neko Buto San, Neko Buto Twelve, Pinan Ne, Pinan San, Saifi, Stick Kata
-Geri Waza 5
Yonkyu 4th Kyu (Purple Belt)
-Kata: Neko Buto Yo, Neko Buto Go, Pinan Yo, Pinan Go, Anaku
-Geri Waza 6 & 7
-Taezu-Naru Waza 3 & 4
Sankyu 3rd Kyu (1st Degree Brown Belt)
Nikyu 2nd Kyu (2nd Degree Brown Belt)
Ikkyu 1st Kyu (3rd Degree Brown Belt)
-Kata: Seenchin, Naifunchin, Basai Di
-Geri Waza 8, 9 & 10
-Taezu-Naru Waza 5 &10
Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt)
-Kata; No Hi, Nandan Sho (Crane or Bird Kata), Kan Ku Sho (Leopard or Leopard at the Water Hole Kata, Tensho
Nidan (2nd Degree Black Belt)
-Kata: Go Pei Sho (Tiger Kata), Dan Enn Sho (Cobra, Snake, or Poison Hand Kata), Sei Pai (Dragon Kata)
Sandan (3rd Degree Black Belt)
Yodan (4th Degree Black Belt)
Godan (5th Degree Black Belt)
Rokudan (6th Degree Black Belt)
Schchidan (7th Degree Black Belt)
Hachidan (8th Degree Black Belt)
Kudan (9th Degree Black Belt)
Judan (10th Degree Black Belt)