Rank in the Dojo is used to measure progress of all students following a common 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).

Detailed promotion requirements up to Sho-Dan are provided in the official IOGKA Goshukan-Ryu Student Training Manual: Volume 1.

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

DAN RANK    AUTHORIZED BELT        ADDRESS/ FORMAL TITLE

• ShoDan Black  w/ no stripes        Senpai
• 2-Dan    Black  w/ no stripes        Senpai
• 3-Dan    Black  w/ no stripes        Sensei or Shidoin (when awarded)
• 4-Dan    Black  w/ no stripes        Sensei or Shidoin (when awarded)
• 5-Dan    Black  w/ 1 gold tip        Sensei or Renshi (when awarded)
• 6-Dan    Black  w/ 1 gold tip        Sensei or Shihan (when awarded)
• 7-Dan    Black  w/ 2 gold tips       Sensei or Kyoshi
• 8-Dan    Black  w/ 2 gold tips       Sensei or Kyoshi
• 9-Dan    Black  w/3 gold tips        Sensei or Hanshi
• 10-Dan  Black w/ 3 gold tips        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.