Organizations Dan-level ranks

Below is the Official Dan-Level
Ranks, Their Minimum Age and Titles
as authorized for the  

Double Dragon Goju-Ryu Karate Organization

 

Rank Minimum Age
for Rank
Minimum Time
in Training
Title Requirements
for Title
Belt
Colour
Shodan-ho

Minimum Age
for Shodan is
18

2 to 3 years Shodan
(1st dan)
At least 6 months
active training after
Shodan-ho
Black
Nidan
(2nd dan)

18

1 year after Shodan

Black
Sandan
(3rd dan)

2 years after Nidan

Black
Yodan
(4th dan)

2 years after Sandan

Renshi
*

At least 1 years after Yodan:
minimum age 32

White &
Red
Godan
(5th dan)

30

3 years after
Yodan
(Renshi) (See above) Red &
White
Rokudan
(6th dan)

35

3 years after
Godan

(Shihan)
**

Minimum age 35 Black
Red Stripe
Shichidan
(7th dan)

42

3 years after
Rokudan
Kyoshi
***
At least 10 years after Renshi Red & White Sections
Hachidan
(8th dan)

45

3 years after
Shichidan
(Kyoshi) (See above) Red & White Sections
Kudan
(9th dan)

50

4 years after
Hachidan
Hanshi At least 7 years after Kyoshi Red
Jodan
(10th dan)

60

5 years after
Kudan
(Hanshi) (See above) Red
Chief
Grandmaster

Person named in the will of previous Seiko-Sheehan (Seiko-
Sheehan)
Only one in style Red

Instructor and Dojo Certification
in used by the DDI3236

*Once a student is given an Instructors Certificate he may be paid for teaching in a sanctioned dojo.

*To open a dojo a Certified Instructor has to get a Dojo Charter from the head dojo.

**Once a student has reached the level of Shihan (6th dan), the student is a fully trained Karate and may apply to the board of directors to Found their own Karate Organization and have a unique Style Name. However all organizations like the Double Dragon Institute must support the head dojo of the Chief Grandmaster.

***The Seventh rank (Shihan) is issued to the Master that has achieved a Excellent Karate Organization when the organization has been recognized as such, by Grandmaster Manny Saavedra.

 

A look into the future
A quick question and answer for other black belts in other styles
and in Double Dragon Goju-Ryu.

I have been asked the question;
Why is it that some karate organizations allow their black belts to open their own schools and teach their own students and we at the Double Dragon Institute do not?

Answer:  Substandard instructors are a detriment to the quality of Goju-Ryu. The Double Dragon Institute is held to the highest and future standards of Goju-Ryu by Kyoshi DeBuc.  A Black Belt is a Master in training and must hone and prove his skills as a instructor.  The Black Belt must practices teaching in the dojo of their teacher and will not take their own students until they has their own dojo, the same holds true to all students in the “Q” ranks.  If a black belt finds a new student, they shows their honor for their teacher by presenting this student to their Master for instruction.

Note and Warning: A black belt in Goju-Ryu are always ready to fight for the respect that must be shown to his or her teacher, their Grandmaster, their Master and Goju-Ryu.  Instructors of Double Dragon Goju-Ryu are always ready to defend any student and deal seriously with anyone who attempts to disrespect a Master in the face of his or her students.

A black belt is issued an Instructor certificate when he or she has achieved the distinction of being a good instructor. Once the Black Belt has his Instructors certification he must now prove he can run a karate school.  The Black Belt will take over running parts of his or her Master’s school as they progresses in rank until they are running the entire dojo. Once the Black Belt can run the entire dojo they will receive their Senior Instructors certificate and after a year of testing they will be allowed to open their own dojo. Black Belts must understand one fact of life, you will not be forced to open a dojo on your own until you are completely trained. In Double Dragon Goju-Ryu a 6th dan Shihan Is fully trained and their rank signifies that they have reached this point.  A 7th dan, Kyoshi, says you have proven your worth as a Master and at this point you will trust to make your own decisions but you will be held directly responsible for your errors.
Thank You,
Kyoshi Arthur A. DeBuc ATP