Rank Structure     Grade Belt Color Minimum ime in grade before next test Recruit White One Month 10th Kyu* Yellow One Month 9th Kyu* Gold One Month 8th Kyu Orange Three Months 7th Kyu Green Three Months 6th Kyu Blue Three Months 5th Kyu Purple Three Months 4th Kyu Red Three Months 3rd Kyu Brown Six Months 2nd Kyu Brown w/ 1 Stripe Six Months 1st Kyu Brown w/ 2 Stripes Six Months Shodan Black Two Years * 9th and 10th Kyu ranks are informal ranks and may be omitted per local instructor's authority. Black Belt Ranking System Rank Years of training** Minimum Age Shodan*** Minimum of three years 18 Nidan*** Two years after Shodan 20 Sandan Three years after Nidan 23 Yondan Four years after Sandan 27 Godan Five years after Yondan 32 Rokudan Six years after Godan 38 Nanadan Seven years after Rokudan 45 Hachidan Eight years after Nanadan 53 Kyudan Nine years after Hachidan 62 Judan Ten years after Kyudan 72 ** Years in rank requirements may be waived on a case-by-case basis. *** Students under 18 may attain the JUNIOR Shodan and JUNIOR Nidan ranks. The certificates are annotated as such, while the black belts are identical to adult ranks. Teaching Titles**** Title Minimum Required Rank Shidoin-Ho Shodan Shidoin Sandan Shihan Dai Yondan Shihan Godan Renshi Rokudan Kyoshi Hachidan Hanshi Judan **** Instructors do not receive teaching titles by virtue of rank. Teaching titles are earned/awarded independently based on teaching status, knowledge and skills.