In Japan are two grading systems: the modern and the ancient systems. The modern systems use the kyu/dan grading terms while the ancient systems use the menkyo or “license” grading. A well trained Martial Artist should be aware of both types of grading. Both systems are utilized in Ni Tatsu-Ryu and are printed on our Diplomas. One should be aware of the slight differences between these systems as they are frequently used interchangeably.
MUDANSHA - Students Rankings
Traditional/Modern
Kyu/Dan Rank
Rokyu (6th kyu)
Gokyu (5th kyu)
Yonkyu (4th kyu)
Chikyu (Weapons)
Sankyu (3rd kyu)
Nikyu (2nd kyu)
Ikkyu (1st kyu)
Obi(Sash) Color
Juko-Kai System
Solid White
Solid Blue
Solid Green
Solid Purple
Brown 1 Red Tab
Brown 2 Red Tabs
Brown 3 Red Tabs
Ancient System
Menkyo (License) Rank
Beginning Student
Younger Student
Older Student
Older Student
Senior Student
Senior Student
Senior Student
YUDANSHA - Instructor Rankings
Menkyo Renshi
Menkyo Renshi
Menkyo Kyoshi
Menkyo Kyoshi
Menkyo Shihan Dai
Menkyo Shihan
Menkyo 0 Shihan
Menkyo Dai Shihan
Menkyo Mokoruku Shihan
Menkyo Kaiden Shihan
Solid Black
Black 2 Red Tabs
Black/Red (bikup)
Black/Red (red up)
Red/white
Red/white
Red/white
Red/black
Red/black
Solid Red
Shodan (1st dan)
Nidan (2nd dan)
Sandan (3rd dan)
Yodan (4th dan)
Godan (5th dan)
Rokyudan (6th dan)
Shichidan (7th dan)
Hachidan (8th dan)
Kudan (9th dan)
Judan (10th dan)
GRADING SYSTEM
When one receives a menkyo or “license” it is usually accompanied with a title such as “Renshi” or “Shihan” and generally a dan grading is assigned to the recipient at the same time. The differences, however, lie in that a person can move up in a dan ranking but may not necessarily advance in their title or licensure and vice versa. An example of this would be the difference between a first and second dan. Even though there is often a vast difference between the knowledge and capabilities between the two, they both have a menkyo grading of renshi. Secondly, even though a menkyo grading of shihan generally correlates with a fifth dan, it is not necessarily true that a person with a fifth dan is a shihan. It is not infrequent that someone earns a rank of even sixth dan but not a Shihan grading.
Below is a listing of the two ranking systems along with the obi or sash color, so one can learn the approximate correlation of rank from one system to the other.