AOKK Time in Grade for Promotion

There is a minimum time between black belt promotions. This is a standard developed and used by various Japanese karate organizations. Just because a student has reached the time in grade does not mean they automatically test for their next promotion. The black-belt karateka must be training or teaching, between the suggested promotion times, to be eligible for promotion to the next rank.

Prior to promotion the student may have to meet a set of requirements determined by their instructor. In the AOKK these requirements are standardized.

1. Shodan…. 1^st Black-belt → Nidan 2^nd Black-belt…..   (Two Years)
2. Nidan….   2^nd Black-belt → Sandan 3rd Black-belt….   (Three Years)
3. Sandan…. 3rd Black-belt → Yodan 4th Black-belt….   (Four Years)
4. Yodan….  4th Black-belt → Godan 5th Black-belt….    (Five Years)
5. Godan….  5th Black-belt → Shichidan 6th Black-belt.. (Six Years)
6. Rokudan.. 6th Black-belt → Shichidan 7th Black-belt.. (Seven Years)
7. Shichidan.7th Black-belt → Hachidan 8th Black-belt…(Eight Years)
8. Hachidan. 8th Black-belt → Kudan 9th Black-belt…     (Nine Years)
9. Kudan 9th Black-belt

The Student must also complete the additional training necessary for promotion. These requirements cannot be signed off until the student is within two years of promotion.