Karate Colour Belt

Shotokan Karate Belts

The Grading system of 

Shotokan Karate

The Shotokan Karate Grading syllabus has a range of grades, also known as kyu.  When a Karate practitioner progresses beyond brown belt, the next grading is Black Belt or Shodan (1st Dan). Students wear belts which are colored to signify their grade level.
Karate belts are said to date back to the Japanese judo. Here, a system of using a variety of colored belts was used as it was felt it was the best way of determining an individuals skill level. There are many people who believe that a method of dyeing the belts was used, which may suggest why the belts get darker with each grading level. Others believe in the theory of a white belt becoming dirtier until it becomes black, which was the first method of determining someone skill, although this theory is most likely a myth.
Below is a list of the Shotokan Karate Belts. Please click on the relevant grading for a more detailed guide and syllabus for each level. Please also see our guide how to tie a karate belt.