Shotokan Belt Ranking

Rank is used in karate to indicate experience, expertise, and to a lesser degree, seniority. As with many martial arts, Shotokan uses a system of colored belts to indicate rank. Originally there were only three belts: white, brown, and black. The white belt color represent the birth of a student, seeking knowledge of the art, and clean for a beginner. Brown would represent the dirt from practice. Black of a shodan would represent even more practice. Therefore, the darker the belt, the more experience.

Below shows the current belt ranking for Shotokan Karate used for both kids karate and adults at Excel Martial Arts.