In karate, belt colour shows rank. The most common sequence in France, the one presented by the French Karate Federation (FFK), has six belts before black: white, yellow, orange, green, blue and brown. Coloured-belt grades are called kyu; from black belt on, they are dan.
This guide follows the French system. In other countries, the national federation or your style's association sets its own colours and requirements, so check with your club.
The order of coloured belts
Kyu grades count down: white is 6th kyu, yellow 5th, orange 4th, green 3rd, blue 2nd and brown 1st kyu. French federation rules require candidates for black belt to be "brown belt 1st kyu", so 1st kyu is the last step. Dan grades count up, from 1st to 10th.
The order can vary slightly between styles and clubs. Some clubs move in half-steps with two-colour belts such as yellow-orange or green-blue. Your instructor will tell you which system they use.
Who awards coloured belts?
Kyu grades are awarded by the club instructor. There is no national exam and no federal minimum time between coloured belts: the instructor sets grading dates and decides when you are ready.
Content depends on the style (Shotokan, Wado-ryu, Shito-ryu, Goju-ryu and others) and the club, but it usually covers the three pillars tested later at black belt: kihon (linked basic techniques), kata (set forms) and kumite (partner work, from prearranged to free sparring).
Black belt: the requirements in France
From 1st dan on, the instructor no longer awards the grade. The French Sports Code reserves dan grades for the grading commission (CSDGE) of the governing federation, the FFK.
To sit the 1st dan you need, on the day: to be at least 14, to hold a brown belt (1st kyu), and to have three FFK licence stamps, including the current season's. You may not attempt it more than twice a season.
Since 2021-22 the exam can be held at your own club if the instructor is at least 2nd dan and sits on a panel with two other 2nd dan licence holders. Clubs with fewer than 100 members may run two sessions a season, larger clubs three. Otherwise you sit it at the departmental committee. To register the grade, the club pays €50 per successful candidate.
What the 1st dan exam involves
There are two routes. **The traditional route** has six tests, each marked out of 20: kihon, kihon ippon kumite, kata, bunkai, jiyu ippon kumite and ju kumite. Kihon has three parts: line drills (three drawn from a list of six), pursuit drills, and five techniques on a target held by a partner. For kata, candidates perform two kata of their choice from the 1st dan list of their own or another style; a mistake allows a restart, but the mark is halved. Ju kumite is a light bout of two minutes at most.
The pass mark is 60 out of 120, with no automatic fail, and any test scored 10/20 or more is kept for the next attempt.
**The competition route** keeps kihon, kihon ippon kumite and kata (30 out of 60 to pass) and replaces the rest with five appearances at official individual competitions during the season, with at least one round fought or performed each time.
For 2026-27 the federation has clarified that candidates may adapt some kihon stances to their style, and has posted videos of the test for 1st to 3rd dan.
Beyond black belt
The belt stays black, but dan grades continue, each with a minimum age and a minimum time since the previous grade: 2nd dan at 17, two years after 1st; 3rd at 21, three years after; 4th at 25, four years; 5th at 30, five years; 6th at 40, six years; 7th at 50, seven years; 8th at 60, eight years.
Departmental committees examine 2nd to 4th dan, regional leagues 5th dan, and a national panel 6th and 7th. 8th dan is awarded on application, and 9th and 10th dan are decided by the CSDGE executive alone.
Champions can be awarded grades without an exam: individual European medallists receive 4th dan, European champions 5th, world champions and world medallists 6th, provided they meet the minimum age.
Where do kyu and dan come from?
The system comes from judo: Jigoro Kano created kyu and dan grades at the Kodokan in Tokyo. Gichin Funakoshi, teaching karate in Tokyo in the 1920s, adopted it, and on 12 April 1924 he awarded the first dan grades in karate history to seven students, including Hironori Otsuka, who went on to found Wado-ryu.
Choosing your belt length
A belt goes twice around the waist with enough left for the knot. Rule of thumb: waist measurement times two, plus 100 cm. Shop sizes usually run from 200 to 320 cm in 20 cm steps. If you are between two sizes, take the longer one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the order of karate belts?
In the most common French system: white (6th kyu), yellow (5th), orange (4th), green (3rd), blue (2nd), brown (1st kyu), then black (1st dan). Some clubs add two-colour belts in between. Other countries and styles may differ.
How old do you have to be for a karate black belt?
In France, at least 14 on the day of the exam, with a brown belt and three federation licence stamps, including the current season's. Other national federations set their own rules.
Who awards karate belts?
Coloured belts are awarded by the club instructor. Dan grades, from black belt up, are awarded by the national federation: in France, the CSDGE commission of the FFK.
Can you take your black belt at your own club?
In France, yes, since 2021-22, if the instructor is at least 2nd dan and sits with two other 2nd dan licence holders. Registering the grade costs €50 per successful candidate.
What is the difference between the traditional and competition routes?
The traditional route has six technical tests, from kihon to ju kumite. The competition route keeps three (kihon, kihon ippon kumite and kata) and requires five appearances at official individual competitions during the season.
This guide was written with the help of artificial intelligence, then reviewed and approved by our editors.