Ranks

Wadō-ryū uses a typical karate belt order to denote rank. The beginner commences and 10th kyū and progresses to 1st kyū, then from 1st-5th dan for technical grades. The ranks of 6th-10th dan are honorary ranks. Although some other karate styles add stripes for the dan ranks, Wado practitioners tend not to follow that practice.

9th Kyu (Red Belt)

8th Kyu (Yellow Belt)

7th Kyu (Orange Belt)

6th Kyu (Green Belt)

5th Kyu (Blue Belt)

4th Kyu (Purple Belt)

3rd Kyu (Brown Belt)

2nd Kyu (Brown Belt)

1st Kyu (Brown Belt)

1st Dan - Shodan (Black Belt)

2nd Dan - Nidan (Black Belt)

3rd Dan - Sandan (Black Belt)

4th Dan - Yondan (Black Belt)

5th Dan - Godan (Black Belt)

6th Dan - Rokudan (Black Belt)

7th Dan - Shichindan (Black Belt)

8th Dan - Hachidan (Black Belt)

9th Dan - Kudan (Black Belt)

10th Dan - Judan (Black Belt)