Dear Members, USA Karate is proud to offer our members the ability to have their Dan Rank recognized by the National Governing Body for USA Karate. We offer a system to have your 1 st thru 3 rd Dan rank from approved member clubs and affiliated organizations cross-ranked. For ranks of 4 th Dan and above or ranks earned from non-approved sources we offer the ability to validate your rank through a performance evaluation. If over the years you have become separated from your instructor or organization we do offer the ability to test for rank promotion from a panel of nationally recognized examiners. We hope you find this program valuable. Regards, John DiPasquale President USA National Karate-do Federation
USA Karate Dan Certification Eligibility Chart CERTIFICATION LEVEL ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW 1, 2, 3 Dan Cross Rank Recognition. Current rank diploma Certification from USA Karate (with approved recognized member school credentials)* and/or organization *(Approved Credentials).. Signed application 1, 2, 3 Dan Cross Rank Recognition Certification (without approved credentials) 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Dan Cross Rank Recognition Certification Rank Promotion to All Dan Levels. Evidence of current rank by recognized reference and signed application.. Evidence of current rank by recognized diploma or reference, and signed application.. Evidence of current rank by recognized diploma or reference, and signed application. PERFORMANCE/APPROVAL Performance evaluation not required USA Karate Technical Committee administrative approval required Performance evaluation required with USA Karate Technical Committee See USA Karate Dan Certification Requirements Performance evaluation required with USA Karate Technical Committee See USA Karate Dan Certification Requirements Performance evaluation required with USA Karate Technical Committee See USA Karate Dan Certification Requirements It is the goal of USA Karate to afford all eligible members the opportunity to participate in the Dan Certification process. Applicants whose current rank was not awarded by an approved USA Karate member school/organization or other USA Karate recognized affiliate, whose rank cannot be verified by a reference, or whose documentation cannot be produced for review, etc., may be required to provide additional karate rank related background information at the request of the USA Karate Technical Committee.
USA NATIONAL KARATE-DO FEDERATION RANK (DAN) CERTIFICATION TESTING AND PROCEDURES The following is the testing protocol and statement of requirements for the USA National Karate-do Federation (USA Karate) rank (Dan) certification program. The goal of the program is to encourage a broad understanding of the techniques and different schools, which make up modern Karate-do. The USA Karate Dan certification program is based upon the requirements of the World Karate Federation program. It is not the intent of the USA Karate Dan Certification program to replace or promote any particular style of Karate-do. A candidate for Dan Certification must be an active member in of USA Karate. THE TESTING PANEL The USA Karate Dan Certification testing shall be conducted by administrative review and/or by performance evaluation at USA Karate Signature Events. The National Board of Examiners shall consist of at least five examiners from the Technical Committee of USA National Karate-do Federation. The USA Karate Board of Directors reserves the right to add or remove examiners from the Board of Examiners. USA Karate may establish regional Examining Boards from time to time to administer testing between Signature Events. The USA Karate Board of Examiners may certify an applicant s rank from Shodan (1st Dan) to Hachi-dan (8th Dan). THE TESTING PROCESS Each candidate for certification must hold a karate rank and validate that ranking by presenting: a copy of their rank certificate and/or verifiable evidence of the candidate s current karate rank, a USA Karate Dan Certification application and/or other required documentation, if requested, to USA Karate for consideration. Applicants who seek recognition of their current rank or lower level rank for the ranks of Shodan (1 st Dan), Nidan (2 nd Dan), and Sandan (3 rd Dan), who meet the USA Karate cross-rank recognition criteria may be eligible to receive a USA Karate Dan Certificate without completing the performance requirements. (See Eligibility Chart). Applicants who (1): seek Yondan (4 th Degree) or above; or (2): are not eligible for a performance waiver; or (3); who seek rank promotion within the USA Karate-do Federation, shall be evaluated in accordance with the following requirements:
SHODAN, NIDAN, SANDAN, YONDAN, AND GODAN: In addition to the performance requirements for Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan and Godan as set forth herein, if the candidate opts to demonstrate free sparring, then the Board of Examiners will select an opponent from the candidate pool to spar with the candidate under examination. The free sparring bout will not exceed one and one half minutes running time, and will not be stopped and scored. The candidate must demonstrate control, skill, strategy and technique appropriate to the rank. If the candidate opts to demonstrate 1-step/partner-drill sparring technique, then the candidate shall bring a partner to demonstrate such sparring technique to the Examining Board. The candidate shall demonstrate not less than 6 nor more than 10 attack and defense techniques, which must include various punching attacks to the head and midsection, and various kicking attacks to the head and midsection. Shodan (1st Dan) Level: Minimum age is 16 years. Demonstrate/Perform one Kata from candidate s school with skill appropriate to the rank. Demonstrate either Jiyu Kumite (Free Sparring) or Ippon Kumite (1- Nidan (2nd Dan) level: Minimum age is 18 years. Minimum of two years at Shodan rank to be eligible for promotion. Demonstrate/Perform one Kata from candidate s school with skill Demonstrate Bunkai of the demonstrated Kata from the candidate s school and respond to questions Demonstrate either Jiyu Kumite (Free Sparring) or Ippon Kumite (1- Sandan (3rd Dan) level: Minimum age is 21 years. Minimum of three years at Nidan rank to be eligible for promotion. Demonstrate Bunkai of one of the Katas performed and respond to questions Demonstrate either Jiyu Kumite (free Sparring) or Ippon Kumite (1-
Yondan (4th Dan) Level: Minimum age is 25 years. Minimum of four years at Sandan rank to be eligible for promotion. Demonstrate Bunkai of one of the Katas performed and respond to questions Demonstrate either Jiyu Kumite (Free Sparring) or Ippon Kumite (1- Godan (5th Dan) Level: Minimum age is 35 years. Minimum of five years at Yondan rank to be eligible for promotion. Demonstrate/perform two Katas from candidate s school with skill Demonstrate Bunkai of one of the Katas performed and respond to questions Demonstrate either Jiyu Kumite (Free sparring) or Ippon Kumite (1- Rokudan (6th Dan) Level: Minimum age is 45 years. Minimum of six years at Godan rank to be eligible for promotion. Demonstrate/perform two Katas from candidate s school and skill Demonstrate Bunkai of one of the Kata performed and respond to questions
Sichidan (7th Dan) Level: Minimum age is 50 years. Minimum of seven years at Rokudan rank to be eligible for promotion. Demonstrate Bunkai of one of the Kata performed and respond to questions Hachidan (8th Dan) Level: Minimum age is 55 years. Minimum of seven years at Sichidan rank to be eligible for promotion. Provide written materials summarizing Karate experience, history, and contributions to the Art.