Ranking
As the students progress they can ask to be tested for promotion to the next belt level. The belt levels serve as an indicator of the student's development and are not a badge of authority, success or failure. The JKA recognizes 9 kyu or intermediate levels and 10 dan or black belt levels in the following sequence:
| Rank | Belt | Minimum Training Before Taking Test | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9th kyu (lowest) | white | N/A | |
| 8th kyu | yellow | 3 months after 9th kyu | |
| 7th kyu | orange | 3 months after 8th kyu | |
| 6th kyu | green | 6 months after 7th kyu | |
| 5th kyu | purple | 6 months after 6th kyu | |
| 4th kyu | purple | 3 months after 5th kyu | |
| 3rd kyu | brown | 6 months after 4th kyu | |
| 2nd kyu | brown | 6 months after 3rd kyu | |
| 1st kyu | brown | 3 months after 2nd kyu | |
| shodan | black | 6 months after 1st kyu | |
| nidan | black | 2 years after shodan | |
| sandan | black | 3 years after nidan | |
| yondan | black | 4 years after sandan | |
| godan | black | 5 years after yondan | |
| rokudan | black | 6 years after godan | |
| nanadan | black | 7 years after rokudan | |
| hachidan | black | 8 years after nanadan | |
Kyudan is awarded to the chief instructor of the JKA and Judan is usually a posthumous rank.
The minimum time requirement noted above is calculated for students who attend at least three times a week. For those who cannot train as frequently, the time needed to prepare for the next exam will be greater. Kyu exams are held approximately every 3 months for students attending any of the JKA clubs in the Markham area. They normally take place in the GTA. During the exam, the students will be asked to perform the kihon, kumite and kata techniques that they have learned in class before a panel of examiners. Specific details of what the students are expected to know for each level, as set out by the Canadian JKA Federation, will be given by the instructor. A passing grade in all three aspects and an overall mark of 60 percent must be attained in order for the student to be promoted. In cases where the student fails in only one of the three categories, the examiners may recommend a re-exam in the interval between regular testing. Re-exams usually take place in the student's regular dojo with Sensei as an examiner.