Rank Requirements


Other groups within Isshinryu may have different requirements and belt colors. This is a brief overview of the minimum requirements of Adams Martial Arts
Rank promotions up to brown belt are conducted by Sensei Adams in our dojo. Promotions for brown belt and above will be conducted by Master Ed Johnson and may be held at a location other than our dojo. All time requirements are based on an average of 2 classes per week attendance. Students entering with previous rank in Isshinryu will be evaluated for rank advancement based on current ability.
10th Kyu White Belt Ju Kyu	Everyone starts here.
9th Kyu Orange Belt Ku Kyu	Three months study in Isshinryu. Student must be able to perform basics and Seisan Kata.
8th Kyu Yellow Belt Hachi Kyu	Six months study in Isshinryu. Student must show improvement in basics and Seisan and be able to perform Seiunchin Kata. Sparring (Kumite) is required for this belt.
7th Kyu Green Belt Shichi Kyu	Nine months study in Isshinryu. Student must be able to perform Seisan and Seiunchin Katas reasonably well, showing improvement over ability at previous testing. Student must perform Naihanchi Kata and spar.
6th Kyu Blue Belt Roku Kyu	Twelve months study in Isshinryu. Student must be able to perform Seisan, Seiunchin, Naihanchi and Wansu Katas reasonably well. Student must show improved Kumite techniques and have control of techniques during sparring. This rank is assigned to students of good moral character who have shown humility as a student and dedication to learning Isshinryu.
5th Kyu Purple Belt Go Kyu	Sixteen months study in Isshinryu. Students must be able to perform Seisan, Seiunchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, and Chinto Katas reasonably well. Student should show improved Kumite and be able to perform basic Bo Kumite. Student must know the basic history of Isshinryu and know karate etiquette. Student must have experience with teaching lower ranks as individuals and groups in a supervised setting.
4th Kyu 4th degree Brown Belt Yon Kyu	Twenty months study in Isshinryu. Student must be able to perform Seisan, Seiunchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto, and Sanchin Katas reasonably well. Student must perform Kumite one-on-one and two-on-one. Student should compete in at least one tournament, Kata and Kumite. To be promoted to this rank, a student must have sound knowledge of the origin of Isshinryu Karate and its development. Student must know a little of the Okinawan terminology. Student must be well versed in karate etiquette and have regular attendance at the Dojo.
3rd Kyu 3rd degree Brown Belt San Kyu	Twenty-three months study in Isshinryu. Student must be able to perform Seisan, Seiunchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto, Sanchin, and Kusanku Katas. Student must have competed in Kumite and Kata in one tournament. Student may also be asked to perform board breaks, single or multiple boards, with both hand and foot techniques.
2nd Kyu 2nd degree Brown Belt Ni Kyu	Twenty-six months study in Isshinryu. Student must be able to perform Seisan, Seiunchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto, Sanchin, Kusanku, and Kusanku Sai Katas reasonably well. Student must have good Dojo attendance. Student must be able to explain the history of Isshinryu and the philosophy of Adams Martial Arts. Student may also be required to perform board breaks.
1st Kyu 1st degree Brown Belt Ik Kyu	Thirty months study in Isshinryu. Student must be able to perform Seisan, Seiunchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto, Sanchin, Kusanku, Kusanku Sai, and Tokomeni No Kun Katas reasonably well. Student must have regular attendance and be a member in good standing with the Dojo. Student must be a capable and willing assistant in teaching karate classes to individuals and groups in both supervised and unsupervised settings. Student must be able to judge Kumite and Kata contests under supervision of instructors. Student must be of good moral character. Student must be at least 16 years of age.
Sho Dan 1st Degree Black Belt.	Student must have a minimum of three years continuous study of Isshinryu Karate. Student must be of age to compete with adults. Student must be able to perform Seisan, Seiunchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto, Sanchin, Kusanku, Kusanku Sai, Tokomeni No Kun and Sunsu Katas with total command of moves and knowledge of Bunkai in each. Student must know the history of Isshinryu. Student must be able to explain in conversation Isshinryu history, Okinawan terminology and fundamental principles of Isshinryu Karate. Student must have a sound knowledge of all lower rank requirements. Student must be well versed in karate etiquette. Student must understand promotional standards and their restrictions. Student must have experience teaching lower ranks individually and as a class, both with and without supervision. Student may be required to write a paper on any aspect of Isshinryu. May be required to pass a written test on any subject in the Martial Arts. Must be able to Kumite one on one, two on one, and three on one. Must know self - defense techniques and be able to teach them. Must be able to do board breaks.

Required for All Students Because we are teaching individuals to handle weapons as well as to be a weapon, Adams Martial Arts requires that each student be in control of his or her actions. This means that our school has a zero tolerance policy on addictions. Students and Instructors are not permitted to smoke, do drugs, or drink to excess. Persons who are in the process of quitting an addiction are completely welcome in classes. Those who are wondering about why we would have such a rule are encouraged to contact us with their questions.

Other groups within Isshinryu may have different requirements and belt colors. This is a brief overview of the minimum requirements of Adams Martial Arts

Rank promotions up to brown belt are conducted by Sensei Adams in our dojo. Promotions for brown belt and above will be conducted by Master Ed Johnson and may be held at a location other than our dojo. All time requirements are based on an average of 2 classes per week attendance. Students entering with previous rank in Isshinryu will be evaluated for rank advancement based on current ability.

10th Kyu
White Belt
Ju Kyu

Everyone starts here.

9th Kyu
Orange Belt
Ku Kyu

Three months study in Isshinryu. Student must be able to perform basics and Seisan Kata.

8th Kyu
Yellow Belt
Hachi Kyu

Six months study in Isshinryu. Student must show improvement in basics and Seisan and be able to perform Seiunchin Kata. Sparring (Kumite) is required for this belt.

7th Kyu
Green Belt
Shichi Kyu

Nine months study in Isshinryu. Student must be able to perform Seisan and Seiunchin Katas reasonably well, showing improvement over ability at previous testing. Student must perform Naihanchi Kata and spar.

6th Kyu
Blue Belt
Roku Kyu

Twelve months study in Isshinryu. Student must be able to perform Seisan, Seiunchin, Naihanchi and Wansu Katas reasonably well. Student must show improved Kumite techniques and have control of techniques during sparring. This rank is assigned to students of good moral character who have shown humility as a student and dedication to learning Isshinryu.

5th Kyu
Purple Belt
Go Kyu

Sixteen months study in Isshinryu. Students must be able to perform Seisan, Seiunchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, and Chinto Katas reasonably well. Student should show improved Kumite and be able to perform basic Bo Kumite. Student must know the basic history of Isshinryu and know karate etiquette. Student must have experience with teaching lower ranks as individuals and groups in a supervised setting.

4th Kyu
4th degree Brown Belt
Yon Kyu

Twenty months study in Isshinryu. Student must be able to perform Seisan, Seiunchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto, and Sanchin Katas reasonably well. Student must perform Kumite one-on-one and two-on-one. Student should compete in at least one tournament, Kata and Kumite. To be promoted to this rank, a student must have sound knowledge of the origin of Isshinryu Karate and its development. Student must know a little of the Okinawan terminology. Student must be well versed in karate etiquette and have regular attendance at the Dojo.

3rd Kyu
3rd degree Brown Belt
San Kyu

Twenty-three months study in Isshinryu. Student must be able to perform Seisan, Seiunchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto, Sanchin, and Kusanku Katas. Student must have competed in Kumite and Kata in one tournament. Student may also be asked to perform board breaks, single or multiple boards, with both hand and foot techniques.

2nd Kyu
2nd degree Brown Belt
Ni Kyu

Twenty-six months study in Isshinryu. Student must be able to perform Seisan, Seiunchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto, Sanchin, Kusanku, and Kusanku Sai Katas reasonably well. Student must have good Dojo attendance. Student must be able to explain the history of Isshinryu and the philosophy of Adams Martial Arts. Student may also be required to perform board breaks.

1st Kyu
1st degree Brown Belt
Ik Kyu

Thirty months study in Isshinryu. Student must be able to perform Seisan, Seiunchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto, Sanchin, Kusanku, Kusanku Sai, and Tokomeni No Kun Katas reasonably well. Student must have regular attendance and be a member in good standing with the Dojo. Student must be a capable and willing assistant in teaching karate classes to individuals and groups in both supervised and unsupervised settings. Student must be able to judge Kumite and Kata contests under supervision of instructors. Student must be of good moral character. Student must be at least 16 years of age.

Sho Dan
1st Degree Black Belt.

Student must have a minimum of three years continuous study of Isshinryu Karate. Student must be of age to compete with adults. Student must be able to perform Seisan, Seiunchin, Naihanchi, Wansu, Chinto, Sanchin, Kusanku, Kusanku Sai, Tokomeni No Kun and Sunsu Katas with total command of moves and knowledge of Bunkai in each. Student must know the history of Isshinryu. Student must be able to explain in conversation Isshinryu history, Okinawan terminology and fundamental principles of Isshinryu Karate. Student must have a sound knowledge of all lower rank requirements. Student must be well versed in karate etiquette. Student must understand promotional standards and their restrictions. Student must have experience teaching lower ranks individually and as a class, both with and without supervision. Student may be required to write a paper on any aspect of Isshinryu. May be required to pass a written test on any subject in the Martial Arts. Must be able to Kumite one on one, two on one, and three on one. Must know self - defense techniques and be able to teach them. Must be able to do board breaks.

Required for All Students

Because we are teaching individuals to handle weapons as well as to be a weapon, Adams Martial Arts requires that each student be in control of his or her actions. This means that our school has a zero tolerance policy on addictions. Students and Instructors are not permitted to smoke, do drugs, or drink to excess. Persons who are in the process of quitting an addiction are completely welcome in classes. Those who are wondering about why we would have such a rule are encouraged to contact us with their questions.


Isshinryû , meaning "whole or one-hearted way", is a traditional empty-hand style of karate originating in Okinawa. Founded by Master Shimabuku Tatsuo and officalized on Januray 15, 1956, Isshinryu is a melding of Shorin-ryû karate, Gojû-ryû karate, and Kobudo.

Adams Martial Arts is a second-generation-from-the-founder Isshinryu school. Sensei Charles Adams, Yon Dan, studies under Master Ed Johnson, Ju Dan, who studied directly under Master Shimabuku Tatsuo, founder of the style. Master Johnson was one of the original Marines who brought Isshinryu to America after being stationed in Okinawa in the 1950s.
	Master Shimabuku Tatsuo Founder of the Style