Grades
THE KYU AND DAN SYSTEM
The ISTB teaching system consists of 8 kyu (8 learning steps for beginners from the 8th up to the 1st kyu) and 8 dan (8 ranks for the advanced level budoka; the 1st dan represents the lowest and the 8th dan the highest rank).
- 8th to 4th kyu: white belt
- 3rd to 2nd kyu: brown belt
- 1st kyu: blue belt
- 1st to 8th dan: black belt
Examinations are held up to the 5th dan; the 6th, 7th and 8th dan are awarded by the head of the school.
Licenses
In keeping with the old budo tradition, there are also teacher licenses in our school. If you want to become a teacher (sensei), additional qualifications are required. Depending on such qualifications, in Takeda Ryu Kobilza Ha you can get the following licenses:
ASSISTANT LICENSE
License for the assistant instructor
The assistant instructor assists the sensei in the dojo; by exception he/she could be also licensed as a dojo leader (kancho).
SHODEN MENKYO
License for the instructor of the basic level
Teacher and examiner (shoden kyohan) for kyu and the lower dan level (dependant on his/her own grades); he/she conducts the training in the dojo and assists at national training courses.
Qualification as a sub-judge (fukushin) for 3 to 6 disciplines (i.e. technique evaluation and hand signals). Teaching of shodan techniques in 3 to 6 disciplines.
CHUDEN MENKYO
License for the instructor of the mid level
Teacher and examiner (chuden kyohan) for the dan level up to maximally 3rd dan (dependant on his/her own grades); he/she conducts the training in the dojo and assists at international training courses.
Qualification as main arbitrator (shushin) for 5 to 6 disciplines, i.e. to conduct the shiai with voice and hand signals. Knowledge of all the techniques and their variants of nidan/sandan in 5 to 6 disciplines.
JODEN MENKYO
License for the instructor of the upper level
Teacher and examiner (joden shihan) for the upper dan level up to 4th/5th dan (dependant on his/her own grades), as well as for shoden and chuden kyohan; he/she conducts the training in the dojo as well as national and international courses.
Requirements: Principles of decisions and examinations, i.e. supreme arbitrator (shinpancho) and examiner (shinsain) for 1st to 4th/5th dan in 6 disciplines (depending on his/her grades). Basic knowledge of koryu techniques as well as Atemi.
OKUDEN MENKYO
License for the instructor of the secret level
Teacher and examiner (okuden shihan) up to the 5th dan; he/she conducts the training in the dojo, national and international training courses as well as special seminars for teachers up to joden (upper level).
Systematic training of teachers and examiners up to joden as well as teaching of Bojutsu, Shugijutsu, Shurikenjutsu, Hojojutsu (as part of Jujitsu), Bujutsu Ido (budo medicine).
KAIDEN MENKYO
License for the instructor of the entire teachings
Highest teacher and examiner (kaiden shihan), like okuden, however, at least 36 dan; teaches all disciplines and all teacher levels up to okuden, i.e. he/she is also qualified and licensed to teach hiden (secret level).
SOKE
Head of the school
A soke is the founder and/or head (headmaster) of a school (ryu or ryuha), or the heir to a school. As the successor of the former head of the school, he/she has the obligation to preserve the cultural heritage, and to continue the tradition. The soke has the exclusive and unrestricted right to decide all matters of his/her school, in particular the right to name a successor (i.e. the next soke), and he/she is the only one to teach kuden (oral transmission).
Note: Instructor licenses are exclusively awarded by the head of the school.