Information Colored belts and karate ranks are awards of recognition presented to indicate the progress of the student in mastering the physical, mental and emotional aspects of karate.
All students start with white-belts, signifying that they are beginners.
With regular, focused, practice it takes between three and five years to earn a black-belt. Members are able to train as guests of AJKA member and affiliate clubs throughout the United States. Since all students are individuals with different potential and rates of development, it is essential that, for testing, one student not be compared to another. Grading should only be used as a tool to measure each students' own individual improvement. The true opponent, in testing and karate in general, is yourself.