Ordinarily, students will be required to meet the following minimum time requirements in rank before testing for their next promotion. Students holding rank in other martial arts may, however, be able to advance at a faster pace. Discuss your situation with the instructor.

To Rokkyu(yellow) or Gokyu (orange): 4 months in a beginning course or 38-40 scheduled workouts

To Yonkyu (green): 5 months as a registered Gokyu or 50 workouts

To Sankyu (brown): 6 months as a registered Yonkyu or 60 workouts

To Nikyu (brown): 7 months as a registered Sankyu or 70 workouts

To Ikkyu (brown): 9 months as a registered Nikyu (Senior Student) or 90 workouts

To Shodan (black): 12 months as a registered Ikkyu (Advanced Student) 130 workouts

To Nidan (black): 2 yrs as a registered Shodan (Advanced Student) or 280 workouts

To Sandan (black): 3 yrs as a registered Nidan (Advanced Student) or 450 workouts

To Yodan (red and black): RENSHI: 4 yrs as a registered Sandan (Skilled Technician)

To Godan (red and black): RENSHI: 5 yrs as a registered Yodan (Advanced Skilled Technician)

To Rokudan (red and white): KYOSHI: 5-7 yrs as a registered Godan (Teacher)

To Shichidan (red and white): KYOSHI: 6-8 yrs as a registered Rokudan (Teacher)

To Hachidan (red, or red and white): HANSHI: 7-9 yrs as a registered Shichidan (Master Teacher with a national reputation)

To Kudan (red, or red and white): HANSHI: 8-10 yrs as a registered Hachidan (Master Teacher with a national/international reputation)

To Judan (white, red or red and white): HANSHI: 10 years as a registered Kudan (Master Teacher with an international reputation).

SOKE (Grand Master of the system). Current leader of the system (must be at least Rokudan in Wa Shin Ryu Jujutsu). The Grand Master of the system may wear a belt color appropriate to his/her rank, or he/she may wear a black, red and white belt, the belt of the SOKE. Only the appointed current SOKE may wear this belt.