NCK Ranking System
NCK uses the ranking system used in most other Kenpo/Kempo systems. The student progression is a follows: White, Yellow, Orange, Purple, Blue, Green, Brown 3rd, Brown 2nd, Brown 1st, Black Belt. Those ranks under black belt are known as the Kyu ranks. Black Belt are known as the Dan ranks. NCK, originally, does not use stripes between colors. Although, some schools have added these as a way to slow the students progression, especially children, through the ranks.
White (9th kyu - Kukyu)
White belt is the beginning of the student's journey in NCK. It is a time of learning the Five Principles of Conduct as well as establishing the students foundation via stance, blocks, strikes, kicks, and balance. The student is started on understanding and practicing basic self defense techniques using the basics learned.
Yellow (8th kyu - Hachikyu)
Yellow belt is a wonderful stage for the new student, as they have just passed their first Martial Arts belt test and have a renewed sense of accomplishment. They progress through yellow belt primarily learning how to move with their basics and keeping balance while doing so. Self defense techniques are taught utilizing a bigger variety of stances and strikes that were taught during this stage. Tradition and terminology are also learned and reinforced and the student is developing a firm foundation from which to continue his journey.
Orange (7th kyu - Shichikyu)
As the student progresses through the Orange belt phase, they are introduced to forms and katas, prearranged movements/techniques against multiple attacks. Self defense techniques are more varied against puches, grabs, and holds, and student is starting to settle into life as a Martial Arts student.
Purple (6th kyu - Rokyu)
Purple is the transition rank from beginner to intermediate student. The student has been in the dojo for almost a year or more. They are developing the work ethic and discipline needed to continue their training through the intermediate ranks and beyond. At this stage, they learn more advanced forms/katas utilizing short and long range stances and the self-defense techniques get more advance as now the focus is on keeping the attacker close to you and not far away so you can run. You should now be well into applying the Five Principles of Conduct and hopefully are starting to intergrate them into your daily life.
Blue (5th kyu - Gokyu)
Blue belt sometimes feels like your walking across a desert with no end in sight. Number wise, your at the half way point to Black Belt. Your not a beginner any more but neither are you advanced. You continue to review basics and make sure there are no cracks in your foundation before advancing. This is rank of discipline and perserverence. It is also one of the higher drop out ranks in the system due to it's continuous focus on basics and correctness of execution. The rank is very similar to the purple belt structure but with more quantity in each catagory. As stated earlier, this is the rank of discipline and perserverance.
Green (4th kyu - Yonkyu,
aka, Yokyu)
Green belt feels like seeing spring after a long, long winter. You have passed your first major hurdle and now have a new sense of accomplishment and focus. You now know what it will take to continue your journey moving forward. Green belt is marked by more advanced concepts, many of which involving circular motion. It takes the minimum effort, maximum result rule and focuses it on more focused multiple attack situations. Again, your focus continues to be on basics with emphasis on more power and accuracy. Speed is not a priority, accuracy is everything.
Brown 3rd (3rd kyu - Sankyu)
Congratulations! You have reached an important plateau in your journey. Colorwise, you are one step away from your black belt. The Brown belt stage is broken up into three seperate stages for a reason. It makes your blue belt journey seem like a walk across the street. The good news is that you have developed your effort and discipline to an almost mechanical precision. You know what it takes to get the results your looking for and you've developed the next most important character trait...patience! This is what you'll need to make it through your Brown belt journey. The Brown belt stage is polishing of your material getting ready for Black Belt and also the introduction of weapons, namely the Bo staff.
Brown 2nd (2nd kyu - Nikyu)
The Brown 2nd stage arrives without fanfare and leaves much the same way. At this stage, belt color is meaningless. You are not focused on rank. You are focused and consumed with practice, patience, and discipline to achieve your desired results. Your training continues to test your boundaries with more advanced katas and techniques. You are developing awareness during this rank and focus which you'll need to reach Black Belt.
Brown 1st (1st kyu - Ikkyu)
Brown 1st is the rank that feels like it never ends. Black Belt is now within site, like a star. And like a star, it is bright enough to see clearly but much too far to reach. Brown 1st will test all of your willpower about how much you really want to achieve your Black Belt. The Brown belt stage is the second most drop out rank because of it's length. The Brown 1st rank is all about polish. There is very little new material to learn. Your focus is on perfection and executing your techniques to work in reality. There is nothing pretty about a fight. A Black Belt knows this and is not a hostage to trying to make everything he does look like something out of the movies. This stage is all about keeping it simple and perservering. Good luck!
1st Black Belt (Shodan)
Congratulations! You've reached your 1st degree Black Belt (Shodan). You've passed basic training. From here you now learn more applications of your basics, when and when not to use, how to make everything simpler. Remember, at this rank you are now an example to those who would like to follow in your foot steps and also achieve their Shodan. An NCK Black Belt personifies Professor Cerio's Principles of Conduct. You should now know Self-Control. Enjoy you continued journey as now the Martial Arts has become part of your life. It is worth noting here that NCK uses gold stripes to show rank, not red stripes. However, it is traditionally acceptable to leave your black belt without stripes, as Professor Cerio was contemplating changing back to shortly before his passing.
The remaining NCK Black Belt ranks are:
Nidan - 2nd Black Belt
Sandan - 3rd Black Belt
Yondan - 4th Black Belt
Godan - 5th Black Belt
Rokudan - 6th Black Belt
Shichidan - 7th Black Belt
Hachidan - 8th Black Belt
Kudan - 9th Black Belt
Judan 10th Black Belt
(In NCK, Judan is reserved solely for Professor Nick Cerio. There can not be and will not be another Judan in NCK.)
