DAN RESOURCES
Druk Shito Kai Dan Certification Policy
Druk Shito Kai aims to provide all eligible members with the opportunity to pursue Dan Certification and the pathway to instructor licensure, including Menkyo, Jokyo, Jun-Shihan, and Shihan certification.
The organization recognizes dan certificates from the following approved bodies: Karate Do Shito-Kai USA, the World Shitoryu Karate Do Federation (WSKF), the World Karate Federation (WKF), Karate Ontario, Karate Canada, and the Nepal Karate Federation.
Applicants whose rank was not awarded by these approved entities or a Druk Shito Kai member school, and cannot be verified by a reference or documentation, may be required to demonstrate the required kata and bunkai for their grade in order to be recertified by Druk Shito Kai.
Dan Certification Testing Procedures
Druk Shito-Kai is proud to offer Dan Testing services to its members and member dojos. The Dan Testing will be conducted once per year under the supervision of the Druk Shito-Kai Technical Committee. Generally, testing takes place in person at a location that changes annually. Possible testing venues include Ohio (USA), Fargo, North Dakota (USA), or London, Ontario (Canada). Please note that all participants in Dan Testing must pay a non-refundable testing fee prior to the examination. The fee will not be refunded even if the participant is unable to attend the test. If a participant fails the test, they must pay the testing fee again before retaking the examination.
Dan Testing Process
Candidates must be members in good standing of Druk Shito-Kai. To be eligible for Shodan, candidates must be at least 16 years old. Candidates aged 12 to 15 may take the Dan test but will only receive Shodan HO (Provisional Black Belt). For all other dan level tests, candidates must meet the specific eligibility requirements for each respective dan level. Please refer to the eligibility criteria outlined for each dan level.
- Shodan HO (12 and above)
- Sho Dan (16 and above)
- Ni Dan (18 and above)
- San Dan (21 and above)
Testing Panel
In our organization, the Dan testing panel consists of the Technical Committee of Druk Shito-Kai and the Technical Director, Shihan T. Rabino. The Technical Director serves as the Chief Examiner, while all other technical committee members act as examiners for Nidan and lower dan tests. For Sandan and higher dan-level testing, the Technical Director, Shihan T. Rabino, serves as the sole examiner.
- Shihan T. Rabino
- Sensei Moni Rai
- Sensei Raj Magar
- Sensei Tula Dhakal
- Sensei Dumpa Monger
Menjos
Druk Shito-Kai offers three types of Dan Menjo:
- Druk Shito-Kai Homologated Dan Menjo
- Karate-do Shito-Kai USA Homologated Dan Menjo
- World Shitoryu Karatedo Federation (WSKF) Dan Menjo
The Druk Shito-Kai and Karate-do Shito-Kai USA Menjo are the primary certificates issued by our organization. However, if a candidate wishes to obtain a WSKF Menjo, an additional fee will apply, as it is not included in the standard testing fee.
SHODAN-HO
$200
SHODAN-HO
Please note that the testing fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
Requirements:
- Minimum age of 12 years old
- Minimum of six months at 1st Kyu rank to be eligible for promotion
Basic Kata:
- Heian Shodan
- Heian Nidan
- Heian Sadan
- Heian Yondan
- Heian Godan
Compulsory Kata:
- Bassai-Dai
- Seienchin
Kata Bunkai:
- Bassai-Dai
- Seienchin
Note:
The candidate must meet all Druk Shito-Kai standards to be eligible for promotion to the next rank.
SHODAN
$200
SHODAN
Please note that the testing fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
Requirements:
- Minimum age of 16 years old
- Minimum of one year at 1st Kyu rank to be eligible for promotion
Basic Kata:
- Sanchin
Free Kata:
- Jitte
- Shihou Koshoukun
- Safifa
- Seisan
- Juroku
- Matsukaze
Compulsory Kata:
- Bassai-Dai
- Seienchin
Kata Bunkai:
- Bassai-Dai
- Seienchin
Note:
The candidate must meet all Druk Shito-Kai standards to be eligible for promotion to the next rank.
NIDAN
$200
NIDAN
Please note that the testing fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
Requirements:
- Minimum age of 18 years old
- Minimum of two years at the Shodan rank to be eligible for promotion
Basic Kata:
- Tensho
Free Kata:
- Wanshu
- Jion
- Seipai
- Shisochin
- Souchin
- Ahnankou
- Shinpa
- Nipaipo
- Matsumura Rohai
Compulsory Kata:
- Koshhoukun-Dai
- Seipai
Kata Bunkai:
- Koshhoukun-Dai
- Seipai
Note:
The candidate must meet all Druk Shito-Kai standards to be eligible for promotion to the next rank.
SANDAN
$300
SANDAN
Please note that the testing fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
Requirements:
- Minimum age of 21 years old
- Minimum of three years at the Nidan rank to be eligible for promotion
Basic Kata:
- Naifanchin Shodan
Free Kata:
- Jiin
- Wanshu
- Shisochin
- Seisan
- Matsumura Seisan
- Shinpa
Compulsory Kata:
- Koshhoukun-Sho
- Kururunfa
Kata Bunkai:
- Koshhoukun-Sho
- Kururunfa
Note:
The candidate must meet all Druk Shito-Kai standards to be eligible for promotion to the next rank.
YONDAN
$400
YONDAN
Please note that the testing fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
Requirements:
- Minimum age of 25 years old
- Minimum of four years at Sandan rank to be eligible for promotion
Basic Kata:
- Sanchin
- Tenshou
- Naifanchin Shodan
Free Kata:
- Wanshu
- Shiho Koshoukun
- Jion
- Seipai
- Kururunfa
- Souchin
- Ahnankou
Compulsory Kata:
- Nipaipo
- Seisan
Kata Bunkai:
- Nipaipo
- Seisan
Note:
The candidate must meet all Druk Shito-Kai standards to be eligible for promotion to the next rank.
GODAN
$500
GODAN
Please note that the testing fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
Requirements:
- Minimum age of 30 years old
- Minimum of five years at Yondan rank to be eligible for promotion
Basic Kata:
- Sanchin
- Tenshou
- Naifanchin Shodan
Free Kata:
- Koshoukun Dai
- Jion
- Kururunfa
- Unsu
- Souchin
- Matsumura Seisan
Compulsory Kata:
- Sisochin
- Chinto or Arakaki sochin
Kata Bunkai:
- Sisochin
- Chinto or Arakaki sochin
Note:
The candidate must meet all Druk Shito-Kai standards to be eligible for promotion to the next rank.
ROKUDAN
$600
ROKUDAN
Please note that the testing fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
Requirements:
- Minimum age of 36 years old
- Minimum of six years at the Godan rank to be eligible for promotion
Free Kata:
- Koshoukun Shou
- Chinto
- Seisan
- Seipai
- Chatanyara Kusanku
- Papuren
Compulsory Kata:
- Gojyushio
- Suparinpe
Kata Bunkai:
- Gojyushio
- Suparinpe
Note:
The candidate must meet all Druk Shito-Kai standards to be eligible for promotion to the next rank.
Menkyo (免許)
Menkyo (免許) is a traditional Japanese pre-modern licensing system used in classical martial arts. Within Druk Shito Kai, the Menkyo system denotes proficiency, teaching authorization, and mastery.
Unlike belt-ranking systems, which often emphasize time-in-grade, the Menkyo system focuses on mastery of specific curricula. The highest level of this system, Menkyo Kaiden, signifies the “License of Total Transmission” – representing complete mastery of all knowledge and techniques transmitted by the instructor.
$50
Assistant Instructor
補助指導員
Please note that the testing fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
$60
National Instructor
全国指導員
Please note that the testing fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
$70
Chukyo
中級
Please note that the testing fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
$80
Josho
上昇
Please note that the testing fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
$90
Shidoin
指導員
Please note that the testing fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
$100
Jokyo
助教
Please note that the testing fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
$120
Sensei
先生
Please note that the testing fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
$150
Jun Shihan
準師範
Please note that the testing fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
$200
Shihan
師範
Please note that the testing fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.