The Bujinkan Dojo training programme consists of 9 levels of training up to the grade of Shodan (1st dan) and 9 levels of training after the grade of Shodan. The training levels up to Shodan are called kyu and after Shodan are called dan. The student starts off as mukyu (literally meaning without kyu, that is 10th kyu) and during his or her training progresses gradually to Ichikyu (1st kyu) and then to Shodan, after certification of his or her instructors.

A typical training duration to Shodan in Bujinkan Dojo Thessaloniki is approximately 5 years. We pay great importance to the training quality and the combativeness of students. Nevertheless the training duration is highly dependent on factours such as past experience to other martial arts, presence in the Dojo and most certainly it is up to the student's evolution on spiritual, physical and technical level.

Bujinkan Dojo Thessaloniki certifies training levels after an examination procedure. Therefore, instructors are responsible for the certification of one student's kyu or dan after examinations have taken place. The exams take place in Dojo at scheduled dates and times, usually three times annualy (December, March and June) for any student is prepared for a grading promotion.

The examination procedure for the 5th or 10th dan and above in Bujinkan takes place only under the presence of Soke. Beyond the 10th dan, the practitioner can claim one of the honorary licenses of Menky Kaiden (license of complete transmission of the tradition) in 5 levels. Therefore, such license holders are informally often referred to as holders of 11th to 15th dan.

Bujinkan practitioners, both students and instructors, wear a traditional black training uniform called gi. Together with a gi goes a belt that is called obi. Onto gi, at the height of chest left hand side a Bujinkan badge is placed which is called wappan. Over the wappan small stars are placed called hoshi.

The belt (obi), the badge (wappan) and the stars (hoshi) vary depending on the level. Regarding the wappan, up to 1st kyu the student wears a wappan with red background, white letters (kanji) and white border. From 1st to 4th dan practitioners wear a wappan with red background, black kanji and black border. From 5th to 9th dan practitioners wear a wappan with red background, black kanji with white letter border and white wappan border. At 10th dan, practitioners wear wappan with orange background and green kanji and border.

The number and colour of stars (hoshi) vary as well (see below). The belt colour is white for 10th kyu, for 9th to 1st kyu is green for males and red for females, and from 1st dan and over is black, with Bujinkan in kanji and the practitioner's name in katakana embroidered. In Bujinkan Dojo Thessaloniki many students wear instead of the green/red scheme, a different colour scheme (yellow, orange, green, blue, brown) depending on the kyu level. This is allowed as a tradition and honour to sensei Ioannis Topalidis, the first trainer of sensei Athanasios Kapnas.

Bujinkan grading system: wappan, hoshi, obi

8 Kyu (Hachi Kyu)

Green belt (males)

Red belt (females)

Yellow belt (alternatively)

7 Kyu (Sichi Kyu)

Green belt (males)

Red belt (females)

Orange belt (alternatively)

6 Kyu (Roku Kyu)

Green belt (males) / εναλλακτικά)

Red belt (females)

5 Kyu (Go Kyu)

Green belt (males)

Red belt (females)

Blue belt (alternatively)

4 Kyu (Shi Kyu / Yon Kyu)

Green belt (males)

Red belt (females)

Blue belt (alternatively)

3 Kyu (San Kyu)

Green belt (males)

Red belt (females)

Brown belt (alternatively)

2 Kyu (Ni Kyu)

Green belt (males)

Red belt (females)

Brown belt (alternatively)

1 Kyu (Ichi Kyu / Sho Kyu)

Green belt (males)

Red belt (females)

Black/brown belt (alternatively)

2 Dan (Ni Dan)

Black belt

 

 

3 Dan (San Dan)

Black belt

4 Dan (Yon Dan)

Black belt

6 Dan (Roku Dan)

Black belt

7 Dan (Sichi Dan)

Black belt

8 Dan (Hachi Dan)

Black belt

9 Dan (Ku Dan)

Black belt

10 Dan Chigyo Menkyo

Black belt

10 Dan Suigyo Menkyo

Black belt

10 Dan Kagyo Menkyo

Black belt

10 Dan Fugyo Menkyo

Black belt

10 Dan Kugyo Menkyo

Black belt

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