Dan Certificate Program

National DAN Certification Program

At the Bermuda Karate Federation, we understand the importance of having your Dan Rank recognized by the National Governing Body for Bermuda Karate. That's why we offer a comprehensive system to ensure that our members can have their 1st through 3rd Dan rank from approved member clubs and affiliated organizations cross-ranked. For ranks of 4th Dan and above or ranks earned from non-approved sources, we offer the ability to validate your rank through a performance evaluation.

We also recognize that some members may have become separated from their instructor or organization over the years. For these members, we offer the opportunity to test for rank promotion from a panel of nationally recognized examiners.

It is our goal at BKF to afford all eligible members the opportunity to participate in the Dan Certification process. However, applicants whose current rank was not awarded by an approved Karate member school/organization or other recognized affiliate, and whose rank cannot be verified by a reference, or whose documentation cannot be produced for review, etc., may be required to provide additional karate rank-related background information at the request of the BKF Technical Committee.

We are committed to ensuring that our members have the opportunity to achieve their full potential in karate and to have their achievements recognized by the National Governing Body. Thank you for your continued support of the Bermuda Karate Federation.

Please click here or the icon to view the Dan rank eligibility chart.

RANK (DAN) CERTIFICATION TESTING AND PROCEDURES

The following is the testing protocol and statement of requirements for the Bermuda Karate Federation (BKF) rank (Dan) certification program. The goal of the program is to encourage a broad understanding of the techniques and different styles, which make up modern Karate. The BKF Dan certification program is based upon the requirements of the World Karate Federation program. It is not the intent of the BKF Dan Certification program to replace or promote any particular style of Karate.

A candidate for Dan Certification must be an active member in good standing of BKF.

THE TESTING PANEL:

The BKF Dan Certification testing shall be conducted by administrative review and/or by performance evaluation at BKF Signature Events.

The National Board of Examiners shall consist of at least five examiners from the Technical Committee of the Bermuda Karate Federation. The BKF Board of Directors reserves the right to add or remove examiners from the Board of Examiners. BKF may establish regional Examining Boards from time to time to administer testing between Signature Events. The BKF Board of Examiners may certify an applicant’s rank from Shodan (1st Dan) to Hachi-dan (8th Dan).

THE TESTING PROCESS:

Each candidate for certification must hold a karate rank and validate that ranking by presenting: a copy of their rank certificate and/or verifiable evidence of the candidate’s current karate rank, a BKF Dan Certification application and/or other required documentation, if requested, to BKF for consideration.

Applicants who seek recognition of their current rank or lower level rank for the ranks of Shodan (1stDan), Nidan (2ndDan), and Sandan (3rdDan), who meet the BKF cross-rank recognition criteria may be eligible to receive a BKF Dan Certificate without completing the performance requirements. (See Eligibility Chart).

Applicants who (1): seek Yondan (4thDegree) or above; or (2): are not eligible for a performance waiver; or (3); who seek rank promotion within the BKF-do Federation, shall be evaluated in accordance with the following requirements:

SHODAN, NIDAN, SANDAN, YONDAN, AND GODAN:

In addition to the performance requirements for Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan and Godan as set forth herein, if the candidate opts to demonstrate free sparring, then the Board of Examiners will select an opponent from the candidate pool to spar with the candidate under examination. The free sparring bout will not exceed one and one half minutes running time, and will not be stopped and scored. The candidate must demonstrate control, skill, strategy and technique appropriate to the rank. If the candidate opts to demonstrate 1-step/partner-drill sparring technique, then the candidate shall bring a partner to demonstrate such sparring technique to the Examining Board. The candidate shall demonstrate not less than 6 nor more than 10 attack and defense techniques, which must include various punching attacks to the head and midsection, and various kicking attacks to the head and midsection.

Shodan (1st Dan) Level:

Minimum age is 16 years.
Demonstrate/Perform one Kata from candidate’s school with skill appropriate to the rank.
Demonstrate either Jiyu Kumite (Free Sparring) or Ippon Kumite (1-Step/Partner-Drill Sparring Technique) at the option of the candidate.

Nidan (2nd Dan) level:

Minimum age is 18 years.
Minimum of two years at Shodan rank to be eligible for promotion.
Demonstrate/Perform one Kata from candidate’s school with skill appropriate to rank.
Demonstrate Bunkai of the demonstrated Kata from the candidate’s school and respond to questions on the application and principles of the Kata.
Demonstrate either Jiyu Kumite (Free Sparring) or Ippon Kumite (1-Step/Partner-Drill Sparring Technique) at the option of the candidate.

Sandan (3rd Dan) level:

Minimum age is 21 years.
Minimum of three years at Nidan rank to be eligible for promotion.
Demonstrate/Perform two Katas from candidate’s school with skill appropriate to rank.
Demonstrate Bunkai of one of the Katas performed and respond to questions on the application and principles of the Kata.
Demonstrate either Jiyu Kumite (free Sparring) or Ippon Kumite (1-Step/Partner-Drill Sparring Technique) at the option of the candidate.

Yondan (4th Dan) Level:

Minimum age is 25 years.
Minimum of four years at Sandan rank to be eligible for promotion.
Demonstrate/Perform two Katas from candidate’s style and another style with skill appropriate to rank.
Demonstrate Bunkai of one of the Katas performed and respond to questions on the application and principles of the Kata.
Demonstrate either Jiyu Kumite (Free Sparring) or Ippon Kumite (1-Step/Partner-Drill Sparring Technique) at the option of the candidate.
Present/explain general history of the candidate’s style of Karate and/or lineage.

Godan (5th Dan) Level:

Minimum age is 30 years.
Minimum of five years at Yondan rank to be eligible for promotion.
Demonstrate/perform two Katas one from candidate’s style and another style with skill appropriate to rank.
Demonstrate Bunkai of one of the Katas performed and respond to questions on the application and principles of the Kata.
Demonstrate either Jiyu Kumite (Free sparring) or Ippon Kumite (1-Step/Partner-Drill Sparring Technique) at the option of the candidate.
Present/explain general history of the candidate’s style of Karate and/or lineage.

Rokudan (6th Dan) Level:

Minimum age is 36 years.
Minimum of six years at Godan rank to be eligible for promotion.
Demonstrate/perform two Katas from candidate’s style and one other style and skill appropriate to rank.
Demonstrate Bunkai of one of the Kata performed and respond to questions on the application and principles of the Kata.
Present/explain general history of the candidate’s style of Karate and/or lineage.

Nanadan (7th Dan) Level:

Minimum age is 43 years.
Minimum of seven years at Rokudan rank to be eligible for promotion.
Demonstrate/Perform two Katas from candidate’s style and one from another style with skill appropriate to rank.
Demonstrate Bunkai of one of the Kata performed and respond to questions on the application and principles of the Kata.
Present/explain general history of the candidate’s style of Karate and/or lineage.

Hachidan (8th Dan) Level:

Minimum age is 55 years.
Minimum of ten years at Nanadan rank to be eligible for promotion.
Demonstrate/Perform two Katas one from candidate’s style and one other style with skill appropriate to rank.
Present/explain general history of the candidate’s style of Karate and/or lineage.
Provide written materials summarizing Karate experience, history, and contributions to the Art.

Kyudan (9th Dan) Level:

Minimum age is 68 years.
Minimum of thirteen years at Hachidan rank to be eligible for promotion.
Demonstrate/Perform three Katas one from candidate’s style and two from two other styles with skill appropriate to rank.
Present/explain general history of the candidate’s style of Karate and/or lineage.
Provide written materials summarizing Karate experience, history, and contributions to the Art.