KYOKUSHIN-KAN NAMING

CORRECT SPELLING

The correct ways to spell the name of our organization are:

  • KYOKUSHIN-KAN (all caps with hyphen)
  • Kyokushin-kan (title case with hyphen)
  • @kyokushinkan (only for email/web addresses)

FORMAL ORGANIZATION NAMES

  • K.I. - Kyokushin-kan International
  • K.I.K.O. - Kyokushin-kan International Karate-do Organization
  • Kyokushin Karate-do Renmei

HONBU (HEADQUARTERS)

WHAT IS HONBU?

Honbu means Headquarters. When reference is made to Japan, Honbu means Honbu Japan or International Honbu. In Japanese it is called So-Honbu (its English translation being General Honbu or Central Honbu as in World Headquarters).

All Black Belts & Black Belt Certificates will be issued by International Honbu. The organization's core decisions and highest-level gradings are conducted at or through International Honbu.

RANK STRUCTURE

DO (DOJO OPERATOR)

A person who operates one or several dojos and is registered with International Honbu. Must be Shodan or above.

BC (BRANCH CHIEF)

A person who runs one or several dojos, generally Sandan or above, and has registered 50 or more students at International Honbu.

CR (COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE)

The maximum authority of Kyokushin-kan in that country. Selected among the BCs and approved by International Honbu. All BCs and DOs are under the CR.

AC (AREA CHAIRMAN)

The person who represents the organization in our Kyokushin-kan regional area. There are ten regional areas worldwide.

IC (INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE)

International Committee members are appointed by Kancho and supervise ACs, CRs, BCs, and DOs worldwide.

DI (DOJO INSTRUCTOR)

The person who teaches in one of the dojos, appointed from the BC or DO.

DAN GRADES & TITLES

SENSEI

Title for holders of Shodan to Yondan. The term means "one who has gone before" and is a mark of respect for instructors.

SHIHAN

Shihan title (three levels) is independent of Dan level. The title Shihan cannot be used without a Shihan License sanctioned by International Honbu.

  • Shihan Renshi - First level Shihan
  • Shihan Kyoshi - Second level Shihan
  • Shihan Hanshi - Highest level Shihan

SENPAI & KOHAI

Senpai means the person who started training Kyokushin before you. Kohai means the person who started training after you.

Note: A person who trains for 20 years and holds Shodan is still Senpai to a person who trains for 15 years and holds Nidan (who is Kohai).

SHIHAN SENIORITY

Shihan status supersedes Dan level. Those with Shihan status hold seniority over even higher Dan levels without a Shihan License. During training, Shihan License holders should line up at the very front of the dojo.

KYOKUSHIN-KAN REGIONAL AREAS

10 REGIONAL AREAS

Kyokushin-kan has ten regional areas worldwide, each supervised by an Area Chairman (AC):

  • 1. Africa
  • 2. Europe
  • 3. Russia
  • 4. Middle East
  • 5. Central Asia
  • 6. South East Asia
  • 7. North East Asia
  • 8. South Pacific
  • 9. North America
  • 10. Latin America