The following are the grading requirements as outlined by the Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation.

Please note that the karate-ka’s Sensei has a great deal of discretion pertaining to belt advancement in relation to these guidelines.

When considering rank advancement, the Sensei also take into consideration the character, work ethic, dedication/commitment, involvement, and other factors of the karateka before awarding a new rank. These considerations become even more important as the karateka gets closer to achieving a black belt.

ACTIVE TRAINING (PERTAINS ONLY TO SWKKF TRAINING)
Attending on average, six 1.5‐hour training sessions per month, with active participation within the class, for a minimum of 10 months per year. This training must pertain to Shintani Karate. Hours training in other disciplines or sports do not count towards time requirements for gradings.