The Dojo Martial Arts is an independent dojo,
free from dogmatic organizations and martial arts politics.

The Dojo is a self-defense school located in Mason, Ohio.  It was founded in 2006.

The Dojo is highly respected in all disciplines and styles of Martial Arts, maintaining
decades-long friendships with all traditions, teachers, practitioners, and styles of Martial Arts.

The Dojo's ranking system is based upon merit, not money, favor, or time.  

Each rank that is achieved at The Dojo is earned through sweat, study, and determination.  

The Dojo is not a "belt factory''.  

Each student progresses at his/her own individual pace. 

If one endures, martial Arts can literally be a lifelong and highly rewarding educational career.

How long does it take to achieve the Black Belt at your dojo?
Anywhere from 4-6 years is around average.  This depends upon several factors such as:
total amount of accumulated class hours, knowledge of core basics and techniques, maturity,
quality of movement, personal growth, etc.


What does that Japanese word next to the rank mean?
Kyu (級) means "Grade"  (colored belt grades 15-1)
Dan (段) means "Step or Stage" (Black Belt Degrees 1-10)

What does earning a black belt mean?
According to Sensei Norcross:
"It is no small task to earn a Black Belt here at The Dojo.  That rank is quite an achievement!
However, all my teachers used to say to us -  'your shodan just means that you know some of the basics. 
Now we can all get to work on the harder, secret material that will forge a truly actualized human being."

"Sensei says: After the Black Belt, we start to walk...and make the art our own."

Why do most people quit?
Quitting anything in life is usually caused by fear, nervousness, laziness, and lack of self-esteem.  
These all come from that internal enemy called 'self-doubt'.  

Self-doubt is precisely what one fights to overcome every day at the dojo.

Famous Martial Arts Quote
"A Black belt is a white belt who just didn't quit."

The White Belt is the beginning of your journey.

The Black Belt is the beginning of your understanding.

Ranking System of The Dojo Martial Arts

Colored Belt Beginner Grades

White Belt - 15th class  ju-go-kyu

Yellow Belt - 14th class  ju-yon-kyu

Yellow/Black - 13th class  ju-san-kyu

Blue/White - 12th class  ju-ni-kyu

Blue - 11th class  ju-ik-kyu

Blue/Black - 10th class  ju-kyu

Red/White - 9th class  kyu-kyu

Red - 8th class  hachi-kyu

Red/Black - 7th class  nana-kyu

Green/White - 6th class  rok-kyu

Green - 5th class  go-kyu

Green/Black - 4th class  yon-kyu

Brown/White - 3rd class  san-kyu

Brown - 2nd class  ni-kyu

Brown/Black - 1st class  ik-kyu

Black Belt Ranks for Advanced Degrees, Serious Practitioners and Instructors

1st Degree Shodan (Minimum 4-6 years)

2nd Degree Ni Dan (Minimum 2-3 yrs. at 1st Dan)

3rd Degree San Dan– Bushi Title Earned (Minimum 2 -3 yrs at 2nd dan)

4th Degree Yon Dan– Renshi I -  Title Earned (Warrior Name Earned) (3 yrs at 3rd dan) 

5th Degree Go Dan– Renshi II - Title Earned (3-4 yrs. at 4th dan)

6th Degree Roku Dan– Renshi III - (3-4 yrs. at 5th dan)

7th Degree Nana Dan– Kyoshi I - (3-4 yrs. at 6th dan)

8th Degree Hachi Dan–Kyoshi II - (3-4 yrs. at 7th dan)

9th Degree Ku Dan–Hanshi (3-4 yrs. At 8th dan)

10th Degree Ju Dan (3-4 years at 9th dan) 

A challenge to all:

"Only one or two out of every 100 students reaches Black Belt

and of those only 1 out of every 1,000 achieves the 2nd Dan ."

 - Mas Oyama (1923 – 1994),  founder of Kyokushin Karate