Kuro Obi (Black Belts)
This page is dedicated to the Instructors, Assistant Instructors and Students of Kubotan Karate Kai who have achieved with the grit and determination required the status of the coveted Kuro Obi (Black Belt).
The following age and time interval requirements apply to Dan Grades within Kubotan Karate Kai and the World Karate Federation (WKF).
| Rank | 段 | Dan | Minimum Requirement |
| Shodan | 初段 | 1st Dan | 15 years of age. No student can go to 1st Dan under 15yrs. |
| Nidan | 弐段 | 2nd Dan | 17 years of age – 2 years since 1st Dan. |
| Sandan | 参段 | 3rd Dan | 20 years of age – 3 years since 2nd Dan. |
| Yondan | 四段 | 4th Dan | 24 years of age – 4 years since 3rd Dan. |
| Godan | 五段 | 5th Dan | 29 years of age – 5 years since 4th Dan. |
| Rokudan | 六段 | 6th Dan | 35 years of age – 6 years since 5th Dan. |
| Shichidan | 七段 | 7th Dan | 42 years of age – 7 years since 6th Dan. |
| Hachidan | 八段 | 8th Dan | 50 years of age – 8 years since 7th Dan. |
| Kudan | 九段 | 9th Dan | Exceptional lifetime achievement for Karate. |
| Judan | 十段 | 10th Dan | Exceptional lifetime achievement for Karate. |
Kubotan’s Dan Grades (Black Belts)
Jason Hayward (Chief Instructor) 5th Dan
1st Dan – 21st August 1988
2nd Dan – 27th March 2011
3rd Dan – 20th March 2014
4th Dan – 24th June 2018
5th Dan – 21st October 2023
Lauren Hayward (Instructor) 3rd Dan
1st Dan – 30th March 2014
2nd Dan – 20th March 2016
3rd Dan – 13th December 2020
Andrew Yorath 3rd Dan
1st Dan – 13th August 1989
2nd Dan – 16th December 2018
3rd Dan – 20th March 2022
Mark Whitby 3rd Dan
1st Dan – 3rd December 2017
2nd Dan – 15th December 2019
3rd Dan – 2nd July 2023.
Amy Thomas – 2nd Dan
1st Dan – 25th July 2021
2nd Dan – 14th April 2024
Emma Evans 2nd Dan
1st Dan – 16th December 2018
2nd Dan – 12th December 2021
Robert Potter 2nd Dan
16th December 2018
Ioan Evans 2nd Dan
1st Dan – 29th March 2015
2nd Dan – 2nd March 2017
James Rogers 1st Dan
1st Dan – 12th December 2021
Logan Rogers 1st Dan
1st Dan – 12th December 2021
Curtis Williams 1st Dan
1st Dan – 12th December 2021
Simon Williams 1st Dan
1st Dan – 12th December 2021
Oli Richards 1st Dan
1st Dan – 13th December 2020
Andrew Collins 1st Dan
16th December 2018
