Goju Karate Question?

Question

What is the difference between a Shodan-ho and a Shodan, as well as Nidan-ho and Nidan and so on. I recently achieved a Shodan but have no idea what the difference is between it and the Shodan-ho I previously held.

Answer 1

Shodan Ho is not exclusively a Goju Ryu rank.

I used it as a Junior Black Belt - before you can be issued Dan rank. I no longer issue colored belts - only certificates for proficiency until BB is earned.

Sometimes used when a new student is a BB from elsewhere - to honor his rank but not award Dan rank until the curriculum is absorbed.

There is no Nidan Ho, etc. If your school uses this, it is made up by your teacher or organization.

Mafund - that's totally news to me. I have never heard of it. I figured it would be something done individually or from group to group. I can understand it being used to denote a candidate for the particular rank.

Answer 2

In short, the 'ho' qualifier indicates that all requirements have not yet been met to earn a specific grade.  In a literal sense, 'ho' can be used for any grade.  It simply means provisional, junior, or probational.  

Colored belts are a relatively recent custom in the martial arts.  The use of the colors and grading varies greatly from style to style and even dojo to dojo.

Answer 3

It depends on your organization. And as Sensei pointed out, it isn't limited to Goju.

However, in some organizations they do have nidan-ho and sandan-ho.

As for what it means...again, depends on the group. Most groups that I know of just treat it like another level between the dan levels. Like having 2 kyu levels for each colour of belt, etc.

This can be just a money grab by one group and yet a totally legit pattern in another group. My group uses it in some countries but not in others(our use is legit in my mind..haha) as a show that the difference isn't as black and white as with colour belts. The gap between shodan, nidan, etc is very large. Someone could be right on the edge, but missing a key element. They may have trained for 2-10 years between those ranks. The actual Dan is clear cut. The Ho is a small step away.