Kata
How does a karateka get the formal rank?
Karate
Karate Heidy Rodríguez Guillaume Cossou Saori Ishioka Shōrin-ryū
Karate-Kata Heidy_Rodríguez-Abstract Guillaume_Cossou-Abstract Saori_Ishioka-Personal_life Shōrin-ryū-Ranks
Kata (型:かた) means literally "shape" or "model." Kata is a formalized sequence of movements which represent various offensive and defensive postures. These postures are based on idealized combat applications. The applications applied in a demonstration with real opponents is referred to as a Bunkai. The Bunkai shows how every stance and movement is used. Bunkai is a useful tool to understand a kata. To attain a formal rank the karateka must demonstrate competent performance of specific required kata for that level. The Japanese terminology for grades or ranks is commonly used. Requirements for examinations vary among schools.
Heidy Rodríguez (Born May 9, 1981 in La Vega), is a Karateka from the Dominican Republic who twice won the golden medal at the Pan American Games. She is 3rd Dan (rank). She majored in Medicine from Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo in 2008. 
Guillaume Cossou is a French karateka who won a bronze medal in the male open kumite at the 2004 European Karate Championships. Guillaume's brother Mathieu Cossou is also a karateka. 
On , Ishioka announced that she was expecting a baby and would get married to a fellow karateka from Zendokai. 
In 1924, Gichin Funakoshi adopted the Dan system from judo founder Kanō Jigorō using a rank scheme with a limited set of belt colors. In 1960, this practice was adopted in Okinawa. In a Kyū/Dan system, the beginner grade is a higher-numbered kyū (e.g., 7th Kyū) and progress is toward a lower-numbered Kyū. The Dan progression continues from 1st Dan (Shodan, or 'beginning dan') to the higher dan grades. Kyū-grade karateka are referred to as "color belt" or mudansha ("ones without dan"); Dan-grade karateka are referred to as yudansha (holders of dan rank). Yudansha typically wear a black belt. Requirements of rank differ among styles, organizations, and schools. Kyū ranks stress stance, balance, and coordination. Speed and power are added at higher grades. Minimum age and time in rank are factors affecting promotion. Testing consists of demonstration of technique before a panel of examiners. Black belt testing is commonly done in a manner known as shinsa, which includes a written examination as well as demonstration of kihon, kumite, kata, and bunkai (applications of technique). In Shōrin-ryū, one possible rank (belt) progression is listed below: There are many others. For instance, the largest Organization in North America does not use yellow, orange, blue, nor purple belts. : Nor are they consistent from school to school. In the USA, the mudansha generally are: "White Belt" (7th Kyū) "Yellow Belt" (6th Kyū) "Orange Belt" (5th Kyū) "Purple Belt" (4th Kyū) "Green Belt" (3rd Kyū) "Blue Belt" (2nd Kyū) "Brown Belt" (1st Kyū) In the USA, the yudansha generally are: "Black Belt" (1st to 3rd Dan) Master Level "Red and Black Checkered Belt (4th to 5th Dan) "Red and White Checkered Belt (6th to 8th Dan) "Red Belt" (9th to 10th Dan)  