What are the belts?
The Karate belt system is used in martial arts training to show the progress that a student has made in his/her study. The student starts out at a low rank of belt (white) and progresses through the ranks to make it to the top (black) to instruct students him/her self. They have to advance through the ranks (called kyu) to show their honor. To advance belts, they must show that they are ready by doing a belt examination. Belt examinations could involve performing sets of katas, fighting other members of the dojo, or performing other tests that show proficiency of the art.
What is KATA?
KATA is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practiced either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general.
Kata are used in many traditional Japanese arts such as theater forms like kabuki and schools of tea ceremony (chadō), but are most commonly known for the presence in the martial arts. Kata are used by most traditional Japanese and Okinawan martial arts, such as aikidō, iaidō, jōdō, jūdō, jūjutsu, kenjutsu, kendō and karate. Other arts such as t'ai chi ch'uan and taekwondo feature the same kind of training, but use the respective Chinese and Korean words taolu and hyeong, respectively.
What is a Dojo?
DOJO is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to conduct training, examinations and other related encounters.
The concept of a dōjō as a martial arts training place is a Western concept; in Japan, any physical training facility, including professional wrestling schools, may be called dōjō because of its close martial arts roots.
What is a KIAI?
KIAI is a Japanese term used in martial arts as a battle cry. There are numerous examples of the battle cry in other cultures, kiai is perhaps primarily a development of this. In the representation of Asian martial arts in cinema and in animated cartoons, Modern Kiai are often written by westerners in Romaji as Hi-yah!, Aiyah!, Eeee-yah!, or Hyah!. Traditional Japanese Dojo generally use single syllables beginning with a vowel. In the board game Go the term describes fighting spirit — see go terms for this use.