Sodesho (sleeve badge) is worn on upper-left sleeve.

Colors:

•      Red: for doin kenshi
•      Blue: for shibu kenshi
•      Green: for Zenrin Gakuen College kenshi
•      Purple: for WSKO kenshi

Title colors:

•      Gold: for master of doin or shibu
•      Silver: for master of doin or shibu with 4th dan and below
•      Red: assistant master with 3rd dan or above

There are qualifications for 1st degree black belt (1st "dan") in order to achieve the steps of body and spiritual training.

These are bukai, hōkai, and sōkai.

Examples of bukai (武階 martial rank) and corresponding hōkai (法階 philosophical rank):

• 1st dan (初段 sho-dan) - 准拳士 Jun-kenshi
• 2nd dan (弐段 ni-dan) - 少拳士 Sho-kenshi
• 3rd dan (参段 san-dan) - 中拳士 Chu-kenshi
• 4th dan (四段 yon-dan) - 正拳士 Sei-kenshi
• 5th dan (五段 go-dan) - 大拳士 Dai-kenshi

After having 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree bukai qualifications, kenshi practicing at doin will automatically have Jun-kenshi, Sho-kenshi and Chu-kenshi in hokai qualifications, those kenshi practicing at branches will have these corresponding hokai after joining the training at Shorinji Kempo headquarters in Tadotsu town in Kagawa prefecture in Japan.

From 1st to 3rd dans, the examinations are held in during Federation gradings.

Special examination is only held in Tadotsu or during designated International study sessions for the qualifications of 4th degree and above.

Outside Japan 3rd degree practitioners (san-dan) are considered teachers. In Japan , 4th degree practitioners (yon-dan) and above are considered teachers, but those ranking at the 5th degree (go-dan) and above are officially called sensei (先生: teacher).

Kenshi who obtained 4th dan automatically obtain Sei-kenshi as well.