What are the belts (grades) in karate and how long does it take to reach them?

Students start by going through the "kyu" ranks. Progression in karate is a personal journey, but at the early stages you can expect to grade every 3 to 6 months. Kyu ranks and the color belts that go with them are:

9th Kyu (Red)
8th Kyu (Yellow)
7th Kyu (Orange)
6th Kyu (Green)
5th Kyu (Blue)
4th Kyu (Purple)
3rd Kyu (Brown)
2nd Kyu (Brown)
1st Kyu (Brown)
1st Dan (Black)

Junior and cadet students (6-15) must take a Mon Grade prior to taking the associated Kyu grade and receive a stripped belt.