Grading Requirement
Adult Grading:
Students must have a minimum of 30 lessons between 10th KYU (white belt) and 4th KYU (purple belt).
A minimum of 60 lessons between each grade from 4th KYU to 1st KYU (brown belt + 3 strips).
From 1st KYU to Shodan - Ho (black belt) a minimum of 100 lessons must be achieved in a minimum of 9 months of continuous training.
From Shodan - Ho to Shodan (first dan) a minimum of 100 classes must be attended between 9 - 12 months.
To Nidan (2nd dan) a minimum time of 3 years continuous training after passing to Shodan.
To Sandan (3rd dan) a minimum time of 4 years of continuous training after passing
to Nidan.
Students must please note that these are the recommended minimum training periods.
Many students will require further preparation time. After this minimum period,
please be guided in this respect by your Sensei.
The student must ensure the following requirements before attempting grading,
failure to comply will mean no grading.
1. The number of lessons must meet the min. requirement.
2. Appropriate grading fees paid.
3. Association membership (affiliation fees) current.
Junior Grading:
1. Between 7 and 13 years of age, Junior students will be graded one bar at a
time in order to fulfill the minimum requirement for each grade level.
2. Outlined in this syllabus are all the techniques necessary to progress from
one grade to the next.
3. A Junior Student will normally only progress one stripe at a time, and only
in exceptional circumstances will a bar be missed. Exceptions may be; Exceptional
performance, well in advance of that required for the next grade. This is at
the sole discretion of the Chief Instructor. Having missed the previous grading
through ill health, family holidays, outing etc, do not qualify as an Exceptional
Circumstance.
4. Each student will spend a min of 3 months on each grade up to Purple Belt.
When a junior student reaches the senior class, their instructor, based on how
they have individually developed through consistent training, invites him or
her to grade. The minimum amount of time on each strip/Kyu is Six months. When
a student reaches 1st Kyu/brown belt with 3 strips they must hold that grade
for a minimum of 12 months.
This time on 1st Kyu is used to prepare the student for the Black Belt grading.
If a student is 13 years or under, they will prepare for the Junior Shodan grading
and if the student is around the age of 15, they will prepare of the Adult Shodan
grading.