Belt grading
From white belt to black belt
Every belt has a written syllabus. Students grade when their instructor says they are ready.
| Belt | Level | What is assessed |
|---|---|---|
| White | Beginner | Stances, basic punches, blocks and front kick. Dojo etiquette. |
| Yellow | 9th–8th kyu | First kata (Heian Shodan) and basic combinations. |
| Orange | 7th kyu | Heian Nidan, side kicks and simple partner drills. |
| Green | 6th kyu | Heian Sandan, round kick and basic sparring. |
| Blue | 5th kyu | Heian Yondan, combinations on the move. |
| Purple | 4th kyu | Heian Godan and controlled free sparring. |
| Brown | 3rd–1st kyu | Tekki Shodan and Bassai Dai, three brown-belt levels. |
| Black | 1st dan (Shodan) | Assessed by senior examiners after years of steady training. |
Belt colours and kata follow our association's syllabus and may differ slightly from other karate schools. Students who have trained elsewhere keep their belt after an assessment class.
Grading days
How a grading works
Instructor approval
Students need regular attendance (usually 3–4 months per belt) and the instructor's go-ahead.
The grading
Held on a Sunday every four months: basics, kata and, from green belt, sparring.
Results & certificate
Students receive their new belt and a grading certificate on the day.