Grading

Why grade?

Grading enables you to break up the path towards black belt into achievable chunks and allows us to see if you have understood the technical requirements for each grade. Over the course of your gradings to black belt and beyond we can see that you have covered the material needed for that grade and that there are no holes in your knowledge. As the saying goes, 'you can't expect if you don't inspect'.
Grading also tests you under pressure. Some people find the pressure of grading quite hard to manage but that is the point. A street fight should you ever find your self there is much more pressured though slightly more instinctive.So in the grading it's about you keeping your cool, preparing well, and showing your knowledge. Many of our people say that after passing their gradings they feel they can go on in life to do anything they choose and succeed.

How many grades to Black belt?

We have seven grades up to first degree black belt and have at present five degrees of black belt. Student grades are at present denoted by different colour t-shirts and are as follows:

Grey, Yellow, Green, Blue one, Blue two, Brown one, Brown two, and Black.

Students Knowing which grade you are helps the instructor teach you to the required level. You MUST wear a club t-shirt to take part in classes. Wear the colour appropriate to your grade.

How often should I grade?

Students in general should grade every six months. There are gradings every three months so you'll still be able to grade promptly should you miss one. If you are a Bruce Lee and training very hard we may promote you faster. However, don't worry it's about being good and if you go fast early on you only have to wait later while you pick up appropriate skills and experience. It's not a race but a way of life.

How long does it take to get to Black Belt?

Normally about four years of regular hard training. The Black Belt test at the Academy is world renowned for its rigor and high level so don't worry if it's taking you longer. Some people have been here for ten years or more before taking their black belt so it's not just based on time. You have to be to the standard.

What benefits will grading give me?

The path towards Black belt isn't about the grading and the certificate; it's about your personal growth. We can often tell when a person is at the right point to take their black belt when they are no longer seeking it but are on the road of self-perfection and Black belt is only an external reference to what they already know internally. So don't seek it but have it as a milestone on your martial arts path. It's like having a degree: when you've got it you think 'what was the big deal?' and realise that you have only just started. It's the path that's interesting, not the destination.

Here is an indication of the first grading syllabus, Grey.

Footwork:
Circling the Pad

Basics
Front kick x5
Round kick x5

Combinations

Core essentials:
Jab,
Double Jab,
Jab-cross-hook
Cross-hook-cross
Lead round kick-cross-hook-cross
Jab cross-hook-Rear round kick

Pair techniques

Defence
vs Jab: Slip the jab and jab to body
vs Cross: Slip the cross and cross to body

Trapping
Pak sau (slap) and Da(punch)
Lop sau (grab) and Da (punch)
Pak sau-lop sau da (slap then grab and punch)
One step groin kick-lop sau da (grab and punch)