Belts

Six belts, at your own pace

Parents, children and teens all start at white and follow the same path.

White belt
Skills
Bowing, stance and how to stand in line
A first block, punch and kick
How to fall and get up
Yellow belt
Skills
Longer combinations from a stance
The first short form
Working with a partner on pads
Orange belt
Skills
Stepping and turning with balance
A second form
Light-contact partner drills
Green belt
Skills
Kicks at different heights
A longer form
Taking turns leading the warm-up
Brown belt
Skills
Forms with more detail
Helping newer students on the mat
Slow, controlled partner work
Black belt
Skills
All the forms, practiced and explained
Teaching the first steps to others
Training goes on from here

Sample levels.

Every student moves at their own pace. Stripes on a belt mark steps along the way, and each family member has their own belt.

Moving up

How a belt test works

The instructor decides
When your instructor sees the skills for your belt, they tell you that you are ready to test.
In the dojo, with family watching
Tests are held in the dojo during a regular class. Families sit along the wall and stay quiet during the test.
Everyone has their own belt
A parent and a child can be on different belts, and each moves up on their own path.

Everyone begins at the same place, at any age.