Belts & Grading

People often ask how the belts and grading systems work.

A student will begin as a white belt. Roughly every three months, and providing the relevant criteria have been met, he or she will attempt a grading. A pass will result in a move to the next Mon or Kyu grade.

Kyu grades
Each Kyu grade is represented by a coloured belt:

Beginner		White
9th Kyu		Red
8th Kyu		Orange
7th Kyu		Yellow
6th Kyu		Green
5th Kyu		Purple
4th Kyu	----------------	Purple with single white stripe
3rd Kyu		Brown
2nd Kyu	----------------	Brown with single white stripe
1st Kyu	=========	Brown with double white stripe

After the Kyu grades, the student will attempt the Dan (black-belt) gradings.

Mon grades
The easiest way to think of a Mon is as a half-way between two belts and is represented by a tag (usually white) attached to the lower grade of the belts. So, a red-belt student who achieves a Mon grade, would wear a red-belt with a white-tag, which is known as 8th Mon.

Grading criteria
A student will be eligible to grade, providing the following criteria have been met:

• The required technical standard has been reached
• Attendance at lessons has been satisfactory
• At least one additional course has been attended since the last grading