What is your style's/dojo's (dojang's, kwoon's, etc.) promotion ceremony like? I'm just curious, because I'm sure they can't all be the same.

Peace;

Parkerlineage

PS. I'm putting mine on here when I'm done writing it out.

Teacher and student face one another, belt between them. Student and teacher kneel down (the quotes are what the instructor says - fill in your own name and rank, etc, but I'm putting my stuff in here).

(While student follows instruction) "Take off your old belt, fold it up, and place it in front and to the left of the new one. The left is traditionally the weaker side, and therefore you remove the weaker belt to get the stronger one. The two belts form the shape of an 'L', which stands for the loyalty between a teacher and a student."

(belt is folded and placed) "Put your hands in front of the belt, without touching it, and touch your forehead to the belt, as that is where your knowledge comes from, so it gets the initial credit."

(student touches forehead) "Sit up. By the power vested in my by Professor Halsey and Master Planas, I award you your polka-dot belt." (Hold belt up by either end, snap it open, hand it to student)

"Now your body can do the work and put it on."

(belt is on) "Stand up, turn around and face the class. Training horse stance, move."

(Student is in horse) "With the joy of recieving your new rank, it also comes with the pain of birth, which is a kick to the stomach, the higher you go, the harder it gets. Breathe in..."

 

BAM!

"Class, pay your respects to the new polka-dot belt."

(Class and student exchange short greeting. Everybody claps. The end)

Our Sensei just gives us our new belt after class, and tells us if we wear our old belt again we're keeping it. I'm not sure if he means it or not...

We stand facing the instructor. The instructor calls out your name and you walk to the side of the classroom and then to the front. You face him, and bow, and take your certificate. You face the class, take off your belt and the instructor ties the new one on. You face the instructor, bow, turn to the class, bow, everyone claps and you return to your seat.

Well our gradings are done by higher ranking people and masters come over at certain times to host gradings, our sensei tells you in person if you had failed the next class. As for ceremony alot of people just grab them after class, however I and the senior belts know only to wear the belt when we are told to...

Hmm...Sensei calls us all up, lines us up in order of rank, has us all turn around and take our belts off, turn back around with our old belts over our shoulders, then goes down the line, starting at the lowest ranking, puts our belts on, shakes our hand, we bow, then he continues down the line. Then everybody goes in line (by rank, of course) and shakes their hand, says some sort of congradgulations, occasionally theres a few bows in there too, then we all go take our new place in line.

Our Sensei calls you up, takes off your old belt, puts your new one on, shakes your hand and bows, and the other students clap.

Shihan calls you up, bow, then walk to him. Turn around and go on one knee while you take your belt off. You fold your belt so it is neat, turn around, receive your new belt, hand shake, everyone clapping, bow, and go back in the line.

I think thats it.

I call them to attention, we bow to each other, shake hands, and I tell them congratulations..that's it.

Sounds like ours is a bit more...dare I say showy? I'm sure it's written out somewhere by GM Parker, though.