What ranks does your school do?

[Nidan Melbourne]

Hey all,

i was wondering what ranks does your school go by to get your black belt? As i find it interesting to see what you do as every school does it differently. Also how long (on average) does your students remain at that rank?

my school (and my old one) does:

white - 30 lessons

yellow (some students say 'gold') - 30 lessons

orange - 30 lessons

red - 30 lessons

green - 36 - 42 lessons

purple - 36 - 42 lessons

blue - 36 - 42 lessons

brown - 60+ lessons

1st brown - 60+ lessons

Black Belt

[Wastelander]

Here is a list of our ranks, with the time you need to have been training between each one. So the amount of time/training I have next to "Yellow" is the amount of time/training you need to have done as a white belt in order to test for yellow belt. The time I listed next to "Orange" is the amount of time/training you need to have done as a yellow belt in order to test for orange belt. Etc.

This is all approximate, though--people who are fast learners and dedicated to their training tend to move through the ranks more quickly up through blue belt.

White

Yellow - 4 months or 80 class hours

Orange - 4 months or 80 class hours

Purple - 6 months or 80 class hours

Blue - 6 months or 120 class hours

Green - 8 months or 180 class hours

3rd Degree Brown - 8 months or 180 class hours, plus 20 teaching hours

2nd Degree Brown - 8 months or 180 class hours, plus 20 teaching hours

1st Degree Brown - 8 months or 180 class hours, plus 20 teaching hours

Shodan - 1 year or 240 class hours, plus 30 teaching hours

Nidan - 2 years or 400 class hours, plus 50 teaching hours

Sandan - 3 years or 600 class hours, plus 70 teaching hours

[Harkon72]

This is a strange, counting hours and lessons is alien to our club, even less so the counting of how much the student has paid. We grade when we are ready, we pass when we are worthy. No matter how long or short a time it takes.

[Wastelander]

This is a strange, counting hours and lessons is alien to our club, even less so the counting of how much the student has paid. We grade when we are ready, we pass when we are worthy. No matter how long or short a time it takes.

I understand that--for us, the numbers I listed are general guidelines for how long it takes the average student to get to the level of skill required for the next rank. We certainly do have students who test before they have reached these numbers, and students who do not test until they have far passed these numbers.

[Nidan Melbourne]

The only reason ours seem to be so few in comparison to other schools is that for every rank we have you have to prove what you have learnt every few lessons in a different aspect (ie kicks, basics, combos, kata, pre-arranged sparring and sparring). Which means the students have to practise outside of class time or get private classes with someone to pass before they can grade for their next belt

[bushido_man96]

We don't really have a set number of lessons per rank level. We run two month testing cycles, and expect students to make at least 2 classes per week. Testing depends more on showing competence in the material than anything else.

[Nidan Melbourne]

We don't really have a set number of lessons per rank level. We run two month testing cycles, and expect students to make at least 2 classes per week. Testing depends more on showing competence in the material than anything else.

Thats what we do at my school. But with a slightly longer grading cycle. As we have we have a grading every 5-6 weeks. which is the same for adults

Every 6 lessons you are tested on a certain area and if you are competent enough you get a "tag" on your belt. And you need 5 "tags" to grade.

[JGarner890]

My school does not have a set time requirement. When you're ready, you test. Belt test is every 4months.

Style is Tang Soo Do:

10th Gup - White Belt

9th Gup - White Belt w/ Stripe

8th Gup - Orange Belt

7th Gup - Orange Belt w/ Stripe

6th Gup - Green Belt

5th Gup - Green Belt w/ Stripe

4th Gup - Brown Belt

3rd Gup - Brown Belt w/ Stripe

2nd Gup - Red Belt

1st Gup - Red Belt w/ Stripe

1st Dan - Black Belt

[RJCKarate]

Here is the system for our dojo (Matsubayashi-ryu). We have a separate system for adults and children.

All times and class requirements are a guide only, but I've rarely seen students achieve it in less than those below:

Children (mon-kyu)

White

White/yellow

Yellow

Orange

Blue

Purple

Children also have three stripes between each belt. There is a minimum of 15 classes between each belt and one year between solid colours. Most students who are allowed to test usually have at least double the required time/classes. We have a testing for juniors three times a year.

Adults (Kyu)

Muyu white

6 kyu green - 20 classes / 3 months

5 kyu green - 25 classes / 4 months

4 kyu green - 30 classes / 4 months

3 kyu brown - 35 classes / 4 months

2 kyu brown - 40 classes / 4 months

1 kyu brown - 45 classes / 4 months

Adults can test at one of the three times per year, but are usually just tested when they met the requirements either in class or at an arranged time.

Adults (Dan)

1 - 10 Dan with relative years between grade - 2 years from 1 Dan to 2 Dan, etc.