Get ready for your grading exams with our easy-to-follow instructions for every level of the syllabus. Download and practise, practise, practise.
WHITE BELT
The belt for beginners. The colour white is symbolic of innocence and purity. This is the belt all students start with.
RED BELT
This is the first karate belt you’ll earn after completing your grading exam. It recognises the initial progress you’ve made made as a beginner. To get your red belt, you’ll need to demonstrate some basic skills across stances, strikes, defences and kicks.
YELLOW BELT
This belt shows you’ve started to really show a good understanding of the principles of martial arts, showing potential in your training. It’s the first level where you’ll notice more emphasis on harmony of mind and body through your coordination skills in movements, like the the low roundhouse kick.
GREEN BELT
As well as showing your ability to do movements like the traditional roundhouse kick, this level dials up the demands on you physically. As the colour suggests, the focus is on growth ahead of mastering more advanced skills.
BLUE BELT I
This third belt will show you’ve mastered some new movements, with a focus on upper body strength, balance, coordination and flexibility. You will also need to demonstrate your ‘friendly’ fighting skills.
BLUE BELT II
At this advanced blue-belt level, you’ll be expected to show great progress in controlling your mind and body. Which means being able to continue intense training despite being physically challenged and pushed.
PURPLE BELT
This level is all about showing how you can connect techniques and modify them to develop your own style. Which means getting more creative in grappling, for instance. It’s also an important level for learning how to teach others the skills you’ve learned so far.
BROWN BELT I
This belt shows your stamina and strength as you move through a number of more strenuous sequences. It’s regarded as the belt where students begin to truly find themselves – developing your own techniques, combinations and movements.
BROWN BELT II and III
These advanced brown belts are the last before earning the black belt. It’s where you’ll use all the knowledge you’ve learned up to now to perfect your technique, as well as demonstrate new strikes and defences. You’ll need to have your third brown belt for at least 12 months before attempting black belt grading.
BLACK BELT
As well as demonstrating your endurance, this belt shows your ability to perform all of the basic techniques – and more importantly, teach them well. It’s also symbolic of a new beginning. Having learned the basics, you’ll now be ready to move on as you find other ways to grow and master your skills. That’s why it’s traditionally known as the white belt that never gives up.
