Grading

Grading information:

9th Kyu-1st Kyu Gradings

Gradings take place approximately every 3/4 months depending on your attendance and individual progress.

Assessments will take place in classes or at special grading events for 9th Kyu orange belt, 8th Kyu red belt, 7th Kyu yellow belt, 6th kyu green belt, 5th kyu purple belt, 4th kyu purple belt with 1 white stripe, 3rd Kyu brown belt, 2nd Kyu brown belt with 1 white stripe and 1st Kyu brown belt with two white stripes.

Grading payment includes assessment, license update, updated grade on the APP, a certificate and a belt.

You must have a valid license to attempt grading. Licenses can be purchased or renewed via this link: LICENSES

You will receive an invitation from your instructor when you are ready to be assessed for your first or next grade.

It is considered to be poor etiquette to ask to be graded, however you may ask what you need to work on towards your next grade.

South Side of the Club & Stockport and Cheshire:

The next Kyu Grading will take place on: Sunday 21st April

Time: 1pm-3pm

Venue: The Talbot Centre, Stretford Sports Village, Great Stone Road, Old Trafford. M32 0XA.

North Side of the Club and Lancashire:

The next Kyu Grading will take place on: Sunday 12th May

Time: 1pm-3pm

Venue: Thornleigh Salesian College, Sharples Park, Bolton. BL1 6PQ.

Dan Gradings

The next black belt grading will take place on:

Sunday 28th April

Testing for: Shodan (1st Dan) up to Sandan (3rd Dan)

Time: 2pm-4pm

Venue: Kearsley Academy, Springfield Road, Kearsley, Bolton. BL4 8HY.

Usual Grading rules apply - see your license for more details

 

Grading Information:

Here you will find everything you need to know about how we grade our students, where to be and at what time and what you will be expected to do on the grading day.

You will be invited to grade by your Class Instructor and sent a grading invite via email. You must make sure that you confirm your attendance, provide your belt info and pay the test fee on the grading day. This is so that we can make sure we will have your certificate and belt ready for you to earn on the day.

All gradings are taken by the Chief Instructor or Assistant Chief Instructor. It is advisable for all students to read their etiquette booklet before attendance. As we are a family club, parents and friends are more than welcome to come along and support where possible.   We do ask that all spectators keep noise to a minimum during the grading examination and that mobile phones are switched off or set to silent.

You’ll need to arrive 15-20 minutes early to sign in, hand in your license book and warm up.

 

All students must have a valid license book. If your license has expired you must renew it before attempting your grade. If you are attempting your first grade and have never had a license book, you must contact your Instructor at the earliest opportunity and let them know. If you do not have a license book, you may not be able to attempt grading.

What you will be expected to do on the day

 

White Belts (9th Kyu) will be asked to demonstrate the basic strikes, blocks, kicks, combinations and stances. You will then be asked to perform Kata Heian Shodan (1st kata). You will also be assessed on dojo etiquette, knowledge, effort, responses and kiai’s. Students aged 10 and above will be expected to perform kata to a good standard.

8th kyu red belts and above will be asked to demonstrate all of the above as well as the advanced strikes, blocks and stances. You are required to perform all katas up to and including your grade kata. You will then be asked to kumite (spar). You will be assessed on your knowledge, respect, level of technique, good etiquette, effort and technical ability

Important Note:

 

Students 8th Kyu red belt and above should remember to bring their mitts and pads for kumite. It is also advisable for you to wear a gum shield and groin box, however these are not compulsory. Students attempting their first grade MUST wear a karate gi with a club badge sewn on chest height on the left hand side.

Remember to stick around at the end and take a grading photo so you can look back over the years to see how far you have come.