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The Hybrid Grading System

The next grading will be on Saturday 29th March at 10.00 at the Devonshire Health and Racquet's Club.

Please remember that we have grading days in order to assess students properly. If you cannot attend for whatever reason then you must wait until the next grading. Only in extreme cases will we arrange a private grading at additional cost. In the past we have agreed to grade students on some class nights. This in its self not only waters down the grading process but is also unfair to other students that turn up to train.

Remember if you have decided to grade you must:

Have a valid BCA license

Full uniform

Completed at least the minimum attendance requirements

All equipment required for past and present grading

100% confidence in your ability to for fill the requirements of the syllabus

Sometimes after a grading there are students that are disappointed or even upset because they have not been successful in obtaining their next Belt. It is important at this time to put things into prospective.

Belts are not rewards for training hard or attending sessions regularly although these elements are necessary if you're Martial Arts are to develop properly. Gradings are but an assessment of the student's ability to move on to the next stage of their training. Students should always keep in mind that a grading is not to compare yourself with others - it's simply a measure of your progress since the last examination. So you should compare yourself.

The belt system is merely a way to ensure that students spend sufficient time practicing and developing particular techniques or principles. However, previously learnt techniques must be continually practiced. Even the highest grade of Black Belt will continue to practice basic exercises and drills, always striving for perfection.

One must always remember that attaining a Black Belt is not the end of the student's training. It is only the end of the first phase. Although student's can be justifiably proud of achieving a Dan grade, it is only the start of their Hybrid training. By the time a student has obtained this grade they will be fit, strong and have a good foundation. This will enable them to embark on the most exciting journey of all. Constantly learning and improving but comfortable in the knowledge that they will never reach their destination (perfection).

Belt	Grade	Attendance	Summary
	Yellow	Min 12sessions prior to grading	The foundation of the style
	Orange	Min 12sessions prior to grading	Introducing grappling and Nunchaku
	Green	Min 24 sessions prior to grading	Sparring and stick work
	blue	Min 24 sessions prior to grading	Throws and locks
	Purple	Min 24 sessions prior to grading	Jump kicks and self defence
	Red	Min 36 sessions prior to grading	Pressure testing your skills
	Junior Black Belt/Red tag (under 15 yrs)	Min 36 Sessions prior to grading	Teaching and special assignment
	Black Belt 1st Dan	Min 36 sessions prior to grading and by invitation of Chief Instructor	Teaching and special assignment
	Black Belt 2nd Dan	Min 1yrs from 1st	Advanced weapons
	Black Belt 3rd Dan	Min 2yrs from 2nd