To show the level of expertise of a club member, different coloured belts are worn. The first is red, then white, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, brown and finally black. After black belt are the Dan grades – First Dan, Second Dan etc.
To receive your next belt you must show sufficient skill and knowledge of the belt syllabus to a panel of high grade examiners. You may be asked to show throws and locks from the earlier belts or answer some questions. As you progress higher through the grades, you are expected to show better technique and understanding of a throw than of the same throw at a lower grade.
For the black belt, in addition to it’s own syllabus, you must demonstrate the syllabus of all of the other belts.
Junior Belt Syllabus
The junior syllabus is similar to the senior ones found here. Each belt is split into two parts so there is less to learn for a grading. The first part awards the student a new belt, the second part adds a coloured band around the end of the belt called a tab.
If a junior black belt moves up into the senior class, they will have to re-grade for each of the senior belts, but will go through the early grades quite quickly. A junior black belt is roughly equivalent to a senior green belt.
Kodoma Belt Syllabus
For under 10’s there is a simple syllabus consisting of the basic blocks, strikes and breakfalls. Each belt is split into three parts. At a grading a student may attempt either one, two or all three parts. If all three are completed, then a new belt is issued, otherwise coloured tabs are gained for the current belt.