Grade Structure
Grades in Peterlee Martial Arts Club are awarded after successfully passing a formal grading in front of a panel of dan grade instructors. Before grading, a student must have the required attendance. A minimum of 4 months is required between mon and kyu level gradings.
White belt (beginner)
1st Mon
2nd Mon
3rd Mon
4th Mon
5th Mon
6th Mon
7th Mon
8th Mon
9th Mon
10th Mon
Mon grades are for students under the age of 11 who are not quite ready for the "full" grades. It is an incentive for the students in the Junior section until the student is ready to advance to Kyu grades. If real potential is shown during a Mon grading it is possible to be assessed at a higher level ("jump grades").
Students must wait at least 4 months between gradings with a minimum of 50% attendance.
9th Kyu
8th Kyu
7th Kyu
6th Kyu
5th Kyu
4 months time is required in each grade with at least 50% attendance
4th Kyu (Assistant Instructor)
3rd Kyu
2nd Kyu
1st Kyu (Sempai)
At least 75% attendance is required for Assistant Instructor gradings (4th-1st Kyu) with a minimum of 4 months between gradings
1st Dan (Black Belt)
2nd Dan
3rd Dan
4th Dan
5th Dan
6th Dan
In many people's eyes a black belt is the top of the tree. However it is simply the start of the next level in the art. Gradings cover practically every area of Karate - basic techniques, three- and one-step sparring, stances, knife defences, kata (forms), free fighting and more.
1 year is required between 1st Kyu and 1st Dan gradings, with 2 years between 1st and 2nd Dan gradings and 3 years between 2nd and 3rd Dan gradings. Grades higher than 3rd dan are awarded without a formal grading after a set period of time.