grading Belts in Martial Arts: Sun Bae
Coloured Belt
Black Belt
Yellow Belt:
Yellow is the warmth of the winter’s sun that melts the snow, allows the seed to grow.
Students are building a strong foundation much like the plant’s roots reaching into the soil to take hold.
- Yellow I (9th)
- Yellow II (8th)
- Yellow III (7th)
Blue Belt:
Blue is the colour of the sky and the heavens towards which we all aspire.
The natural direction of the growing plant is always upwards. Reaching new heights of learning martial arts.
- Blue I (6th)
- Blue II (5th)
- Blue III (4th)
Red Belt:
Red is the sign of danger and it is the colour of the setting sun.
Those at this level have learned much, but they still know very little.
- Red I (3rd)
- Red II (2nd)
- Red III (1st)
Black Belt:
Black is the colour of mastery. No colour added to this can change it or improve it. This is the start of a new beginning. The apprenticeship of coloured belts is over and the road to understanding and the pursuit of perfection begins.
There are 9 levels on black belt, which can only be achieved after waiting a minimum time. For example, the waiting time between 7th Dan and 8th Dan is eight years, but lower levels are less with the waiting time between 1st Dan and 2nd Dan at 2 years. Patience walks hand in hand with dedication.
White Belt:
White is the colour of purity and innocence. Beginners wear a white belt upon joining. White is the beginning. It is the colour of the winter’s snow that covers the new born seed. Any other colour added will change its reflection. This is the commencement of the journey of knowledge.
What to expect: You will grade from your white belt to a full yellow belt, usually at an area grading test, in front of the Master Instructor. But before that happens, you will be able to grade at your centre, in front of your own Instructor, to achieve the sub-levels of white belt. These gradings have less content at first, but eventually build up to the full yellow belt grading. At first you can expect to grade for the white-yellow stripe belt, usually within 4 weeks. The full time to yellow belt is approximately 3-5 months, all good practice and experience for the full yellow belt test.
- White belt
- White-Yellow (stripe) belt
- White-Blue (stripe) belt
- White-Red (stripe) belt
- White-Brown (stripe) belt
- White-Black (stripe) belt
- Yellow I belt
Motivate yourself...
Grading in martial arts is an important part of the self defence learning curve. Each grading sets certain goals for you, which in turn promotes the motivation to learn and push yourself to achieve. This leads to an improvement in skill and also martial arts understanding, on a regular basis.
Challenge Yourself...
Each grading level will introduce specific techniques which will seek to challenge you and keep it interesting. Remember, you are only competing against yourself, so you may go at your own pace and grade when you are ready. But you will only get back what you put in.
Reward yourself...
Self defence training and martial art classes are enjoyable, social and challenging. They require you to not only to work physically, but also to think about your martial art techniques, as well as your self defence strategies. There are many grading levels to achieve, so the learning and the practice (and the enjoyment) never ceases. Success at each of your gradings is a great achievement, for which you can be very proud of your effort. Upon each grading, you will receive:
- Belt - for your new level.
- Membership Booklet: updated and signed as a record of your grading.
- International Certificates (at black belt level).
Journey to Black Belt — Red Belt Levels:
Applying for black belt requires dedication and extra training time. The content of the grading encompasses all areas of your training, including board breaking. The expected time to apply for black belt, after attaining Red III (1st Gup), is 12-18 months.
The sub levels of Red III are attained by grading in front of your Instructor at your own centre. Each sub level grading represents a portion of the black belt test. This promotes experience and confidence, before attempting black belt.
- Red III - White (Stripe)
- Red III - Blue (Stripe)
- Red III - Red (Stripe)
- Red III - Black (Stripe)