FIRST GRADING

At a first grading, many are unsure of the protocol, so here’s an explanation.

Junior Beginners are awarded a White Belt with a Yellow Stripe, and then a White Belt with a Red Stripe, during their taster/prep classes.
The Red Stripe Belt indicates that the child is ready to join our full classes and is on course to be ready for their first grading when it occurs.

First: the Pre-Grading Course needs to be attended, this is the assessment, where students are assessed and if ready, told they can attend the grading. The current price of the pre-grading is £10

The Grading takes place two weeks later.

The Grading is treated very seriously, with no spectators allowed.
You will be informed how long the Grading is expected to take (usually an hour, unless for senior grades) Please be patient if the grading takes a little longer than expected.

Although it is an important day in the Karate calendar, it should be enjoyable, so we ask parents to please not overstate the seriousness of it, as we don’t want stressed children!

Parents/friends are welcome to stay on the balcony while the students are graded in the dojo, but the blinds will be drawn and parents are asked to keep away from that area of the balcony.

The Junior Beginner’s Grading consists of each student demonstrating both Kata and their ‘Basics’ (blocks, punches & kicks) but rest assured, if they can demonstrate the Kata, they can demonstrate the basics, which were taught first.

Gradings are examinations, and get tougher as the students progress. However at Vale Karate we have a policy to only allow students to attempt a grading if they have a very good chance of passing. A beginner will only fail if they misbehave at the Grading! This rarely happens, but is not completely unheard of.
At the conclusion of the Grading, the successful students will be presented with their certificates and new belts.
(any child who fails, due to bad behaviour, will be taken up to their parents before the grading finishes)

All students who grade, need to be licensed, and will be asked to place their Licence/Grading Record Book in the grading envelopes which were handed out at the Pre-Grading.

The current prices of the Grading are:
Children 6 years & below: (Tigers) £30
Children & Adults Beginner-Blue Belt £35
Children & Adults Purple Belt -Brown Belt £45
Dan Grading £65

All children need to be wearing their Karate-gi at the grading. No watches or jewellery.

For the times of the next Pre-0Grading & Grading Click Here

If you have any questions about the grading or anything else, please don’t hesitate to contact us.