Grading Notes
Your grading, especially the first grading, is probably one of your biggest steps in your Martial-arts career. For many, it’s probably the first one they remember the most. To make life a little easier for you we have compiled some information below that may help on your first step on the ‘grade ladder’.
Official British Wadokai Kyu grade rank colours
Promotion
Belts are achieved through dedicated practise and training. Once a student understands all that he requires for his next grade, and the ‘time-served’ for each level has been completed, then the student may be put forward for his grading to the next belt level.
For your 1st grading you will be allowed a certain amount of ‘flexibility’ with your test. For example: With the reciting of the Dojo-kun, you will not be expected to be ‘word perfect’ in the pronunciation and reciting. Your belt knot may not be retied 100%, or you may need a little assistance during your performance. Technically you may experience some ‘nerves’ and make a few errors. This is all quite normal. Your examiners are there to help you, and will give some ‘guidance’ and ‘pointers’ if things are getting a bit difficult.
To progress in Wado Karate
Once a Green-belt has been achieved a student should be training and practising, under instruction at a Dojo, at least twice a week (at least three times a week for Brown and 1st to 3rd Dan Black-belts). All training should be along with the usual continual home-training. Knowledge is ongoing and intense the further the student progresses up the grade ladder. All previous grade aspects and knowledge of training should also be retained in order to pass this knowledge down to the lower graded students.
Only students, who show serious dedicated practise, and a good working knowledge of their next level, will be considered for promotion.
Grading Day Key Points
- Licence, Training Fee plus Grading & Registration Fee (if you fail, your next grading attempt will be free).
- Clean white Karate-gi. Females, and students with special medical conditions, may be permitted to wear a T-shirt (white) under their Gi top. Association/Club Badge, if worn, should be on the left breast and/or left arm. No 'unofficial' badges will be permitted.
- Grade syllabus (good for that last minute revision, etc.).
- Bogu (fighting protection). Required for gradings of 6th Kyu & above.
Best etiquette must be observed at all times. Ensure you pay your respect/s to the examiner/s in the correct way (always bowing). Always sit in the crossed legged position, during the 'rest' period between techniques, in the Shimoza area, or allocated rest area, of the Dojo. When called for any aspect of the grading, bow when entering the Dojo-floor.
Before the practical aspect of the grading commences, you will be required to kneel before the Examiner/s desk. From here you will be expected to recite the Dojo-kun and correctly remove your Obi from your waist and fold it in front of you. Upon a further command, you will retie the Obi around your waist. You will then await for further instructions.
During 9th & 8th Kyu Gradings all terminology & commands will be spoken first in Japanese followed by English. 7th Kyu and upwards all terminology & commands will be in Japanese.
Upon a pass or fail, you will be informed of your results during formal line-up after the grading. Awards night will be the following training session after the grading; this is where you will be awarded your certificate and new belt (if applicable). These will be awarded & presented to you free of charge.