After a certain period of time, a student will be ready for his/her 1st grading. A minimum period of 3 months training twice a week must elapse between Kyu gradings, unless the instructor feels that exceptional circumstances prevail.
It must be made perfectly clear that grades do not represent a rank: they are merely a tool for learning. Some people will learn faster and will progress through the belts quicker than others. This must never matter. It is most important to progress only at a speed that is comfortable for the individual.
This is very important when considering junior grades. Young children take far longer to learn the co-ordination
and the balance necessary for progress. Those few parents who put unnecessary pressure on their children to progress will always do more harm than good.
For this reason, it is preferred that parents do not sit in and watch their children train without prior agreement. We will allow it on the first few occasions, but not on a regular basis. Children are often far better behaved and learn better when parents are not present.
Juniors have a separate syllabus that concentrates on aspects that we have found that kids learn well and removes the complexities that only mature students have a hope of understanding and getting good at. It also removes techniques that, we believe, children have no business knowing - the "nasties." That is why kids are required to wear junior belts - coloured belts with a white stripe down the middle.
Not all gradings will be successful. Don't give up!! More is often learned from a well-executed failure than from success. Those that continue to try hard despite a failed grading will be highly respected.
There are 9 grades before black belt:
| White | Beginner |
| Red | 9th Kyu |
| Yellow | 8th Kyu |
| Orange | 7th Kyu |
| Green | 6th Kyu |
| Blue | 5th Kyu |
| Purple | 4th Kyu |
| Brown | 3rd Kyu |
| Brown+1 stripe | 2nd Kyu |
| Brown + 2 stripes | 1st Kyu |
| Black | 1st Dan etc |
In the transition from junior black belt to adult black belt; juniors have two intermediate grades: junior black belt with 1 blue stripe at one end - this indicates that they have learned all the applications required for 5th Kyu Blue Belt; and junior black belt with 1 brown stripe at one end - this indicates that they have learned all the applications required for 1st Kyu brown belt. They are then eligible to sit the 1st Dan black belt grading.
All beginners may have 2 free lessons before they will be asked to join the club. They will then be entitled to a grading book and a club badge to be worn on the left front side of the Gi.
No Kyu grades will be valid after an absence longer than 6 months.
Kyu grades from other clubs may not wear their belts if attending one of our sessions as a guest.
Dan grades from other clubs may wear their belts as a guest instructor. If Dan grades from other styles or clubs wish to join as members, they may no longer wear their belts until such time that they can demonstrate competence in every part of the Bugeikan syllabus to the required standard.
All gradings are free of charge and will be held whenever the required competence is reached.