How do the students progress or change belts?
A. Most schools have 8, 10, or 12 steps to attain the Black Belt. Our school has 10 steps, including the White and Black Belts. On average, the student should change belts every three months. For the advanced students, it may take a bit longer. Normally it takes three and a half to five years to achieve a Black Belt status. Each of our belts receives three stripes (tips) before grading for the next belt. Every 4- week cycle we have a stripe evaluation week. As the students come to classes that particular week, we test them in within their own class, for their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd stripe. There is no charge for the stripes (tips) on the belt. For the 1st stripe, material covers mostly kicks, kicking combinations, and sparring techniques. For the 2nd stripe, its all self-defense techniques. With the higher belts, more self-defense techniques are learned. The 3rd stripe is red, unlike the other two stripes, which are black. A kata is required at this level. It is a form that is a dance like r
