Gradings

Students are entitled to take grading examinations after set periods of training. The gradings are conducted by KUGB Senior Examiners, and there is a grading syllabus for all levels. Coloured belts are used to denote grades.

There are 9 grades below Black Belt. These are known as Kyu grades. Each Kyu Grade is represented by a differently coloured belt, as follows:

                            Novice     -     White

                            9th Kyu    -    Orange

                            8th Kyu    -    Red

                            7th Kyu    -    Yellow

                            6th Kyu    -    Green

                            5th Kyu    -    Purple

                            4th Kyu    -    Purple with 1 White Stripe

                            3rd Kyu    -    Brown

                            2nd Kyu    -    Brown with 1 White Stripe

                            1st Kyu    -    Brown with 2 White Stripes

It takes at least three months of regular training to successfully pass each grade, with six months between brown belts.

We arrange Club gradings every three to four months.

Achieving a Black Belt

There are 10 levels of Black belt or Dan grades, starting at 1st Dan. It typically takes at least 3 to achieve the first level of obtain Black Belt. Thereafter it takes a minimum 2 years of further training to achieve 2nd Dan, 3 years for 3rd Dan etc - which means that all KUGB Technical Committee members - all 6th Dan and above - will have at least continuous 25 years Karate experience, although in practice, it is many more. Sensei Charles Naylor, with whom we hold regular courses, is 7th Dan.