Our gradings happen the week or so before the end of each term. It is the time when students can display what they have learnt over the previous weeks, and demonstrate how their abilities and skills have improved. You can think of it as an exam, but in our clubs, the students will grade together, as part of the club and not individually.

Our Chief Instructor Ian Smith travels to each class and observes every student, and this is called the grading. At the end of the grading, Ian will hand out a new coloured belt (or a belt with a stripe) that denotes the level each graded student has achieved. The following week, or perhaps in school assembly, every student that passed their grading is presented with a certificate.

Do the students need to Grade?

Gradings are present in almost all martial arts to some degree. They are a way of identifying the level a student is at in his martial arts journey. Some styles go from white belt straight to black belt and spread over many years, but most go through a coloured belt system that rewards and encourages students at shorter intervals along the way.

We encourage students to grade at the end of each term, especially for children, because it is a time when we also acknowledge their commitment, perseverance and skill. As students gain more belts they move up the class order, the higher their grade, the further along the line they stand and train. New students can look up the line and see how they should behave in class, and what they did to do to move through the grades. 

When a new student gets their first grade, their Red belt, and they put it on with their new uniform, you can see the pride in their faces as they know they had to put the work in themselves to gain this grade.

And it's not just skills and techniques they must learn to pass each grade, they must also demonstrate a higher level of discipline and respect each time they grade, along with an increased understanding of the core values of martial arts. 

Grading fee

Black Belt

Many people see attaining their Black Belt as similar to reaching the summit of a mountain, they feel it is the end of their martial art journey. And yet, it is the complete opposite. Gaining a Black Belt takes a number of years, and even though going through the grading system and demonstrating a high level of understanding and skill is vital, it is actually regarded as the beginning of the martial art journey. For example, we ask for an essay when students are asked to grade for their Black Belt, and they will only be invited once the instructors consider them ready. And whereas the belts leading to black are achieved at the end of each term, the Black Belt may take much longer after the last belt is gained. Because Black Belts are expected to give back the knowledge and skills they have learned along the way. They will be asked to help teach, demonstrate in front of the class, and be an ambassador not only to our style but to martial arts in general and how their knowledge helps in their lives outside the class.

Be proud of getting your black belt, it has probably taken 5/6 years to get there, it's a wonderful achievement, something you can always say you did. You would have worked hard for it, struggled at times, beaten the urge to stop and beaten laziness, well done to your commitment and dedication. So when you get your black belt, show the lower grades how a black belt behaves, how they train, and what they need to do to achieve their black belt.

1st Dan translates as the 1st step and is part of the continued journey. There are coloured tags to add to their Black Belts for children so they can grade through from their 1st Dan Black Belt to their 2nd Dan Black Belt and so on. Adults don't colour grade the Dan grades but go from 1st to 2nd to 3rd etc. 

Black Belt Essay Brief

Those taking Shodan Black Belt are required to submit an essay.

The essay must be emailed to ian.szr@gmail.com and shizenryu@sledwards.com at least one week before the grading date. 

Min. 600 words.

Your experiences of training in Shizenryu.

Cover your experiences from beginner to your current grade. Include bad experiences as well as good. 

Try to cover the following points: 

• Why did you first start Shizenryu? 

• Did you ever feel like giving up? 

• What were your toughest challenges? 

• Have you changed your attitude towards Karate since you first started? 

• Has Shizenryu helped you in other areas of your life? 

• What advice could you give to young beginners based on your own experience? 

• What does the Black Belt mean to you?

Write it from the heart, make it personal, and take pride in your martial arts journey.

Essay examples from children and adults grading for their first Black Belt 

If you would like to join one of our clubs, please email shizenryu@sledwards.com

© Shizenryu Karate Dorset & Hampshire 2023