Grades denote the ranking of Karate-ka within A.T.S.K. The longer and harder a student studies, the higher the grade that can be achieved. In A.T.S.K. we mark a student's achievement by awarding a coloured belt, following a successful grading.
A.T.S.K. students mark their progress by the colour of the belt they wear. Starting as a White belt, each student advances through the colours as follows:
(Note - click on a Kyu grade to see the syllabus for the grade)
Blue |
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Red |
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Orange |
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Yellow |
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Yellow + Green tags |
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Green |
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Green + Purple |
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Purple |
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Purple + White tags |
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Purple with a White stripe |
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Purple with a White stripe + Brown tags |
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Brown |
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Brown + White tags |
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Brown with a White stripe |
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Brown with a White stripe + Red tags |
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Brown with a Red stripe |
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Finally, for those that make it, the coveted Black belt - |
Shodan |
Students should be proud of the grade they hold, for the belts are not simply given away. At the same time, students must understand that simply because they hold the belt of a high grade (3rd Kyu and above), this does not make them superior to those with a lower grade belt. It is simply an indication that they have been studying the art for a little longer. High grades should help and assist the lower grades whenever they can - after all, were they not helped themselves by high-grades, when they were just beginners?
Belts are awarded at gradings, that are held several times a year. In general it takes roughly three months to move from one belt to the next, up until Brown belt. Brown (3rd Kyu) to Brown & White (2nd Kyu) takes six months, and a further six months must go by before they can achieve Brown & Red (1st Kyu). A full year must pass before a student becomes eligible to grade for the Black belt. However, it is very important to understand three things:
The student will only be entered into the grading exam if their instructor feels that they are at a good enough standard to pass the grading, although passing cannot be guaranteed.
The purpose of the gradings is to formally assess a students readiness to progress to the next stage of their training. This does not simply mean that only the student is being judged on their ability, however. Equally, the judges (all Sensei's who have themselves been graded many times!) are also seeking to determine the effectiveness of their instruction to the student. If a student does not do particularly well in a grading, this can be an indication that the student's instructor is not being as effective as he/she would wish.
Gradings are an important aspect of Karate, although attending and enjoying training are more important, as this will help give the students confidence and self-assurance of their own abilities.
You do not have to grade to continue to train, but you do have to train in order to grade!
So, what happens at a grading?
First of all you find yourself in a large room, quite often in a school, or a leisure centre, with scores of other students from clubs all over the ATSK region. After registering, all students gather for a quick warm-up, usually taken by one of the senior Kyu grades. Next you split up into grades (all blue-belts together, for example), and receive an hour's personal instruction from a black-belt instructor. Then there's a short recess, and the grading itself begins.
Basically, you are asked to demonstrate skills, in front of a panel of judges, in three areas:
Basics is just that. Remember all the punching and blocking you've done, up and down the Dojo floor, over and over again? That's all there is to it. You will be asked to perform different techniques (for example, downward block, stepping punch, upper-rising block) a number of times in front of the judges.
Kumite is where you show your ability to perform formal attacks and defences against an opponent. Once again, you've done this many times in the Dojo, paired up with a partner.
Kata. Here you demonstrate the Kata (or Form) you've been practicing. For your very first grading this is the first 8 moves of Taikyoku Shodan.
And that's all there is to it! Afterwards, you are presented with certificates of achievement from a senior grade, and then it's time to relax and enjoy the feeling you get from having completed an ATSK grading.
No student EVER fails a grading for not being able to complete a certain technique, or for being nervous, or tripping of their feet during a Kata. The main ingredient to a successful grading is always going to be SPIRIT. The student who finds it desperately hard to perform a turn in Taikyoku Shodan, for instance, but who tries hard all the time, and does their best, will have a good grading - even if they get it wrong on the day. Effort is the watchword here, and a loud "KIAI!" will win over a judge every time!