The BKA follows a strict grading syllabus set out and approved by the SKGB for the study of Shotokan Karate. There are certain criteria and stipulations that need to be met before grading and progressing to the next level with any students training.
Ideally students should aim to be training twice a week to understand and progress through the syllabus. Attendance cards are in place to keep a track of progress, this giving a helpful guide to your next grading. Students must meet and pass three criteria in order to progress to the next belt:
KIHON: Given moves set out by the BKA grading syllabus. Consisting of blocks, punches and kicking combinations.
KUMITE: Referred to as sparring, where two students aim to land and also block kicks and punches to each other.
KATA: Consisting of a sequence of the specific movements, utilising block, kicks and punches. Each Kata is different as a student progresses.
The following is the list of belts the BKA grading syllabus is based upon. Usually gradings are every three to six months. This is at the discretion of the club instructor and also factors in attendance and progress before each grading.
White belt is the first belt a student will wear when starting within the BKA. In order to progress the student has to have met the basic attendance, execute the appropriate Kihon and Kumite.
Orange belt is the second belt a student will wear within the BKA. In order to progress the student has to have met the basic attendance, execute the appropriate Kihon and Kumite.
Red belt is the third belt a student will wear within the BKA. In order to progress the student has to have met the basic attendance, execute the appropriate Kihon, Kumite for this grade, Kata being Heian Shodan.
Yellow belt is the fourth belt a student will wear within the BKA. In order to progress the student has to have met the basic attendance, execute the appropriate Kihon, Kumite for this grade, Kata being Heian Shodan and Nidan.
Green belt is the fifth belt a student will wear within the BKA. In order to progress the student has to have met the basic attendance, execute the appropriate Kihon, Kumite for this grade, Kata being Heian Shodan, Nidan and Sandan.
Purple belt is the sixth belt a student will wear within the BKA. In order to progress the student has to have met the basic attendance, execute the appropriate Kihon, Kumite for this grade, Kata being Heian Shodan, Nidan, Sandan and Yondan.
Purple and white belt is the seventh belt a student will wear within the BKA. In order to progress the student has to have met the basic attendance, execute the appropriate Kihon, Kumite for this grade, Kata being Heian Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan and Godan.
1st Brown is the eight belt a student will wear within the BKA. In order to progress the student has to have met the basic attendance, execute the appropriate Kihon, Kumite for this grade, Kata being Heian Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, Godan and Tekki Shodan.
2nd Brown is the ninth belt a student will wear within the BKA. In order to progress the student has to have met the basic attendance, execute the appropriate Kihon, Kumite for this grade, Kata being Heian Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, Godan, Tekki Shodan and Bassai Dai.
Brown and white is the tenth belt a student will wear within the BKA. In order to progress the student has to have met the basic attendance, execute the appropriate Kihon, Kumite for this grade, Kata being Heian Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, Godan, Tekki Shodan and Bassai Dai.
Black belt is the eleventh belt a student will wear within the BKA. In order to progress the student has to wait a minimal period of nine months after passing Brown and White. Be training at least twice a week and then be invited to take part in a Black belt or Dan grading. This grading is undertaken in private in front of the BKA Dan grading panel. Students will be expected to undertake Kihon, Kumite, Kata this being Bassi Dai and one Heian Kata along with selected bag work at the grading panels discretion.