If you choose to begin your path on the ladder to hopefully becoming a black belt within kickboxing you will need the following:
- A club licence - This includes the "Student Code" which must be obeyed!
- A GFKC uniform - Clean and ironed!
- Grading syllabus - Which must be brought to every training session!
- Determination and self discipline to practice
The first three can be obtained from the senior instructor but the fourth is your choice!
A club licence will cost you £25 if it’s your first one and £20 per year after that and this will enable you to enter your grading exams, participate in tournaments and spar within the academy. Once a licence is obtained you will receive a licence and grading record book within which you can document your martial arts career, along with this comes your annual insurance to cover you within classes.
There are 9 levels of coloured grade within the adult syllabus and 8 levels within the junior syllabus to achieve before you can enter for your black belt exam with each level demanding different aspects of the sport along with a time line between each one. Each grade, named kyu, has a constant incline of difficulty and introduces new techniques and manoeuvres to enhance the students ability and skill. You will be assessed the minute you walk into the gym on a variety of skills such as appearance, etiquette, confidence, technique, balance, stamina and much more...in other words, you must be prepared!!
You must have a high attendance record within the correct classes to enter for your grading exam and the final say will be left up to your instructor as to whether you can take the exam or not. The training time between each grade must coincide with at least two training sessions per week. If you only train once a week then the time between grades will double.
The grading syllabus is covered within certain classes but to score a high pass mark we always encourage that students practice whenever possible. Students who are unsure of how the grading’s work or what's involved can ask any instructor or volunteer along with any other student who holds a current belt higher than their own for advice and tips.
ALL STUDENTS MUST BRING THEIR CURRENT GRADING SHEET TO EVERY CLASS OR YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PRACTICE!!!
"BE THE BEST.... NO LESS"
GRADING SYLLABUS
|
GRADE |
training time |
| 9th kyu red | 3 months |
| 8th kyu yellow | 3 months |
| 7th kyu orange | 3 months |
| 6th kyu green | 3 months |
| 5th kyu blue | 3 months |
| 4th kyu purple | 3 months |
| 3rd kyu brown | 6 months |
| 2nd kyu brown white stripe | 6 months |
| 1st kyu brown black stripe | 6 months |
| 1st Dan black | 1 year |
| 2nd Dan black | 2 years |
| 3rd Dan black | 3 years |
The junior syllabus is as shown above but there are only two levels of brown not three!
After reaching your 3rd Dan black it takes consecutive years to attain your next level i.e 4th Dan = 4 years, 5th Dan = 5 years and so on until you reach 9th Dan as a true master!
are you up to the challenge!