OUR BELTS

Belts & Recommended Minimum Training Time

Rank / Title	Recommended Time *	Recommended Hours *
Black Belt - 10th Degree / Grand Master CEREMONIAL BELT	Founder / Inheritor
Black Belt - 10th Degree / Grand Master NORMAL BELT	Founder / Inheritor
Black Belt - 9th Degree / Grand Master	38 years / 3,648 classes	27,360 hours
Black Belt - 8th Degree / Grand Master	30 Years / 2,880 classes	21,600 hours
Black Belt - 7th Degree / Master	23 Years / 2,208 classes	16,560 hours
Black Belt - 6th Degree / Master	17 Years / 1,632 classes	12,240 hours
Black Belt - 5th Degree / Master	12 Years / 1,152 classes	8,640 hours
Black Belt - 4th Degree / Senior Instructor	8 Years / 768 classes	5,760 hours
Black Belt - 3rd Degree / Instructor	5 Years / 480 classes	3,600 hours
Black Belt - 2nd Degree / Assistant Instructor	3 Years / 288 classes	2,160 hours
Black Belt - 1st Degree	2 Years / 192 classes	1,440 hours
Senior Red Belt	18 months / 144 classes	1,080 hours
Red Belt	16 months / 128 classes	960 hours
Senior Blue Belt	14 months / 112 classes	840 hours
Blue Belt	12 months / 96 classes	720 hours
Senior Green Belt	10 months / 80 classes	600 hours
Green Belt	8 months / 64 classes	480 hours
Senior Yellow Belt	6 months / 48 classes	360 hours
Yellow Belt	4 months / 32 classes	240 hours
Senior White Belt	2 months / 16 classes	120 hours
White Belt	none	0 hours

Each belt also has 8 black horizontal stripes, or "tips" on the ends signifying that the student has gained the necessary skills for promotion. For more information visit the Belt Tips page.

* In the above chart, "Minimum Training" is the minimum total training-time recommended, before promotion to the next higher rank. All time values given are based on historical models and assume 60 hours of training time per month. Thus, training for an hour per week for 2 years, is not the same as 15 hours per week for 2 years. In the United States, the average training time to attain 1st Degree Black Belt is about 4 years.

The recommended hours can not be covered by class time alone, it also requires private training time in addition to class time.

These recommended times are completely at the discretion of the instructor and can be waived based upon the instructors evaluation of the student.