OUR BELTS
Belts & Recommended Minimum Training Time
Belt | 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.
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The recommended hours can not be covered by class time alone, it also requires private training time in addition to class time.
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These recommended times are completely at the discretion of the instructor and can be waived based upon the instructors evaluation of the student.