One of the biggest differences in our system is that gradings aren’t tied to money. You don’t pay to take a grading not even for black belt. That’s a deliberate choice. It means that when you’re awarded a belt here, you know you’ve genuinely earned it.
There’s no ceremony either. You’ll be graded to your next belt in class, when you’re ready. That’s because, first and foremost, the belt helps your instructor understand where you are in your journey and what you need to learn next. For you, it’s a marker of progress, it shows how far you’ve come and what you should be focusing on moving forward.
Your training path is carefully planned, so attending your classes really matters. What you do outside the dojo matters too. Regular home practice is a big part of your development.
As a general guide, if you’re training three times a week and putting in daily practice at home, you could reach black belt level in around three to five years. Training twice a week might take five to seven years. Training once a week will still give you a lot and a solid introduction to the art. It’s a great place to start, especially if you’re fitting training around a busy schedule. That said, progressing to black belt is a different level of commitment. With one class a week, the journey will naturally take much longer, and a big part of that comes down to what you’re doing outside of class. The more consistently you practise at home, the more you’ll move forward.
Many of our students begin with just one session a week and build from there. As they start to feel the benefits and get into the rhythm of training, they often choose to increase their classes and that’s when progress really starts to pick up.
Throughout your journey, you’ll get honest, ongoing feedback. We’ll always tell you where you’re at and what you need to do to improve. And if you’re ever unsure, just ask we value students who are engaged and willing to put the work in.
Training isn’t always easy. There will be challenges along the way. But you won’t be facing them alone we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Whatever you do, don’t give up.
