The belt system for Martial Arts students has been credited to Jigoro Kano, a Jiu Jitsu practitioner. In approximately 1882, he developed Judo as an offshoot of the harsher actual fighting Art of Jiu Jitsu in order to popularize the Martial Arts and provide a safe sport. This system of rankings was later used by Gichin Funakoshi, said to be the father of modern day Karate-Do, in the 1920’s to provide Karate-Do students that same external representation of their progress through the system.
We continue that system here at WMAF. In order for each student to progress through the KYU (colored belt) ranks, they must demonstrate a continued progression towards becoming a more disciplined, courteous, well-rounded individual. Each student is evaluated based on their own progression and not the progression of their peers.
When a student has demonstrated readiness for testing, the instructor will have them perform an EVALUATION. The instructor will use this evaluation to determine if the student is ready to progress to the next level. The student must be able to perform each of the requirements (listed later in this document) for the level for which they are testing. Upon successful completion of the evaluation they will be given a test paper to be completed and signed by the parent/guardian/adult and returned to the instructor. Once the paper is returned within the given time frame, the student will then be given a test consisting of the same material as the evaluation. A Promotion Ceremony will follow with the presentation of a diploma and, based on KYU, belt. Parents, friends and relatives are invited to attend the Promotion Ceremony.
In addition to the specific kyu requirements, the student must do the following to pass to the next level:
