When you first walk into our dojo you will notice that various students wear different coloured belts and may wonder why. Out of respect to our traditional martial arts heritage, we at H.B.K. use coloured belts to denote accomplishment and mastery of skills. As the student moves forward in training, like thousands of students who have gone before, you will be allowed to wear a coloured belt that symbolizes the level of your achievement.

Within a short time of joining you will be invited to your first belt test. After demonstration of your skills in several of the many basic techniques that you will already have learned, you will be awarded your first rank, THE YELLOW BELT. With each coloured belt you will also receive a certificate of promotion.

We use two systems to establish your time for promotion. The first is by written permission handed to the student. This is done for yellow and orange belt after which the second stage begins. This is when the student sets their own goals and fills out a request to grade form. If this is signed then the student may register for the grading. If not the student will be advised to wait for various reasons. This process is to ensure the student does not get in over their head and set themselves up for sure failure.

H.B.K. Martial Arts follows the traditionally accepted colour belt system used for many years by the founder of Judo, Jigiro Kano and the traditional Karate styles. Yellow, orange, green, blue, brown and black.

Gradings take place at the dojo with most or all black belts sitting at the grading table. If you complete the grading successfully, you will be awarded your next belt. Certificates will be completed and handed out shortly thereafter.