Why do we use belts or sashes in Kung Fu?
When someone talks about the colour of their belt in martial arts, you probably know what they’re talking about. The colour of a belt indicates the devotion and the level of a student in many martial art systems. In this article, we will talk about the meaning of each belt, how our Kung Fu students can earn it in the grading and what happens on a typical grading day at IWKA Brisbane.
The Kung Fu Belts And Their Order
A white belt at Kung Fu Brisbane IWKA indicates that someone is new to Kung Fu but already understands some of our basic school rules. And a yellow belt shows that a child is competent in the first basic skills and not entirely new anymore. In our Kids Kung Fu classes, only our Pandas (4 to 5-year-olds) earn belts, and our Tigers (6 - 8 years) and Dragons (9 - 12 years) show their level by wearing sashes. In this article, we will use the general term ''belt'' for both belts and sashes.
The belt after yellow is the red belt. As our Kung Fu students grow older, they learn to apply different and more self-defence oriented techniques. They can earn their next belts in the following order: green, purple and blue. These belts are only for those students who can keep expanding and refining their skills at a higher level. Each new belt means transitioning to the next level with more advanced moves, techniques and drills. A brown belt is an important milestone. It's the belt that precedes the coveted black belt.
A child that reached the black belt understands the physical and mental lessons of their chosen skill. They are skilled enough to defend themselves verbally & physically no matter what situation they may face. If a child is committed and attends two classes per week and can apply their learned skills outside the kung fu school (e.g. discipline, respect, teamwork, loyalty etc.), they can typically achieve a black belt in about four years. However, it may take less time if the child is highly diligent, or it may take a little longer if the child cannot attend all classes or faces some personal challenges. No matter the amount of time it takes to get to a black belt, it's all about the attitude, the lessons learned and the journey that matters after all!
What happens in an IWKA graduation or belt ceremony?
At a graduation ceremony, your child will have to prove that he/ she can handle the responsibility of his/ her new skills. In some cases, this could mean that your child breaks a board or does another task to show that he/ she is ready. Your child does this in the presence of the instructors. In our next Kids Kung Fu grading week, we will provide family members with the option to watch their children during the last day of the grading week and witness them receiving their belt on graduation day, if they're ready for it.
To non-IWKA-kids-parents: did we capture your attention?
We sure hope so and would love to meet your child or children in our Kung Fu Classes! We are currently offering two free trial lessons for a limited time at Kung Fu Brisbane IWKA.
Sign up for a trial week and come with your child to meet our dedicated Kids Kung Fu instructors and other children without any obligation or read more here - 6 reasons why you should book your trial classes with Kung Fu Brisbane IWKA.
Evidence of skill and spirit
Whether you are a white belt or a black belt, both are important. A white belt just starting shows that he/ she wants more and has the mindset to commit to this challenge. A black belt has proven dedication to the martial arts and developing their body, mind and energy. In all cases, you should be proud of yourself and be willing to respect your knowledge and skills.
Get your child started today with our two free trial lessons.
If you would like more information about our Kids Kung Fu Programs, please contact us directly by email (team@kungfubrisbane.com.au) or by phone (1300 855 330).
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