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Belt Requirements/Testing

When you first walk into our dojo, you will notice that students wear different colored belts. Out of respect to our traditional martial arts heritage, our dojo uses colored belts and stripes to denote accomplishment and mastery of skills. As you move forward in your training, you, like thousands of students who have gone before you, will be allowed to wear a colored belt that symbolizes the level of your achievement.

Within a few weeks of joining, you will be invited to your first promotion test. After demonstrating your skill in several of the many basic techniques that you already will have learned, you will be awarded your first stripe on your white belt. This process is repeated for your second promotion for your second stripe. Upon your third promotion, you will receive your yellow belt.

Each test has a specific technique that must be learned and skills that must be achieved. Regular scheduled testing is approximately every three months. However, this does not mean automatic testing. Your instructor, upon watching your progress, will invite you to the next scheduled testing when he or she feels that you are ready. At that time your name will be added to the posted testing list.

In the beginning, you will find that your belt tests are scheduled closer together and are shorter in length. As you get further along and your knowledge and skill increases, your belt tests will be farther apart and will take longer to complete. All tests are held in complete safety under the personal direction of Sensei Labbate and the qualified instructors.

Testing dates are posted in advance in our newsletter. The Okinawan Seibukai Association recognizes Junior Black Belts under the age of 17.