Grading Regulations

	The student must ensure the following requirements have been met before attempting any grading : -
	1. The number of lessons meet the required minimum;
	2. Knowledge of the syllabus and terminology;
	3. Appropriate grading fees paid;
	4. Training fees up to date;
	5. Kobe Osaka International License must be current.
	PeeWees are children under 8 years old, and as a reflection of their age, special grading regulations apply.  PeeWees can take an examination every 6 or 8 weeks, and at a reduce cost.  The tabs which are awarded are white, instead of the black tabs awarded to juniors over 8 years.  On reaching ago eight, they must wear a junior white belt, until their first examination as a junior.  Grading will then be every three to four months, and black tabs will be awarded to indicate "Junior" status.
	All students must have a minimum of 25 lessons between each grading up to and including 4th Kyu.  From 3rd Kyu to 1st Kyu , 50 lessons are required, and from 1st Kyu to Shodan-Ho., 100 lessons.  Set yourself a target and work towards it.  As a rough guide you should be ready for the first grade in about 12 weeks, if you train for 2 lessons per week, and thereafter at three to four month intervals.  You should be attempting brown belt in 18 to 24 months, and black belt at about 4 to 5 years.
	Juniors must collect three tabs, or stripes, before the next colour can be awarded.  Normally two tabs will be awarded.  The system is as follows:
		One tab awarded - Average grading
		Two tabs awarded - Very good grading
		Three tabs awarded - Excellent grading (Special Merit).
	The following are length of service and age requirements for all Black Belt gradings.
	Juniors (Children and young persons up to ago 18)
	Shodan-Ho (Provisional Black Belt).  Must be at least age 10 and have trained for four (4) years.
	Shodan (Confirmed Black Belt).  Must be at least age 12 and have trained for five (5) years.
	Nidan (2nd Level Black Belt).  Must be at least ago 15 and have trained for even (7) years.
	Junior black belts wear a white strip, running the length of the belt.  When the junior turns ago 18, he/she must wear a white belt and take an examination to determine their senior grade.
	Adults Senior Black Belt (from ago 18)
	Shodan-Ho.  Must have trained for at least 3 1/2 years minimum.
	Shodan must have trained for at least 1 year from Shodan-Ho.
	Nidan must have trained for at least 2 years from Shodan.
	Sandan must have trained for at least 3 years from Nidan.
	Yondan must have trained for at least 4 years from Sandan.
	Godan must have trained for at least 5 years from Yondan.
	Grading Fee : The grading or examination fee is to cover the examiner's time, the cost of, and the issue of the certificate or diploma and notification and recording of the award to the Kobe Osaka International Central Registry.
	Your Record Book will be retained for a short time to have the details of the new grade added. You should ask for its return on your next attendance at the club.
	What you should bear in mind, is that when you receive a grading, no matter whether it is yellow belt or a black belt, the examiner is putting the name of Kobe Osaka to that grading, and that cannot be done unless you come up to the very high standard required.  We do not give gradings for attendance or for long service, but for ability, enthusiasm, actual progress, and the proper mental attitude.  Your instructors will do their best to see that you come up to the required standard, but you must work to attain it.
	Clean Karate Gi : Make sure your karate suit is clean and has the Kobe Osaka badge sewn on it.  you will not be given a Kobe Osaka grade if you are not prepared to wear the badge.
	Punch Pad :  Make sure you bring your impact pad with you.  You cannot be graded without one, since the examiner must assess the power of your blows.
	Etiquette :   Do not forget your dojo etiquette.  If you walk to your place when your name is called, forget to bow, either to the examiner or to your training partner, or slouch around, you may fail, since knowledge of martial arts etiquette is obviously lacking.
	Try Hard : Remember that you must try your best all through the examination, and although your general performance in past classes will be taken into account, you must still pass all the relevant parts of the test itself at that time.
	Karate Kata : As you progress through the grades you are required to improve your technical ability as well as your knowledge.  It should be mentioned here, that kata is one of the most neglected areas of training and the one which causes most failures in the intermediate grades.  Kata takes a long time to perfect, and you should learn the first two Pinan Kata as soon as possible.  When you get to orange belt level, you should then try to learn all five Pinan, and practice them.  If you try to learn a kata only weeks before a grading, you will be unlikely to pass.