Sidekicks Karate

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Our Sidekicks program has a different grading format. In order to keep our youngest students actively engaged, the program has lots of stepping stones along the way. This gives the children a sense of pride and achievement, while allowing us to space out the curriculum so that it's not too challenging for young kids.

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Every Sidekicks student has a workbook that shows them how many classes they have done, and what level they're at. If a child participates in class and is well behaved, they get a sticker for their workbook at the end of each session.



Every 5 lessons, the child receives a tip on their belt.

Every 10 lessons, they attempt the next sidekicks grade.



All sidekicks belts are white with a colored stripe through the centre. They follow the same order as the junior karate system, stopping at white belt/purple stripe. The students then move on to a yellow belt with a white stripe, then orange with a white stripe. 



The sidekicks curriculum takes 9 terms to complete, then students graduate on to junior karate. However, many students graduate to junior karate early as they get older and their skills develop.



When a child graduates to junior karate, they are re-graded in the Junior system as a white, yellow, orange or red belt, depending on their progress in Sidekicks.



Refer to the workbook for more information.

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​GRADING

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​Junior Karate and Adult Karate

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As students progress in karate, they will attempt to move to the next level or "grade". Each grade is represented by different colored belts, starting with white and going through to black belt. Black belt is the sign of an accomplished student.



If students train hard they can achieve provisional black belt in 3 to 4 years. There are also many degrees of black belt, ranging up to 10th Dan, which only a handful of people have ever achieved. In Unsu Kai Karate, black belt is only awarded to students aged 13 or older.

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Students are graded on their technique, attitude, progression and also the performance of formal exercises such as Kata. The times listed here are only a guideline, as each person progresses through karate at their own pace.

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For more in depth information about grading, and to set a date for your first grading (white belt/black tip) talk to your branch instructor.

Grade            Colour            Minimum Classes Since            Kata            Technique Set

                                                           Last Grading



10th Kyu               White                                           N/A                                      N/A                                         N/A

9th Kyu-Ho          White/Black Tip                   6 Lessons                                  N/A                                          Tier I 

9th Kyu                 Yellow                                     6 Lessons                                First Kata                               Tier I

8th Kyu-Ho          Yellow/Black Tip               10 Lessons                                   N/A                                         Tier I

8th Kyu                 Orange                                12 Lessons                                 Heian                                      Tier I

7th Kyu                 Red                                       22 Lessons                                 Gekisai                                   Tier I

6th Kyu                 Green                                   28 Lessons                                 Saifa                                       Tier II

5th Kyu                 Blue                                      32 Lessons                                 Saifa                                       Tier II

4th Kyu                 Purple                                 40 Lessons                                  Bassai (Dai)                           Tier II

3rd Kyu                 Brown                                 48 Lessons                                  Meikyo                                   Tier III

2nd Kyu                Brown + 1 Black Tip        48 Lessons                                    Sanseiryu                              Tier III

1st  Kyu                 Brown + 2 Black Tips      48 Lessons                                    Seiunchin                              Tier III

Shodan-Ho          Provisional Black             60 Lessons                                    Tensho/Seipai                      Extra Requirements

Shodan                 1st Dan Black                  100 Lessons                                  Shisochin/Kanku-Dai           Extra Requirements

Nidan                   2nd Dan Black                  200 Lessons                                  Gankaku/Wanshu                Extra Requirements

Sandan                3rd  Dan Black                  300 Lessons                                  Gojushiho-Sho/Kanku-Sho Extra Requirements

Yondan               4th  Dan Black                  400 Lessons                                   Kururunfa/Seisan                Extra Requirements

Godan                 5th  Dan Black                  500 Lessons                                   Unsu                                      Nil

Rokudan            6th  Dan Black                  600 Lessons                                    Suparimpei                           Nil