Black Belt Grading - October 2025
This Grading Camp will run from Friday October 10 to Sunday Oct 12
Point Wolstoncroft Sports and Recreation Centre is located at Kananga Drive Gwandalan NSW 2259 - Phone: 13 13 02
Black Belt Grading sessions will be conducted in and around the ‘Lake View Centre’ (the big hall on the waterside) - this will be our main training hall for the duration of the camp.
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What should we pack?
Plenty of food and drinks. There will be no food or drinks for sale or available at the venue.
Pack something light and easy to prepare (and digest) all meals while at camp. Bring your own esky if needed. A microwave oven is available in the communal kitchen in your dormitory, but there will be a queue!
Pack snacks galore: Think cheese and biscuits, dried fruit, crackers, instant noodles, breakfast cereal, yoghurt pots, small energy/protein bars, vege sticks, lots of fresh fruit (whatever you think you’ll be able to stomach when you are completely exhausted but still need to eat).
Tea, coffee, milk (if you drink this normally). Herbal teas are great for a grading and can be made up and consumed hot or icy cold.
A few sugary/treat snacks are ok for when you just need SOMETHING to get you through those last few hours!
More drinks (mostly water plus a few sports drinks or fruit juices) than you think you will need.
Parents/support people - you might like to brink a small foldable chair, a small rug for your lap and a flask for hot drinks.
First aid basics: Band-Aids, antiseptic cream, arnica, heat creams, anti-inflammatories, instant ice packs, plus something for a headache or mild pain. A ventolin/inhaler if you use one, and any other prescription medication you need to take. And if you tend to get an upset tummy, bring something for nausea (peppermint tea, ginger lollies, or whatever works for you).
Tissues. Everyone cries at a Black Belt Grading (well, Sensei Ann and Sensei Josh usually do, and we set everyone else off...)
Cup, plate, cutlery, water bottle. There will be some equipment available in the communal ktchen but we recommend bringing your own.
Bring at least 3 Gi’s and a few of changes of underwear. You will be getting very sweaty, and probably dirty/muddy/wet. You must bring along a couple of spare Gis. Keep your freshest, best, whitest, cleanest (and most neatly ironed) Gi for your formal kata performance and assessment (you need to look clean and neat for this part of the grading).
Bring some coat hangers - to hang up your Gi's (especially your nice 'kata' gi) in your room.
Socks and warm clothing, including a big warm jacket and/or BBMA hoodie to wear over your Gi. You will start to feel cold between sessions, and you will have a bit of 'down' time where you aren't actually exercising.
Appropriate footwear – ie joggers/running shoes for random outdoor black belt grading shenanigans and the 5k run, and sandals/thongs which are easy to slip on and off for wearing off the mats and when moving between locations.
Toiletries: Lots of deodorant (personal hygiene really counts at a Grading!) and to freshen yourself up in between sessions. Bring soap, toothpaste & tooth brush, and all the toiletries you would typically need for a 2 night stay.
Keep in mind, parents and their children are sleeping in separate dorm rooms (for 'child-safe' reasons, juniors under 18 will be sharing a room with other juniors, and adults will share with other adults). So, each person will need their own supplies. Give Sensei Trevor a call if your unsure what's been organised for your family.
Bring 2 towels - in addition to your daily showers, these are useful for muddy/wet outdoor sessions, and to help freshen up off the mats.
Bedding! You'll be sleeping on a very basic camp bed, in a shared 'dorm' style room. Please pack at least a pillow and sleeping bag (or similar). There is NO BEDDING available for the beds at camp.
Sun-screen and a hat
Joggers & socks
A BBMA branded t-shirt
An equipment bag - or something to carry your stuff around with you as you move between training locations
A note-book or paper and pens/pencils
Your (already memorised!) laminated Black Belt Question card - for the Oral Exam
Bring along anything else you think might make/help you relax and feel comfortable.
What not to bring
Jewellery, large amounts of cash or anything breakable or valuable
I’m sure we don’t have to say this, but, just in case...:
Bring all your equipment including FULL SPARRING GEAR (mouth guard, groin guard, body protector, head gear, shin pads and gloves)
Bring your Arnis
Bring your Belt
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In the days leading up to your grading:
Drink plenty of water every day
Practice (all of) your kata daily
Stretch, roll out your 'sore/tight' bits
Eat properly
Memorize (perfectly, word for word) the answers to the special 'Black Belt Questions' for your Oral Exam - these were handed out after your last Pre Test.
Try to stay calm and get loads of sleep!
Go for a walk and do some stretching.
If you are nursing injuries, see your physio or medical health care professional, acupuncturist or masseur (or all of the above). Get yourself strapped/taped up and ready to go.
Make sure your toenails and fingernails have been trimmed/cut short.
Find and prepare your knee supports, strapping tape, heat/cold packs and instant ice packs.
Pack and prepare all your gear, uniforms and equipment and put it aside ready to take tomorrow. See below for more info on 'what to pack'.
Don't eat anything too spicy, rich, creamy, fatty, fried or 'junky'. Avoid anything that might make you constipated, give you gastro or risk food poisoning!
Shop for food and first aid items
Prepare your bedding (pillow plus sleeping bag is best) for bed at camp
Don't play any 'high risk' sports, or participate in activities that may lead to a 'grading ending injury' (it happens!).
The morning of your grading (Friday):
Don't panic :)) Breathe...
Keep drinking water
Eat a light breakfast and light, healthy lunch.
Double check you've packed everything in the car - including all your sparring gear, arnis, mouthguard, Karate belt and extra Gi's, bedding, oh, and your (laminated) card with the special Black Belt Questions (you'll hand this in at the grading)
Leave early. Allow lots of extra time for traffic/weather/unexpected events.
You absolutely must be there on or before the nominated start time
Once you arrive, Candidates (CBBs and CDGs) cannot leave camp (you must stay on the premises) until the BB Grading finishes.