Belt Promotion Assessment Week
Celebrate Your Progress. Earn Your Next Belt.
One of the most exciting parts of Karate training is progressing through the belt ranks.
At Black Belt Martial Arts Hornsby, belt promotions recognise the hard work, commitment, skill development, and personal growth that students demonstrate both on and off the mats.
For many students, earning a new belt is a significant achievement and a milestone worth celebrating.
Assessment for Belt Promotion takes place twice during a normal term.
Progress Check (Mid-Term)
Approximately halfway through the term, eligible students undertake a Belt Promotion Progress Check.
Students who have accumulated the required number of training stripes (3 stripes for Li'l Dragons, 7 stripes for all other students) will be assessed on their progress and readiness to continue toward their next belt promotion.
A successful Progress Check is recognised with the award of a Silver Stripe on the student's belt.
This is a positive checkpoint designed to keep students on track and identify any areas that may benefit from additional practice before Belt Promotion Week.
2. Belt Promotion Assessment (End of Term)
The second assessment takes place during our designated Belt Promotion (Test) Week,.
This is usually held the week immediately before Graduation Week.
During this assessment, students demonstrate the skills, knowledge, attitude, and effort required for their next belt rank.
Students who successfully complete their Belt Promotion Assessment will receive a second Silver Stripe, confirming their eligibility to attend Graduation and be formally awarded their new belt.
Who Is Eligible?
To be eligible for a Belt Promotion assessment (test), students must:
✅ NOT have suspended their membership for any part of the current term
✅ Be a Financial Member of our school (no $ fees or tuition payments overdue or outstanding)
✅ Preferably, hold one Silver Stripe from their Progress Check
✅ Have accumulated the required number of training stripes
(a minimum of 15 Black Stripes for most students, 7 Stripes for Li'l Dragons)
✅ Attend class during the designated Belt Promotion Assessment (Testing) Week
✅ Arrive on time and remain for the entire class
✅ Most importantly, students must demonstrate readiness for their next rank, in all aspects of their martial arts practice (see below).
For Clarity, a student is ineligible for Belt Promotion if they:
Have fees or tuition payments outstanding or overdue
Have not attended the minimum required number of classes during the assessment period
Have been on hold at any time during the assessment period.
Cannot demonstrate readiness for the next belt rank - physical skills, knowledge, attitude.
More Than Attendance
At BBMA, belt promotions are earned, not automatically awarded.
While regular attendance is important, progression is based on much more than simply attending a certain number of classes.
Students must demonstrate:
✅ Good attitude and effort, including a consistent training history
✅ Respect, kindness, courtesy, emotional regulation and self-discipline
✅ Knowledge of their current curriculum
✅ Technical skill appropriate to their level
✅ Focus and willingness to learn
✅ The confidence and maturity expected of their next belt rank
Our goal is not to promote students as quickly as possible.
Our goal is to ensure every student feels proud, safe, capable, and genuinely prepared when they receive their next belt.
How to Prepare
The best preparation is simple:
🥋 Attend classes regularly and consistently
🥋 Listen carefully and apply instructor feedback
🥋 Practise your techniques and kata/forms at home
🥋 Review your curriculum requirements via the Online Academy
🥋 Ask questions if you're unsure about anything
🥋 Give your best effort every class
Students who train consistently and maintain a positive attitude are usually well prepared for Belt Promotion Week.
For students wanting additional support, private coaching sessions are also available and can be an excellent way to build confidence and refine techniques before assessment.
What If I'm Not Quite Ready?
Every student progresses at their own pace.
Occasionally, an instructor may recommend additional training before a student advances to their next belt.
This isn't a setback.
In fact, some of the strongest martial artists spend extra time refining their skills and building a solid foundation before moving forward.
If additional practice is needed, your instructor will provide guidance and help you prepare for a future promotion opportunity.
Looking Forward to Graduation
Belt Promotion Week is the final step before Graduation.
At Graduation, held during the final week of term, students who successfully passed their belt promotion are awarded their new belt.
Graduation is one of the highlights of the term and provides an opportunity for students, families, and instructors to celebrate the effort, perseverance, and progress achieved throughout the term.
We encourage all eligible students to embrace the challenge, do their best, and look forward to taking the next step on their martial arts journey.
Additional Grading Information
Has your membership been 'on hold’ for any part of this term?
Students who suspend their membership with BBMA:
Are not eligible to ‘catch up’ on classes missed while their membership was inactive (ie while they were on hold and not paying tuition)
Are not eligible to grade in any term where their membership was on hold. This means students returning from hold will not participate in testing or grading, following a membership suspension. Suspending your membership will delay your belt and grading progress.
If you have any questions, please let us know :)
Is this A Group/Level Upgrade? Then please read the following information.
Group/Level Upgrade - A formal testing event held on completion of your current BBMA Program - not for Lil Dragons.
A Group/Level Upgrade is a mandatory formal exam, which eligible students must attend and pass if they wish to upgrade to the next BBMA program level:
Basic to L1 - Green Advanced belt students, upgrading to Blue Belt
L1 to L2 - Purple Advanced Belt students, upgrading to Gold Belt
L2 to L3 - Orange Advanced Belt students, upgrading to Red Belt
This event is NOT for Lil Dragons :)
Program upgrades represent a significant belt promotion at BBMA, and the belt testing process is therefore more challenging.
The Group/Level upgrade is a centralised testing event, which means it may be attended by students from any/every other BBMA School.
The testing is conducted by a panel of senior Teachers - from Hornsby Dojo and from other BBMA schools - including Kyoshi Liz Mahler herself (BBMA Founder and Master Teacher).
A Group Upgrade is designed to be challenging
The testing becomes increasingly difficult (we set higher standards) for entry into each consecutive level. These standards are challenging but also achievable, for the vast majority of students, with consistent attendance and applied effort.
Not everyone will pass their Group/Level upgrade test, and that’s ok.
It’s normal, and to be expected, that students will slow down in their belt progress (by staying on their current belt level for another term or two) at various stages in their journey to black belt. This happens for a variety of reasons and students may choose this for themselves (for example, during a busy work or family period), or we may make the decision - based on our assessment of what is best for the student in the longer term.
Who is eligible to attempt a Group/Level upgrade?
Students are eligible to attempt a BBMA Level Upgrade if they have…
Attended enough classes by the end of the current/testing term (at least 16 classes by the end of term).
Demonstrated a history of regular training (at least 2 classes per week)
Completed all sections/activities and challenges within the Level Upgrade Journal - either in hard copy or online via the mobile app
Demonstrated the required skills for their program - including kata/forms
Consistently demonstrated the required level of effort, training intensity and ‘coachability’ in regular classes (ie have shown effort and a desire to learn/change/improve).
Have not been on hold (or suspended their membership or tuition payments) for any part of the testing term.
Zero $ outstanding/overdue tuition. Must be completely up to date with all payments.
Paid their Group/Level Upgrade Fee.
Own all the necessary kumite (sparring) safety equipment. For Karate students this means gloves, shin guards, mouth guard, groin guard (male), chest guards (female), body guard (all) and head guard (children under 14 years).
A word about online training…
We do NOT recommend online training for students attempting a group/level upgrade, except as an ADDITION/supplement to your regular in-class training.
We recommend students attend 2-3 classes per week at the Dojo, and also participate in regular ‘at home’ practice (with the support of the Online Academy). You’ll need to demonstrate a consistent pattern of attendance before attempting a Group/Level Upgrade test.
We strongly advise against cramming classes during makeup class weeks just prior to testing. Cramming = a last minute rush to catch up on missed training, in attempt to meet the minimum attendance requirements.
In Martial Arts, sustainable )and safe) skills development requires ‘slow learning’; a history of regular, consistent in-Dojo learning, over an extended period of time.
Students wishing to participate in a Group/Level Upgrade should speak with their main BBMA Hornsby Teacher, to ensure they are:
✅ Eligible ( to participate in the testing event)
✅ On track (to pass the testing even)
Additional charges apply
Students pay a grading fee to participating in a Group/Level upgrade testing event.