Martial Arts Belt Progression System – Blocks, Kicks & Kata Separated
| Current Rank | Next Rank | Time Required | Blocks | Kicks | Kata | Other Techniques |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Belt | 9th Kyu (Yellow) | 4 months | • Age Uke (Rising Block) • Gedan Barai (Low Block) • Basic Chudan Uke (Middle Block) | • Front Kick (Mae Geri) | Taikyoku Shodan | Horse Stance, Forward Stance, Basic Sweep |
| Yellow (9th Kyu) | 8th Kyu (Orange) | 4 months | + Uchi Uke (Inner Forearm Block) in Back Stance | + Side Kick (Yoko Geri) | Taikyoku Sandan | Back Stance, Back Fist, Open-hand strikes |
| Orange (8th Kyu) | 7th Kyu (Green) | 4 months | + Shuto Uke (Knife Hand Block) | + Turning Kick (Mawashi Geri) | Heian Shodan | Cat Stance, Turning Slap |
| Green (7th Kyu) | 6th Kyu (Blue) | 4 months | (All previous blocks) | + Back Kick – backward (Ushiro Geri) | Heian Nidan | Finger Thrust, Knuckle Thrust, Palm Heel Strike |
| Blue (6th Kyu) | 5th Kyu (Purple) | 5 months | (All previous blocks) | + Hook Kick + Inner Crescent Kick (Uchi Mikazuki Geri) + Outer Crescent Kick (Soto Mikazuki Geri) + Front-Back Kick combo | Heian Sandan | Bunkai (practical application) introduced |
| Purple (5th Kyu) | 4th Kyu (Brown IV) | 5 months | (All previous blocks) | + Spinning Kick (Ushiro Mawashi Geri) + Combination Kicks (e.g., Mae-Yoko, Mawashi-Ushiro) | Heian Yondan | — |
| Brown IV (4th Kyu) | 3rd Kyu (Brown III) | 6 months | (All previous blocks) | + Scissor Jump Kick | Heian Godan | Nunchaku: basic swings & movements |
| Brown III (3rd Kyu) | 2nd Kyu (Brown II) | 6 months | (All previous blocks) | + Flying Kick (Tobi Geri) | Tekki Shodan Bassai Dai | — |
| Brown II (2nd Kyu) | 1st Kyu (Brown I) | 8 months | (All previous blocks – refined) | (All kicks – focus on control & speed) | Tekki Nidan Kanku Dai | Nunchaku Kata |
| Brown I (1st Kyu) | Shodan | 8 months | (All blocks – applied in bunkai with timing & distancing) | (All kicks – integrated into combinations & counters) | Tekki Sandan Jion | — |
| Shodan | Nidan | 2 years | Advanced blocking in bunkai (simultaneous block-strike, trapping) | Advanced kick combinations in kumite | Bassai Sho Kanku Sho | Single Sword Kata |
| Nidan | Sandan | 3 years | Weapon-based deflections blended with empty-hand blocks | Jumping/spinning kicks with transitions | Empi Hangetsu | Stick Kata |
| Sandan | Yondan | 4 years | Multi-angle, reactive blocking under pressure | Aerial & complex spinning kicks | Jitte Jiin Sochin | Double Sword Kata |
| Yondan | Godan | 5 years | Mastery: blocks as setups, counters, or attacks | Full kick arsenal applied fluidly in combat & kata | Unsu Gankaku Gojushiho Dai | Butterfly Sword Kata |
✅ Legend & Notes:
- Blocks are cumulative—each rank builds on the last.
- Kicks include both new techniques and refinement of prior ones.
- Kata column shows only new kata required for that promotion (not cumulative).
- Bunkai (practical application of kata) becomes essential from Purple Belt onward.
- Weapons training begins at Brown IV and expands through dan ranks.