GRADING STRUCTURE

Like many other martial arts Wu-Wei Dao has a belt grading structure within which the syllabus is taught. Unlike most martial arts schools Wu-Wei Dao has 3 different grading systems depending on age. These are as follows:

· Adults: 17 years and over (see Adult Belt Colours)
· Juniors: 13 - 16 years inclusive* (see Junior Belt Colours)
· Pre-Juniors: 7 - 12 years inclusive# (see Pre-Junior Belt Colours)

* Juniors who have achieved Purple 4 can reorient to Adult grades at their next grading even if they have not yet completed 17 years of age.
# At the discretion of the Instructor some flexibility regarding minimum age may be extended to children under 7 years of age if they have the necessary maturity and/or talent to benefit from the training and fit into the class.

top

ADULT BELT COLOURS (age 17 and up)

top

JUNIOR BELT COLOURS (ages 13-16)

top

PRE-JUNIOR BELT COLOURS (ages 7-12)

top

FUNCTION AND FORMAT OF GRADINGS

The function of the grading system is to assist both the student in learning, and the instructor in teaching, the techniques relevant to the student's level of expertise. There is a minimum time and a minimum number of classes before each grade in order to ensure that techniques are properly assimilated before new ones are learned. This in turn is vital because the techniques build on the preceding knowledge.

Gradings take the form of a lesson where the student is assessed in the performance of the techniques required for that level. The assessor makes constructive comments on a grading sheet which is returned to the student. If the student meets all the necessary criteria he or she is awarded the level. If not all the criteria are met the student is frequently given an opportunity to practise and demonstrate the relevant techniques at a later date. In this sense gradings are different to examinations in that the emphasis is on assisting the student and not on whether the student has "passed" or "failed". It is also important to note that students are generally only recommended for grading when the instructor feels the student is ready.

top