This is relevant to ALL students approaching black belt grades, including current 1st Kup (Red/Black) students grading to black belt candidate status..

Black Belt Candidates

Please ensure you read the ‘notes for black belt candidates’ document on the website thoroughly as there is an additional requirement of a pre-grading essay which must accompany your grading application.   If you need any help coming up with a topic for this, please speak to Master Olpin or Mrs Williamson ASAP

Black Belt Applications

Please remember that the application process involves several key stages, and that the initial application requires certain aspects, such as personal goals, to be discussed and agreed in advance with an instructor, so you cannot simply leave it to the last moment and put a form in – and applications will not be accepted unless you have discussed and agreed all aspects in advance of the application.

You must include ALL the following with your application form:

• Completed application form
• Written outline of all agreed goals (including how you plan to track/measure them)
• Title and brief outline of your Thesis / Project topic
• Training plans to cover both the monthly outline and first month’s weekly plans
• Your training journal should be set up with an initial post detailing all the above *agreed* information.

It is highly recommended that you don’t leave applications until the last moment in case of issues!