Kato Martial Arts Grading Guide: Rules & Expectations
Welcome to the official grading guide for Kato Martial Arts. If you are training with us at our Hornchurch martial arts school, gradings are an exciting milestone on your journey to Black Belt.
To ensure the day runs smoothly and safely, all students and parents must read and understand the rules and expectations outlined below.
How the Day Works: Preparation & Arrival
The grading environment involves strict testing conditions, so students must arrive mentally prepared and ready to show their best Kato spirit.
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Arrival Time: Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your scheduled start time.
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Uniform: Candidates must be properly turned out in a clean and tidy uniform.
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What to Bring:
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Your fully completed Grading Form (signed with the Kato Student Pledge) and Grading Fee.
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Your gum shield and sparring gloves (if you own them).
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A healthy snack and a bottle of water for the mid-grading break.
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Uniform & Health and Safety
Safety is our top priority. To ensure a safe grading environment for all students, the following rules must be strictly observed:
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Clean Uniform: Your uniform must be clean and in good condition.
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No Watches or Jewellery: As per usual lesson rules, all watches and jewellery must be removed before grading.
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Religious Exceptions: Items that cannot be removed for religious reasons must be securely taped up to prevent injury.
The Six Sections of Grading
Your grading is designed to test your complete martial arts proficiency and is broken down into six core sections:
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Line Work: Demonstrating fundamental strikes, blocks, and stances moving forward and backward.
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Combinations: Linking strikes and kicks fluidly.
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Forms (Thau): Performing the specific sequence of movements required for your belt level.
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Grade Specifics: Practical demonstrations tailored to your rank. For example, White Belts must demonstrate tying their belt perfectly, while higher belts will demonstrate specific self-defence techniques and Free Fighting (Tooi Ta).
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Terminology: Testing your knowledge of the Chinese terms for your current (and previous) belt levels.
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Impact Testing: Demonstrating technique, power, and focus through board breaking.
Free Fighting (Tooi Ta) & Sparring Demonstrations
At our Hornchurch martial arts academy, free fighting during a grading is not a competitive match. Instead, it is a continuous demonstration of your movement, technique, defensive reflexes, and distance management.
Safety and control are our absolute priorities. The expected level of contact and control is strictly enforced based on age:
🧒 Dinky Dragons (Ages 4–6)
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Focus: Awareness, confidence, and basic control.
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Contact Level: Strictly NO contact. Techniques must stop short (2–5cm away).
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Allowed Targets: Body only (no head targeting).
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Grading Expectation: We want to hear the instructors say, “Show me you can stop, not hit.” At this stage, the demonstration is about balance, stances, and listening skills. Sparring is basically movement chess, not fighting.
🥋 Little Ninjas (Ages 7–10)
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Focus: Control and timing.
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Contact Level: Light touch to the body only. NO head contact.
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Allowed Targets: Body only. Head techniques are allowed to show skill but must stop completely short.
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Grading Expectation: Students must show that technique beats strength. No pushing or heavy strikes are permitted. If contact is too hard, the demonstration will be paused and corrected.
🥋 Samurai (Ages 11–14)
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Focus: Skill development and controlled realism.
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Contact Level: Light contact to the body. Very light, controlled contact to the head (touch only).
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Grading Expectation: This is where true discipline shows. Kicks to the head must be carefully controlled and placed, never driven through. Power without control is a failure of technique. Any use of excessive force will severely impact the grading score.
🥋 Warriors (Ages 15–17)
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Focus: Advanced timing, distance, and composure.
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Contact Level: Controlled contact to the body. Light contact to the head.
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Grading Expectation: Students must demonstrate spatial awareness and composure under pressure. Techniques must show clear intent and precise control. Using knockout-level force is considered a failure of martial skill and will halt the grading demonstration immediately.
🥋 Vanguard (18+)
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Focus: Precision, control, and realism.
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Contact Level: Controlled contact to the body (moderate but not forceful). Light, controlled contact to the head.
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Grading Expectation: No reckless techniques or “winning by force” mentality. At this level, adults do not prove toughness by hitting hard—they prove their mastery by choosing when not to.
