Progress And Gradings

"All things are difficult before they are easy" – Thomas Fuller

Traditionally, kung fu schools viewed their students as a large family with the Sifu at its head, in which all were martial brothers and sisters. The more senior ones were those who had been there longest, and were regarded as the most skilled and knowledgeable. A visible ranking system was not used.

Nowadays, in common with most martial arts, our syllabus is divided into sections, each associated with a different coloured sash, starting with white and progressing through various colours to black. Progress through these is by means of formal assessments, or gradings, which the student is invited to take when the instructor judges that he/she is ready. Being ready to sit a grading involves being proficient in the techniques being learnt, but also depends on attendance and approach to training and practice, because kung fu is really a westernised term which means ‘hard work’ or the attainment of skill through training. An up to date licence/membership is required.

The student is given a grading form in advance, which gives details of the techniques to be assessed, and should complete and return the form, with payment for the grading, to the instructor.

Although this is a formal occasion, instructors want their students to do well, and appreciate that they are nervous. Students should ensure that they arrive in good time, allowing time to warm up and stretch if they do not have a class beforehand. If they prepare well through regular practice, students will be more likely to feel confident and perform as well as they would in a normal class. A sash and certificate is awarded to successful students, and this is inclusive in the grading fee.