Belts and gradings
The belt system in Zen Do Kai and Singlets in Muay Thai are:
White - Yellow - Orange - Blue - Green - Brown - Black
Yellow, Orange and Blue gradings are carried in house (At our own Dojo) all other gradings are carried out at the quarterly gradings, usually at the beginning or first Sunday of March, June, september and December. Tip or intermediate gradings are done at the Dojo and vary for each level.
Your instructor will grade you regularly early on and will not send you to a main grading unless you have the ability and attitude to pass. The different colours are an indication to you and your fellow students of your level of ability and your progression. At NO time should you compare yourself with others. The training is for you and it is your ability that improves. The colours are used today to symbolise length or time you have spent training and knowledge. Eg: a white belt is a new or clean belt, a brown belt symbolises an older dirtier belt. Never wash your belt, your training is within it.
Characters on embroidered black belts
Japanese characters, stating your name, are embroidered onto the left hand side of the black belt after second degree.
Six Characters are embroidered on the right hand side of the Black Belt after second Degree.
The top three characters are Japanese for:
 |
Kara | Empty |
|---|---|---|
 |
Te | Hand |
 |
Do | Way |
The bottom three characters are Chinese for:
 |
Che | Red |
|---|---|---|
 |
Ahloon | Dragon |
 |
Pei | System |