The following information explains how the YOUNG DRAGONS grading structure works…

Gradings are held every FIVE MONTHS

From WHITE SASH to BLACK SASH takes five years

Here is an example of a youngster who practices under me from White Sash right the way through to Black Sash:

Having  joined YOUNG DRAGONS in May 2010…

WHITE SASH GRADING: October 2010

RED SASH GRADING: May 2011

YELLOW SASH GRADING: October 2011

ORANGE SASH GRADING: May 2012

GREEN SASH GRADING: October 2012

BLUE SASH GRADING: May 2013

PURPLE SASH GRADING: October 2013

BROWN SASH GRADING: May 2014

BLACK SASH  FIRST LEVEL GRADING: May 2015 (one year after the BROWN SASH)

There are a number of different levels of the BLACK SASH. These can be attempted one year apart so…

SECOND LEVEL  BLACK SASH  May 2016

THIRD LEVEL BLACK SASH May 2017

FOURTH LEVEL BLACK SASH May 2018

and so on…

By the age of fifteen a YOUNG DRAGON will be ready to ascend to the adult Sanshangong class where he/she will then swap his/her YD uniform for the Sanshangong uniform and start, once again, from White Sash and work his/her way through the SSG syllabus.

This may seem somewhat harsh (making the student go back to Square One again) but this is in-keeping with the Oriental concept of “Beginner’s Mind”:

“Shoshin” (初心) is a concept found within Chan Buddhism, Zen Buddhism and Japanese (Martial) Arts and refers to a Beginner’s Mind - a mind and and an attitude of openness, humbleness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject - even when studying at an advanced level just as a beginner in that subject would. In this way one need never forget that:  In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities whilst in the expert’s mind there are few!

For each grading there is a fee with the exception of the First Level Black Sash. For this grading there is no fee! 

 In the event of  a grading failure that candidate will have to wait for the next scheduled grading.

Alternatively, he/she can re-take their grading two weeks after their failed attempt although the same grading fee will still apply. There will also be an additional fee for a private one-to-one lesson before the re-take.