BELT RANKING SYSTEM

The SORIAN-DO belt ranking system is designed to present practitioners with challenges, goals, and recognition on the journey to the coveted Black Belt. Ranking is as follows:

BEGINNER BRACKET

10th Degree White Belt
9th Degree Yellow Belt
8th Degree Orange Belt

INTERMEDIATE BRACKET

7th Degree Green Belt
6th Degree Blue Belt
5th Degree Purple Belt

ADVANCED BRACKET

4th Degree (Jr.) Brown Belt
3rd Degree (Sr.) Brown Belt
2nd Degree Red Belt

BLACK BELT

1st Degree Black Belt - Certified Instructor*
1st Degree Black Belt - Senior Student

*Only Black Belts who complete the Leadership Team Training program qualify for Instructor Certification.

While the requirements themselves become more demanding as a student works his way through the ranks, all requirements fall under one of the 3 blocks: 

BROWN BLOCK: TRADITIONAL

-Terminology/Education/Character Development/Life Skills
-Stances & Blocks
-Forms/Katas
-Board Breaking

RED BLOCK: SELF DEFENSE

-Falling
-Self-Defense Techniques (including weapons)

BLACK BLOCK: SPARRING

-Punching/Kicking
-Point Fighting
-Boxing/Thai boxing
-Grappling
-Weapons Sparring

PROGRESS STRIPES

In order to track progress within the current rank, students earn colored stripes in accordance with the learning blocks.

BROWN STRIPE = Brown Block (Traditional)
RED STRIPE = Red Block (Self-Defense)
BLACK STRIPE = Black Block (Sparring)

Stripes may be earned in any order. Once a student earns all three Progress Stripes, he or she will be pre-tested by a Black Belt Instructor. Students who are ready for the next rank are invited to present a rank examination, or Belt Test.