At Revolution Modern Martial Arts, we believe that progress in children’s martial arts should be earned, meaningful, and clearly understood. While many martial arts schools use tape stripes on belts without much explanation, we’ve developed a system that gives real value and structure to every stripe and every belt.
Here’s a breakdown of how our belt testing cycle works, and what each phase means for your child’s martial arts journey.
A 12-Week Testing Cycle Designed for Growth
Our belt advancement process follows a 12-week cycle, with each phase building on the last to ensure that students in our children’s martial arts program are learning, applying, and mastering their skills.
🥋 Weeks 1–8: Curriculum Stripe Testing
During the first eight weeks of the cycle, students are tested during Monday and Tuesday evening classes on the core areas of their curriculum. Each area corresponds to a specific stripe:
- Blue Stripe – Fundamentals
- Green Stripe – Sparring Offense
- Orange Stripe – Sparring Defense
- White Stripe – Kata (forms)
- Black Stripe – Self-Defense
These stripes act like quizzes, helping students track their progress and stay motivated. The remainder of the weekly classes focus on applying these skills in real-time drills and partner practice—foundational elements in all strong children’s martial arts programs.
🔁 Weeks 9–10: Review & Make-Ups
The next two weeks are set aside for review. Students get the chance to:
- Revisit and refine their techniques
- Make up any missed curriculum stripes (3 or less)
- Boost their confidence in preparation for the upcoming test
This phase helps ensure that students don’t fall behind and gives everyone an opportunity to catch up if needed.
🟡 Week 11: Belt Test Qualification & Testing
By week 11, students who have earned all five curriculum stripes—plus at least one challenge stripe—become eligible to test for their next belt rank.
During the belt test, students are asked to demonstrate the same skills they’ve been working on throughout the cycle. If they pass, they receive the yellow stripe, which signifies their readiness for promotion.
This approach ensures that children’s martial arts students aren’t just memorizing techniques—they’re learning to perform them with confidence, control, and purpose.
🎉 Week 12: Promotion Event
Students who earn the yellow stripe are invited to a Promotion Event, where they perform a short demonstration for friends and family and are formally awarded their new belt.
Promotion events are designed to celebrate progress and perseverance. They offer students a chance to showcase their hard work in front of a supportive audience and reinforce the confidence and pride that comes with earning their next rank.
Why it Matters
In children’s martial arts, every small step forward matters—and we believe in making each one intentional and rewarding. Our structured system ensures that progress is not only visible but earned through effort, focus, and discipline.
At Revolution, we want every student (and every parent) to know exactly why they’ve earned their stripes—and exactly what those stripes represent.
Got Questions? We’re Here to Help.
If you ever have questions about our belt system, class structure, or anything else related to children’s martial arts, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team is always happy to guide you through the process and support your child’s journey.
Thank you for being a part of the Revolution Modern Martial Arts family. We’re proud to grow alongside every student, on and off the mat.
📍 Learn more or get in touch: www.claytonkarate.com
