The school year

Belt tests and session dates

Sessions start a few times a year, and belt tests follow each one.

School year

Early September
First day
Fall session begins
New students are welcome in the first two weeks of a session.
Late October
Event
Fall belt test
Students test at their regular class time. Families may watch quietly.
Late November
Closed
Closed for Thanksgiving
Classes pause. The Thanksgiving break camp runs that week.
Early January
First day
Winter session begins
Mid February
Event
Winter belt test
Students test at their regular class time. Families may watch quietly.
Late March
First day
Spring session begins
Late May
Event
Spring belt test
Students test at their regular class time. Families may watch quietly.
Early August
Event
Summer belt test
Held on the last day of the final camp week and the first Saturday after.

Sample dates.

What to expect

A belt test, step by step

01
1
Step 1: Before
Your child's instructor says in class when they are ready to test. Students practice the same basics as always.
02
2
Step 2: On the day
Students bow in, then show stance, block, kick and bow and the kata for their belt. Parents sit on the bench, with phones put away and no flash.
03
3
Step 3: After
The instructor ties on the new belt in front of the class. A student who needs more time keeps practicing and tests at the next one.

Belt tests happen in regular class time. Try a class to see how a day on the mat goes.