In the early phases of training at Spirit Made Steel of Georgia, belt ranks are awarded relatively often - about 3 months between belts. As a student progresses into the advanced ranks, the mind will learn new techniques faster than the body will abosrb them into muscle memory. To progress to higher ranks, more time must be spent in training and repitition rather than merely learning new techniques. The time between belt promotions increases to allow the time necessary for the body to absorb what the mind has learned.

The times between belts in the chart are minimum times. Students are expected to show good class attendance (75-80% or better) to be considered for promotion. Additionally, simply showing up to class will not earn a belt promotion. Students must demonstrate proficiency in the requirements for each belt rank. To progress at exactly the times listed below, most students spend one to two hours per week practicing outside of class. Our program takes a minimum of three years for a brand new student to obtain their first degree black belt.

All belt promotions at Spirit Made Steel of Georgia are comprehensive. That is, the student is expected to be able to perform the requirements for their new rank, as well as to be able to perform the requirements for all previous ranks. Furthermore, the students performance of previous ranks should improve with each promotion. A student testing for yellow belt is expected to perform the yellow belt techniques at a novice level. A student testing for black belt is expected to perform the yellow belt techniques at an advanced level.

Students who join us with ranks from other schools will keep and wear their current highest rank. However, please recognize that curriculum varies greatly from one dojo to another, and especially from one style to another. Your next promotion will be to the rank following the one you currently have, but you will be expected to perform our curriculum at the level of that rank. Therefore, how long it will take before you test is dependent upon how close your old school's curriculum is to ours. If you are near or at the black belt level, it could be a while before your next test.