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Mon Grades

A guide to junior belt progression at Jewel Karate Club, including what Mon grades are, how children prepare, what parents should expect, and how the journey builds confidence step by step.





Overview

Junior gradings are an exciting part of a child’s karate journey. For many children, a Mon grading is their first experience of working toward a formal goal in the dojo, and that can bring a mixture of nerves, excitement and pride.

At Jewel Karate Club, we aim to make gradings feel positive, achievable and enjoyable. Children are only invited to grade when we believe they are ready, and the focus is not just on passing a test, but on building confidence, discipline, respect and a sense of progress.

What may feel like a big challenge at first is something we work hard to make friendly, well-supported and rewarding for both the child and their family.

  • Children are only invited when we believe they are genuinely ready.
  • Good manners, effort, tidy appearance and safe behaviour matter as much as technique.
  • Parents and guardians are always welcome to ask how best to support practice at home.
  • An up-to-date SKF licence is needed so gradings can be recorded correctly.

Mon Grade Pathway

The Mon grade pathway is our junior progression route. It gives younger students a clear structure for improvement, helping them build strong basics, confidence and consistency before moving on to the full Kyu grade syllabus.

What Mon grades help build

  • Good posture, balance and coordination
  • Basic stances, punches, blocks and first kicks
  • Listening skills, discipline and dojo etiquette
  • Confidence in working with others and performing in front of instructors

What children usually learn from the process

  • How to prepare properly for something important
  • How regular effort leads to visible progress
  • How to deal with nerves in a positive way
  • How to take pride in earning the next belt

Belt Progression

The list below gives a general guide to the Mon grade journey. The exact level of detail expected may vary slightly depending on age, confidence and the standard being worked on in class, but the overall pathway stays the same.

White Belt   White Belt

White belt is not a Mon grade, but the starting point of the journey. It represents a beginning, a willingness to learn, and the first steps into karate training.

At this stage, the main goals are learning how to line up properly, listening carefully, following instruction, developing respect in the dojo, and beginning to enjoy karate as something positive and fun.

Yellow Belt   1st Mon — Junior Yellow Belt
  • One step, punch
  • One step, head block
  • Front kick
  • Front kick, reverse punch

This is usually the first formal junior grading. The main aim is to show simple basics with confidence, good listening and clear effort.

Orange Belt   2nd Mon — Junior Orange Belt
  • One step, punch
  • One step, head block
  • Front kick
  • Front kick, reverse punch
  • Roundhouse kick
  • Front kick, roundhouse kick, reverse punch

At this stage, students begin to show more variety in their kicking and combinations while still keeping the basics clear and controlled.

Green Belt   3rd Mon — Junior Green Belt
  • One step, punch
  • One step, head block
  • Reverse punch
  • Front kick
  • One step, front kick
  • Roundhouse kick
  • Front kick, snap punch
  • One step, front kick, snap punch
  • Front kick, reverse punch
  • One step, front kick, reverse punch

The green belt level asks for better control, a little more sharpness in combinations, and a stronger understanding of how techniques link together.

Blue Belt   4th Mon — Junior Blue Belt
  • One step, punch
  • One step, head block
  • Reverse punch
  • Front kick
  • One step, front kick
  • Roundhouse kick
  • Front kick, snap punch
  • One step, front kick, snap punch
  • Front kick, reverse punch
  • One step, front kick, reverse punch
  • Front kick, roundhouse kick, reverse punch

At blue belt, students are expected to perform familiar basics with more consistency and show greater control in combinations.

Purple Belt   5th Mon — Junior Purple Belt
  • One step, punch
  • One step, head block
  • Reverse punch
  • Front kick
  • One step, front kick
  • Roundhouse kick
  • Front kick, snap punch
  • One step, front kick, snap punch
  • Front kick, reverse punch
  • One step, front kick, reverse punch
  • Front kick, roundhouse kick, reverse punch
  • Outer block, reverse punch
  • Inner block, reverse punch

Purple belt introduces more defensive awareness, showing that students are beginning to connect blocks and counters more smoothly.

Brown Belt   6th Mon — Junior Brown Belt
  • One step, punch
  • One step, head block
  • Reverse punch
  • Front kick
  • One step, front kick
  • Roundhouse kick
  • Front kick, snap punch
  • One step, front kick, snap punch
  • Front kick, reverse punch
  • One step, front kick, reverse punch
  • Front kick, roundhouse kick, reverse punch
  • Outer block, reverse punch
  • Inner block, reverse punch
  • Half Kata 1 (Pinan Nidan)

Brown belt is the final Mon grade stage before moving on more fully into the Kyu pathway. It starts to introduce early kata understanding alongside solid junior basics.

Readiness & Process

  1. Speak with your instructor about readiness and likely timing.
  2. Make sure the student’s SKF membership and licence are current.
  3. Practise the required basics regularly at home as well as in class.
  4. Attend class consistently so the child feels confident and prepared.
  5. Arrive on grading day a little early, with belt, licence and water.
  6. Take on feedback positively and enjoy the progress made, whatever the result.

Parent Guidance

How to help at home

Short, regular practice works better than long sessions. A few minutes of stepping, punching, kicking or simply repeating the grading list can make a big difference.

What matters most

Effort, listening, attitude and improvement matter just as much as whether every movement looks perfect. The grading journey is part of building confidence and character.

If your child is nervous

Nerves are completely normal. Remind them that they are only there because their instructor believes they are ready, and that the grading is a chance to show what they already know.

On the day

Clean gi, correct belt, short nails, no jewellery, current licence, and arriving in good time all help the day run smoothly and positively.

FAQs

What age are Mon grades for?
Typically our junior members, usually around ages 5 to 10, although exact placement depends on the student and the instructor’s judgement.
How often are gradings?
We run regular gradings through the year. Dates vary by venue and class, and children may not be invited to every grading. That is normal and simply means we are waiting until they are properly ready.
Do junior students need sparring kit?
No, not for the early Mon grades. Light partner work is supervised and kept appropriate to the student’s stage of development.
Is there ever an extra grading opportunity?
Sometimes there may be an extra grading opportunity at the end of an Easter Karate Week or Summer Karate Week, where several weeks of training are compressed into one focused week.
What if my child does not pass?
That is uncommon if they have been invited properly, but if it happens it is treated as part of learning. The child will be supported, given guidance, and encouraged toward the next opportunity.

Keep studying the junior pathway

Return to the wider syllabus or jump back to the top of this page to review the Mon grade journey again.

Back to Syllabus Back to Top