White Belts
White, junior yellow, and junior orange are beginners.
Junior beginner belts learn five fighting combinations and ten self-defense techniques for each rank, plus other techniques, blocks, punches, and kicks.
We have adjusted the Junior Ranking system to include junior belt ranks to accommodate the ability of our newer students. The age of a child can determine which path we (staff and parents) choose.
Adult students learn the same materials as the junior students for their yellow belt. For the other belts, adult students learn more techniques.
As students learn, they earn stripes for their belt that indicate their progress.
Tests are cumulative. Students must demonstrate all fighting combinations and other techniques, starting from white belt, when testing. Students should prepare by resting, eating well, avoiding milk and soda, and drinking water. Junior beginner belt tests take approximately one hour.
White.
All new students (children and adults) get white belts when they first start at the Dragon's Den. Students that transfer from another system can keep their current belts, although many choose to start over again because of the detail of our system. The white belt curriculum includes the star block, ten fighting combinations, twenty self-defense techniques, and short form 1. All beginners, whether 5 or 50, need to learn to take the first step on your journey into Kenpo, and this begins at the white belt.
Junior Beginner Belts
Jr. Yellow.
Junior yellow belt students prepare for their next level by learning another ten fighting combinations and twenty more self-defense techniques, plus kicking set and long form 1. Jump to the Adult Belts.
Jr.
Orange. Orange belt students prepare for their next level by learning ten more fighting combinations, ten more self-defense techniques, short form 2, coordination set 1, and stance set 1.
Junior Intermediate Belts
Purple, blue, and green belts are intermediates.
Jr.
Purple. Junior belt students now test for full junior ranks only, with ten self-defense techniques per belt level. Junior purple belts are also required to learn five more fighting combinations, plus finger set, striking set 1, and long form 2 to be eligible for promotion to the junior blue level.
Jr.
Blue. At this level, students learn their salutation and first live form, short form 3, plus the next ten self-defense techniques. They must also learn striking set 2 and coordination set 2 for promotion to Jr. Green Belt.
Jr.
Green. Students are now ready to begin their advanced training. The intensity level of their training increases as they now learn stance set 2, blocking set 2 and long form 3. There are also ten advanced self-defense techniques for this rank. The student must be able to apply all techniques from junior yellow through junior brown to an opponents body, 60 self-defense techniques in all. They must also remember and perform all forms, sets, and fighting combinations from all previous belts levels to be eligible for promotion.
Junior Advanced Belts
Brown and black belts are advanced ranks.
The new advanced student continues to learn ten self-defense techniques per level, while perfecting all previous techniques, forms, sets, and all basic requirements for every belt level. The pieces of the puzzle are now coming together for these students. They realize that accuracy, power, then speed, are crucial in defending themselves. They now know the natural weapons and tools that they possess can have devastating effects on an attacker. They must also understand that Kenpo must only be used as a last resort. They understand that this is not a movie or TV show, but real life, and there are no do-overs or retakes after the damage is done. We relate it to a police officer who practices with his weapon; they may be able to put 16 shots dead center on a target at the range, but that same officer never wants to pull his weapon out of his holster and fire it at another human being. The same applies to the art of American Kenpo Karate.
Jr.
Brown. Students perfect all previous material and learn ten new self-defense techniques. The student now knows 70 different self-defense techniques that can be applied against numerous types of attacks.
Jr.
Brown 1st degree. Students perfect all previous material and learn ten new self-defense techniques. The student now knows 80 different self-defense techniques that can be applied against numerous types of attacks.
Jr.
Brown 2nd degree. Students perfect all previous material and learn ten new self-defense techniques. The student now knows 90 different self-defense techniques that can be applied against numerous types of attacks. 
Jr.
Brown 3rd degree. The student now learns ten new self-defense techniques. They also start to recognize and understand that they are becoming leaders, not followers. They recognize that the targets and weapons may change and they will learn how to adapt to these changes. They become stronger more powerful while their knowledge continues to grow.
Jr.
Brown 4th degree. The student now needs to learn and practice ten more self-defense techniques. They also start to work with younger students, becoming self correcting as they perfect their art while teaching the beginner students. Repetition of all their beginner material with the new student helps build their communication skills and leadership qualities.
Jr.
Brown 5th degree. Their wealth of Kenpo knowledge continues to grow. They are now introduced to defenses against multiple attackers. These ten new techniques, along with all material they previously learned, must be demonstrated, practiced, and perfected before they are allowed to test.
Jr.
Brown 6th degree. The multiple attacker techniques continue. They are also introduced to techniques to defend against different knife attacks. These ten new techniques must be perfected, critiqued, and applied to the body. Practicing against multiple attackers and knives can be dangerous. The lessons, mistakes, and corrections made in the classroom will better prepare them for real life application.
Jr.
Black. Students working on their junior black belt material continue to learn the next ten techniques against multiple attackers and knife defenses. These students now know 130 different types of self-defense techniques, 6 forms and 10 different types of sets. When all of the material from all belt levels have been learned, remembered, and practiced for years and the student has kept his or her grades up and has shown to be responsible, humble, honest, loyal and trustworthy the student is then eligible for promotion to the rank of Jr. Black Belt. The years of hard work, dedication and practice are now evident. The young little Tiger walked into the Karate studio a defenseless little child, wide eyed and excited about learning how to kick and punch just like on TV. These same children that had a hard time knowing left from right and could not do a proper push-up, jumping jack or sit-up, now walk in the front door a little Dragon, full of confidence and knowledge. Their grades in school are at the highest level, they do not worry about peer pressure. They are leaders, not followers! They realize that the color of a belt means nothing, it is just a piece of colored cloth. They know that the knowledge and power is not in the cloth, but in their hearts and minds; they realize that knowledge is their best weapon.
Adult Belts
- Adult
Yellow. Adult white belts will need to learn the following material to be eligible for promotion to adult orange belt: kicking set #1, fighting combinations 6-10, long form #1, and 16 self-defense techniques applied to the body.
- Adult
Orange. Adult yellow belts need to know the following to be promoted to the rank of adult orange belt: all belt requirements from the previous belt levels plus coordination set #1, stance set #1, fighting combinations 11-15, 16 self-defense techniques, and short form #2.
- Adult
Purple. Adult orange belts need the following requirements to be eligible for promotion to adult blue belt: all material and requirements from yellow belt through orange belt, plus long form #2, finger set, striking set #1, fighting combinations 16-20, and 16 self-defense techniques applied to the body.
- Adult
Blue. Adult purple belts need the following in order to be eligible for promotion to adult green belt: all belt requirements and previous material from yellow through purple belts, plus coordination set #2, striking set #2, fighting combinations 21-30, 16 self-defense techniques applied to the body, and short form #3 (their first live form, complete with salutation).
- Adult
Green. All adult blue belts will need the following requirements and material to be eligible for promotion to green belt: all requirements from yellow belt through adult blue belt, plus stance set #2, blocking set #2, long form #3, plus 16 self-defense techniques.
- Adult
Brown 3rd degree. Adult green belts need all previous belt requirements from yellow belt, plus 16 new self-defense techniques. All basic requirements must be perfected from blocks to strikes, and all defense techniques need to be applied to the body with control. This is not a quick 50 yard dash, it is a marathon. All power sources must be established and practiced, all angles need to be worked on and corrected. You are now stronger and wiser and about to move into the world of multiple attackers and knife defenses. Remember, "it's not who's right, but who's left." Practice, and then practice some more, and when you think you're done, do it again!
- Adult
Brown 2nd degree. Adult 3rd degree brown belts need all previous belt level requirements from yellow, plus 16 new self-defense techniques, many from multiple attackers and knife attacks and form #4. This form needs to be practiced and worked on for many months/years to perfect and it is, in itself, A WORK OF ART IN MOTION.
- Adult
Brown 1st degree. Adult 2nd degree brown belts need to have forms #1 through #4, 10 sets, 122 self-defense techniques, all basic moves plus the new black belt requirements and techniques #1 through #20. These new techniques are against multiple attackers, knives, and guns.
- Adult
Black 1st degree.
