Striping System
In order to have our Lil’ Dragons, Juniors, and Teens students visually and tangibly track their progress throughout a testing cycle, we utilize a comprehensive striping system. By breaking down the entire rank’s course materials into smaller segments, we are able to consistently evaluate progress and development at a rate that is both meaningful and achievable. Stripes create short term goals for students to focus on while also working towards bigger goals such as earning the next rank and, of course, progressing to black belt.
For our striping system, we also utilize two different colors to symbolize a student’s proficiency level of the subject they were tested on. By not earning a stripe, it signifies that a student needs improvement on the particular subject matter before progressing to the next stripe. Earning a white stripe means that a student demonstrates satisfactory knowledge of the material. Earning a black stripe signifies the student has clearly demonstrated the material at a level that exceeds expectations for their current rank.
Lil’ Dragons earn up to 10 stripes at their rank before progressing to the next one. If they earn a minimum of 8 stripes, they are eligible to test for the next rank as they have been able to successfully perform all of the material they will be tested on.
Juniors and Teens earn up to 8 stripes at their rank before progressing to the next one. Juniors and Teens must earn all 8 stripes before being eligible to test for the next rank.
The student striping system is emailed out to students upon the achievement of their new rank and can also be found under the Spark Member app under curriculum.
Ranking Systems
Below is a graphic for each age-based program.
Our Lil’ Dragons Ranking system allows our youngest students to feel the power of achievement while preparing them to enter into our Juniors Curriculum. Lil’ Dragons have the opportunity to graduate to the Juniors Program early by showing consistent focus, self-control, and the ability to retain and display extended sequences well.
Our Juniors participate in our nationally certified curriculum as they work to progress towards achieving Black Belt. The Junior Program is designed for elementary school-aged children. Students in the Juniors Program may be eligible to skip Senior Ranks (ranks with black stripe through middle) if they show advanced proficiency in learning the material throughout the testing cycle by achieving certain benchmarks such as earning all 8 black stripes. 1st Degree Senior Black Belt Juniors wishing to advance to 2nd Degree Black Belt must participate in the Teen Program with prior approval.
Our Teens participate in our nationally certified curriculum as they work to advance towards achieving Black Belt. The Teen Program is designed for Middle School and High School students. We use an accelerated system from the Juniors Program to the Teen Program due to more developed cognitive and physical abilities. However, Teens that struggle to meet the benchmark assessment level of earning black stripes during stripe testing may also be candidates for Junior Ranks. 2nd Degree Senior Black Belt Teens wishing to advance to 3rd Degree Black Belt must participate in the Adult Program with prior approval.
Our Adults participate in our nationally certified curriculum as they work to advance towards achieving Black Belt and beyond. Students ages 16 and older are eligible to participate in the Adult Program.