The 10 Degrees of Black Belt

Once a student has reached the Black sash level they become a fully fledged Practitioner of Wing Chun. Progress at this level is measured against 10 Degrees: the first 4 being directly related to the Practitioner’s skill in applying Wing Chun. Degrees 5-10 are more around the Practitioner’s ability to truly understand Wing Chun and how they have contributed to its evolution.

1 st Degree: The Practitioner achieves this level when the Black sash is awarded and all the basic Wing Chun concepts that are common to all fighters are fully understood.

2 nd Degree: The Practitioner has displayed an ability to understand the more advanced concepts of Wing Chun and apply them in combat.

3 rd Degree: The Practitioner has defined their own version of Wing Chun that enhances their personal strengths.

4 th Degree: The Practitioner can adapt and change their personal style of Wing Chun to effectively engage any opponent by taking advantage of their opponents' weaknesses.

5 th Degree: The Practitioner has mastered the ability to fully understand all Wing Chun concepts and can begin to develop the martial art itself so that it continues to evolve. At this stage the Practitioner may use the title of Master.

6 th Degree: The Master has contributed a researched theory that has advanced the progress of Wing Chun and can be directly applied in combat.

7 th Degree: The Master has continued to contribute advanced and verifiable theories to the evolution of Wing Chun and understands how the art needs to evolve in line with the progress of other martial arts.

8 th Degree: The Master has developed an understanding of the martial art of Wing Chun to a degree that they can directly critique other forms of Wing Chun by deconstructing them and identifying their strengths and weaknesses. At this stage the Master may use the title of Grand Master.

9 th Degree: The Grand Master is a true expert of Wing Chun and has contributed to the evolution of the martial art to the degree that they can be directly credited with progressing the art to its current form.

10th Degree: This extraordinarily rare Grand Master has directly developed Wing Chun to such a degree and has been such a key influence on the martial art that they can justifiably be said to be a joint creator of Wing Chun in its current form along side other Grand Masters throughout history.