Belt System
The Markham YMCA uses the traditional belt system to denote the student's progression and signify their level of knowledge and proficiency

In the belt system, students begin as white belt and work their way through the coloured belts toward black. Belts are awarded based upon his meeting the minimum requirements for the belt and for demonstration of how his or her skills improved during a test.

Stripe System
Additionally, we've developed a belt-stripe system that recognizes advancement in skills for those students who may not yet be able to advance to the next belt through the traditional ranking system.

Within each belt, there are many requirements that are represented by different coloured stripes. Once the basics of that technique or stripe have been learned, the student is tested and awarded a stripe. In order to grade for the next belt level, all stripes for that belt must be attained. The student may then grade for the next belt level with final approval from the instructor.

As each of these stripes are earned by the student, they are attached to his or her current belt. Obtaining all of them will not only indicate readiness to pass our promotion examinations, but will provide students with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Testing for Belts
The YMCA Taekwondo Program conducts grading roughly every month. This is a chance for the students to display their talents and advance to the next level of their taekwondo education. The instructors will tell the student whether or not he or she has met the requirements to be tested. Qualified students must fill out a testing application form and submit the appropriate fees.

Leadership Program
To build strong leadership qualities, there is a mandatory leadership program once the student has attained the blue-belt level. There are a minimum number of hours required as an instructor, assistant instructor or an instructor-in-training in order to grade for the next level. However, students are encouraged to continue their leadership training and commit more than the minimum requirements. As well, lower belt students can also be involved in this leadership program, although it isn't a requirement in their grading.