Wing Tsun - Grading System - Student Grades

The WingTsun curriculum consists of twelve student grades which cover the first two forms, Siu Nim Tao and Chum Kiu, as well as the related Chi Sao training and applications. In addition to the hand forms there is also a standardized set of leg forms that are learned with the Siu Nim Tau.

The student grades can be split into three sections, based on the topics they cover:

1st – 4th, Learning fundamentals across the three ranges.

• 1st – Fundamentals of movement and style, long range engaging, beginning of Siu Nim Tao.
• 2nd – Long range fighting, with bridging, all of Siu Nim Tao.
• 3rd – Transitioning from Long to mid-range attacks.
• 4th – Transitioning from mid to short-range attacks, beginning of Chum Kiu.

5th – 8th, Ranges applied with movement and transition.

• 5th – Short range attacks, and fighting with two hands simultaneously.
• 6th – Poon Sao, Chi Sao
• 7th – Chi Sao 1st attack
• 8th – Chi Sao

9th – 12th, Application of the style, against kicks.

• 9th – Against a single attacker.
• 10th – Against multiple attackers.
• 11th – Against a single attacker with a weapon.
• 12th – Against multiple attackers with weapons.

At student grade 9 the student is expected to not only know the fundamentals of the style (as in grade 8) but be able to apply it effectively against an attacker. The subtle, but important difference between these two grades means that either one of these, depending on the school, can be considered equivalent to the "black belt" rank. There is no consensus, as there is no direct formal comparison.

In some schools graduation through the levels may be signified by different colored shirts, such as white up to 5, gray for level 5–8, and black for level 9–12. This depends entirely on the convention of the school.