The grading structure in Tae Kwon-Do takes students through a series of belts, starting with white then yellow, green, blue, red and finally the coveted black belt. Initially gradings can be taken every three months, provided the student has demonstrated in class their competency to progress, and has attended class for the required number of lessons. Later this time is increased to six months and the new skills which must be demonstrated become more advanced. The gradings are taken at the associations head quarters in Bristol under the watchful eye of the senior examiner Master Michael Dew 7th Dan.

It takes a minimum of three and a half years training to be eligible to take your first Black Belt grading. April 2000 saw the first student from Peasedown St John achieve this level when Mr. Carey Mason was successful in his grading. In October 2000 Mr. M Chivers became the first junior student to achieve his black belt. Since then Karen Peddle, Jayne Mason, Simon Jones, Darren Rhymer, Mr J Peddle and most recently in October 2003 Ben Lane have progressed to become holders of this very prestigious grade. Not bad considering we only started in 1996.

The black belt gradings are also taken in Bristol, indeed this is the only venue for the black belt grading. Every TAGB student in the UK comes to the Bristol academy to be assessed by a panel of five 7th Dan Masters who together decide whether each student has performed sufficiently well, both technically and in attitude, to be worthy of promotion to the next grade.

	WHITE Signifies innocence, as that of a beginning student who has no previous knowledge of Taekwon-Do.
	YELLOW Signifies the Earth from which a plant sprouts and takes root as the Taekwon-Do foundation is being laid.
	GREEN Signifies the plant's growth as the Taekwon-Do skill begins to develop.
	BLUE Signifies the Heaven, towards which the plant matures into a towering tree as training in Taekwon-Do progresses.
	RED Signifies danger, cautioning the student to exercise control and warning the opponent to stay away.
	BLACK Opposite of white, therefore, signifying the maturity and proficiency in Taekwon-Do. It also indicates the wearer's imperviousness to darkness and fear.