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Adult Student Rankings

Disciples receive a patch that reads 'Disciple.' If a Disciple level is doing one art, the Disciple patch goes on the sash on the same side as the arts patch. If a Disciple level is doing both Tai chi and Shaolin, the Disciple patch goes on the tai chi side of the sash.

*Gao Shou levels will have patches denoting their area of study. Students who have achieved Gao Shou in one art will have the corresponding patch at one end of their black sash; students who achieve this rank in both arts will have a patch at each end of their sash. Students who have achieved Gao Shou in one art, but are still achieving ranks in the other, will have a patch at one end of their sash for Gao Shou level, and the appropriate patch, bars and/or chevrons on the other end of their sash.

**Lao Shr levels will have patches denoting their area of study. Students who have achieved Lao Shr in one art will have the corresponding patch at one end of their sash along with an Instructor patch to denote teacher level; students who achieve this rank in both arts will have an arts patch and Instructor patch at each end of their sash. If a student has achieved Lao Shr level in one area and Gao Shou in the other, only the patch for La Shr will have an accompanying Instructor patch. Students who have achieved Lao Shr in one art, but are still achieving ranks in the other, will have an arts patch and Instructor patch at one end of their sash for Lao Shr and the appropriate patch, bars and/or chevrons on the other end of their sash.

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Adult Block Rankings

Block A: Beginners
Block B: Novice and Intermediate
Block C: Mid-Intermediate and High Intermediate
Block D: Advanced

About Patches and Testing

All students training under 10 years (120 months) wear red sashes. Upon advancing into Block B, one end of the sash will have either a Tai Chi patch or a Shaolin patch, depending on the student's style. If the student is doing both styles then the sash will have both patches, one at each end. The optional related Internal Styles of Pakua and Hsing-I are included within the Tai Chi program; optional training in Shuai Chiao (Chinese grappling) is included with the Shaolin program.

Each student determines whether he or she wants to be ranked based solely on time spent training in the art, or ranked based on both time spent in the art and proficiency in the art, as tested by the instructors. As time passes, colored stripes or chevrons will be added to the sash above the patch or patches. A stripe is added for students who choose non-tested training, a chevron for students who choose to be tested.

In general tested students will achieve a greater level of skill and proficiency in any style, and therefore enjoy more benefits from their training, since testing usually encourages students to train harder to meet a more rigid curriculum. However, some students may wish to enjoy the arts simply for the arts' sake so testing is never required. To become a Lao Shr Level (certified instructor) in Tai Chi, Shaolin, or both styles you must be tested. All tested students who reach the Advanced Level (brown chevron) automatically become Assistant Instructors.

There are never any fees for testing. Non-testing students can decide to start testing at any time. In addition to The Peaceful Dragon ranking, students will be formally recognized on the A.C.C.S. (American Center for Chinese Studies) family tree as follows:

One year = Student Level
Five years = Disciple Level
Ten years = Gao Shou (High Level Student) or Lao Shr (Certified Instructor)

To be ranked as Lao Shr you must have been tested at The Peaceful Dragon.

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