Paul received his yellow belt today in class. While movement up through the ranks is sort-of automatic through the lower belts, (come a certain number of times, move up) as you get up into the higher ones, the Sensei promotes people after he sees they are doing the work. Paul's been coming about a year, so he's where I would think he ought to be. It gets harder - two kids were moved today from high red to brown (just below black belt) after several months to a year at the high red. Sensei commented that the girl had been really putting in extra effort, with extra training. It is very interesting to me that there are several women or young women who are black belts and if their performance is any indication, testing for black belts is rigorous. I, on the other hand, received my first stripe on my lowely white belt, which means I've been to 5 classes - but you have to start somewhere :)