FOUR local martial artists achieved the level of black belt (shodan) at Loong Fu Pai (LFP) Wangaratta, following a gruelling test of their fitness, focus and technique on Sunday.

Hayden Cole graded to senior shodan after achieving his junior level black belt in October 2019, and James Lee also achieved senior shodan.

Martial arts brothers Harvey and Xavier Dodgshun graded to junior shodan, while another student Mani D'Agostino achieved his mascot level brown belt–black bar (1st kyu).

Some 14 LFP black belts attended the grading event, with 10 travelling from Melbourne, including founder of LFP kancho Terry Lim.

Cole and Lee were required to perform 10 kata, 18 yakusoku and 12 single sparring bouts against high level martial artists including a four–on–one contest.

Following this, the pair was required to break four tiles, two by hand and two by foot, which they achieved.

Wangaratta instructor sensei Andrew Worland was pleased with the efforts of all five martial artists and the dedication they've shown to learning aspects of the style over several years.

"It's been a pleasure to have been a part of their gradings and I wish them good luck for their future training and I hope they can all help out and still be a part of Loong Fu Pai," sensei Worland said.

"Hayden impressed the grading panel with his fitness, strong technique in kata and his show of respect to fellow students and his superiors.

"The grading panel said it was a great grading which showed a good standard for his dojo including signs of strong improvement.

"Kancho said he was very pleased and impressed with his high standard James displayed.

"He encouraged him to keep up the training as he would make a good instructor."

Both displayed solid yakusoku, which are a series of pre–planned self–defence moves with open hand and weapons, including elements of karate, judo and aikido disciplines.

Harvey's Dodgshun's fitness shone through, impressing the grading panel, as did his abilities.

His younger brother Xavier showed "good heart" and was "very well focussed" and impressed with his will to carry on throughout the physically challenging event.

The pair had to perform seven LFP kata, multiple yakusoku, spar a series of opponents, and then break two tiles, one with hand and the other with foot.

D'Agostino, at just 11 years old, is on track to become the youngest black belt for the dojo.

He showed good courage and was assessed on five kata, and the sparring of six fellow students and a black belt from Melbourne, and he will now aim to achieve his junior black belt rank next year.