Black Belt Institute

Training Page

These series of pages are important for all martial artists who are planning on challenging a grading or for those serious martial artists who really want to study techniques and forms. Use the following links to find the page of interest. PLEASE NOTE: While it is tempting to learn advanced techniques, above your belt level, try to focus on the level you are currently working.

Be sure to review the notes on grading requirements on a regular basis.

Links:

Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue, Brown, Shodan

Notes on Grading Requirements

Each student that begins the path of the martial artist comes with his or her own unique physical and mental gifts and challenges. The examiner recognizes this fact and will temper their evaluation of each students ability with this knowledge. Consequently, no two students will be measured exactly the same during a grading.

Recommended Training Time
The recommended time for training before attempting a grading is highly individualistic. Some students come to the dojo with prior training and possess some skill sets of that belt level. Consequently that person’s training time might be shorter than someone who is taking this martial art for the first time.

Notwithstanding the prior skill or innate superior physical ability of some people, it is important to resist shortening the grading interval. Time and repetition will hone the martial artists’ weapons. Any person with advanced training can only get better with more time devoted to training.

Stances
There cannot be an overemphasis of stance training. Without solid rooting, one cannot deliver punches, and kicks efficiently. Therefore, focus on spending significant time on stances; both motionless and moving stances. Try watching TV while holding a low horse stance or any other stance. This endurance will strengthen the muscles for powerful strikes and kicks.

Each belt level has a requirement to hold a stance for a significant period of time. Each stance is evaluated by the spacing of the feet; angle of the knees; positioning of the hips and upper body; and the rooting (withstanding either a push or a pull).

Punches and Strikes
The path to the Black Belt and beyond, presents opportunities to develop powerful kicking and striking techniques. This growth is measured during each of the gradings through punching and kicking drills with and without a solid target.

The students training must include speed and focus drills so that the strikes are fast and accurate while maintaining a solid stance.

Katas
Each grading will require the student to demonstrate all of the katas learned to the desired belt level. It is expected that the students demonstration of lower belt level katas to improve over time and gradings.

Focus on strong delivery of each technique in the kata while moving smoothly throughout the form. Be conscious of the tendency to bounce up and down during the transitions and attempt to maintain a constant height. The speed of some katas is faster than other katas. Check with your sensei for the recommended timing.

Combinations
The requirement of tying movements together in a drill becomes more important through succeeding belt levels. As a general rule, no more than three strikes/kicks combinations are required at the highest belt level.

Self Defense
The demonstration of certain self-defenses against specified attacks may or may not be part of the grading. This section is at the discretion of your sensei. Each belt requirement has its own suggested techniques.

The Black Belt Institute

Notes on Grading Requirements