Black Belt Testing Information

  Overview

Twice a year, our current and future black belt are tested to see if they are making adequate progress toward their next rank or to qualify to receive their next rank.

Students will take their black belt test during about a month before the Black Belt . If a student does not pass on their first attempt at the test, there will be opportunities to retake the test before the . Belts, belt patches, and certificates that have been earned will be handed out at the .

Current black belt students must spend at least the number of years equal to their rank before they can advance to the next rank. For example, a second-degree black belt must wait at least 2 years before they can advance to third degree. In the meantime, they should be working on their form and passing midterm tests.

Black Belt testers will be tested in five events:

• Traditional form
• Sparring
• Board breaks
• Fitness test
• Self defense

Each event will be scored on a scale of 0 to 2. The maximum possible black belt test score is 10. Here is the total score needed to pass each rank or and midterm test:

• , , , : 7 points
• and above: 8 points

  Traditional Form

Current Rank	Form	Progress
		first half (to move 24)
		midterm 1: half (to move 24) midterm 2+: whole form
		whole form
		whole form
		whole form

  Sparring

Each student will have two 30- to 60-second sparring matches against an opponent of similar height and rank. Sparring scoring points will not be called.

Testers need to demonstrate adequate-to-rank application of sparring techniques for offense and defense and strategy. Endurance and stamina will also be considered.

  Board Breaks

Students will use age- and gender-appropriate rebreakable boards. Each student must choose their own breaks.

These are the number and types of breaks required of black belt testers, for both rank tests and midterm tests:

Current Rank	Break Count and Types
		One hand break One foot break
		Two hand breaks One foot break
		One hand break Two foot breaks
		Two hand breaks Two foot breaks

  Fitness Test

Students taking a midterm or rank test will need to complete a fitness test comprised of these five events, with a minute of rest between:

• 1 minute of push-ups
• 1 minute of sit-ups or ab crunches
• 1 minute of punch-and-kick combinations
• 1 minute of different punch-and-kick combinations
• 1 minute of kick combinations

Students will be graded on four criteria:

• Ten percent increase in the total of push-ups and sit-ups from the previous test
• Technique
• Power
• Endurance

  Self Defense

The final event of a black belt test will be a demonstration of self-defense techniques that were taught in class. The number of attackers is equal to the tester's current rank plus two, up to 4 attacks:

Current Belt	Number of attacks
	2
	3
	4

Here are the attacks and responses we'll be using:

may have higher ranks work with variations on this theme.