Information for a newbie interested in joining Kuk Sool Won.

[aefibird]

As you have several tests in KSW for black belt grading, if a student isn't good enough for that rank after, say, the first or second test are they allowed to persevere with the other tests in case they improve, or must they go back and work on their techniques before being allowed to retake the first/second/whatever test?

 

Hope that made sense, I think I'm having a bit of an illiterate day today. Too much beer last night, lol!

[DLopez]

I think you got the idea aefibird.

 

Black belt testing is every three months, so I would have three months to go back and work on what I need to get right until the next test.

 

But it's pretty much accepted that no one ever passes the first one or two. How many it takes is really up to my instructor, and he jokingly hints (I hope! ) that since it took him 7, we should all be prepared to face 7 tests ourselves.

 

7,8,9 tests,... It doesn't matter to me. I've come too far along to give up now.

[aefibird]

Ah, so do all the tests have the same material in them? Or is it the KSW curriculum broken down into sections, one section for each test? (eg, a forms test, a sparring test etc etc)

[DLopez]

I've witnessed the black belt testing before, and the material tested on can vary from test to test - it may or may not be the same as your previous test - but there is no sparring.

 

However, by the time your instructor decides you have "passed", you will have demonstrated you have command of all you need to know.

 

I would suppose that not knowing exactly what each test will consist of forces you to be ready for anything!

[ZR440]

Yeah, I mixed up those two cars. Dean's has a huge blower sticking out of his hood with flames painted all the way to the rear tire. Smokes like a bus, too.

 

Oh man, black on black car in Texas? Fingers are melt right into the steering wheel.

[SBN Doug]

Yeah, I've got to get the limo tint now.

 

Testing is comprehensive. Every test you are expected to be able to demonstrate any and ALL of the material you have learned. You begin BB testing before you know the entire curriculum, but you will not be promoted until you have a firm knowledge of it all.

 

I have seen 2nd degree and above do nothing but forms for 4 hrs. Or our techniques and forms in mirrored stances from which we learned them. However, they try and take us through as much of our material as they can on every test.

[swooshfinn]

For any KSW Students down in Texas, if you run into a Puh Sah Bu Nim Will Culbertson living in Austin, go easy on him, this is his first time on his own and should be a HUGE adjustment for him. He tried to get me to come down to Austin with him, just to help him out, but I found a job with a company that only spans the upper-Midwest from North Dakota to Nebraska to Ohio and back, so I couldn't go that route, besides, he knew I didn't have any money saved up to make that kind move.

 

Anyways, PSBN Will is a great guy, very likeable. Kind of a movie and theatre buff, and has been reading some interesting titles lately as well. I think the last email he sent me, he stated that he was sitting next to a really cute girl, so I hope that turns into something (wishful thinking on my part, but maybe that might be enough to overcome any homesickness he might face in the next few months). He aslo said that he has mad it over to Houston on a couple occasions already to go to Association events with some of the Austin folk.

 

I really encourage you to get to know him if you get the chance!