what is on your test for black belt. include one steps ,etc.

[Sensei Rick]

I have a new question for you all. Many have responded to my inquirery about kata, and how many you have in your system until you reach shodan. Now I want to know how many one-steps and self-defense's you have in your system. I'd generally like to know your instructors requirements for black belt. Even the number of blocks, strikes and Kicks you are tested on at black belt.

For clarification, in my style, one-steps are for when the opponent is trying to put his hands on you, and you defend with prearranged techniques. A self-defense is when the attacker already has his hands on you, and you defend with prearranged techniques.

In my style the shodan tests are:

20 kicks (must know 54 min.... )

20 strikes (must know 54 min.... )

20 blocks (must know 54 min.... )

30 self defense (must know 60)

30 one steps (must know 60)

10 kata

These are the things TESTED by a 30-member black belt panel. Obviously the student's must know more, these are just the minimum requirements. Please tell me about your style.

Edited December 28, 2005 by Sensei Rick

[IronWarrior]

We dont have a 'set' number that you must know, but you have to know all your tecniques from your katas e.t.c. and be able to apply them when asked to in your grading in a 1 or 2 step kumite, the sensei will tell the attacker to attack 'roundhouse step in punch e.t.c.' and you have to block, block then counter using tecniques of your choice.

[italian_guy]

I haven't reach black belt yet, for each belt exam we have 2-3 bunkai drills taken from the kata that we learn for that particular exam (e.g. yellow-> Orange we have Gekisai Ich and Ni and their bunkai drills).

[Sensei Rick]

Doesn't your instructor give you a copy of or an idea of his curriculum? Student's, if your instructor doesn't have a written curriculum that you can see, you won't know your goals. I might not give beginners my curriculum all the way to black belt, but they get a copy for the belt they are working on. Students, if your school doesn't do this and the instructor is just teaching what he "feels" like that day...... your progress will be slow.

Instructors, you should know your curriculum inside and out so that you can progress your students through each phase of your program effectively. I know that I only have a finite amount of time with the students each week. Not one second of their time and their hard earned money should be wasted.

Now back to the responses......

Edited December 23, 2005 by Sensei Rick

[Jake90]

There are much more important things in martial arts then progressing through the syllabus. If you only manage to teach your students the 'bare-bones' of what they should know (i.e. the syllabus) then they are missing out on a wealth of knowledge and tecnique that may have bettered them, rather then simply feeling good about having another grade under there belts.

On the subject at hand, our head teachers have a set list of kata and kumite, but then the basics are just made up of what it is likely the students know. For example, the Sensei may say "Three. . . Oizuki - age uki", but then the next day he might say " Five. . . Age uki, Uraken, mawashageri, usherageri - empi". Now that you mention it it might have been nice to know what was coming, but it does make it kind of easier.

Two cents. . .

[unknownstyle]

my instructor i believe tests you on everything youve learned to that point, i believe its 70 basics, 17 kata, sparring and wlaking drills, im not sure what else noone in my school has acheived black belt

[DragonMike]

For my stylle we need we need to know all of the moves approximately 30 kicks, 20 hand techniques. We also need to know combinations, one step self defense, free style fighting, an oral terminology test, knife self defense, and be able to break 2-3 boasrds and a brick. Before the test there is a written exeamination. The test can be grueling, but it is very rewarding.

[MasterH]

At 5th Degree and above our tests tend to be behind the scenes. What we do in front of the testing pannel is just for show. When I'm invited to "test" for 6th Degree, I already know that I have passed. That is, unless I really screw up. We need to know all forms, one-steps, and be able to preform all board breaks up to our current level. We also need to spar multiple partners.

[telsun]

I do not believe in gradings per se. You either know it or you don't. I find the idea of demonstrating x amount of kicks or strikes kinda humurous. Personally for black belt I like to see a certain degree of understanding and the correct use of movement and application.

Not so much about how much but how well......

[Sensei Rick]

Master H, telson, and others who enter this forum. I would really like specifics on the requirements for first degree. I am designing a curriculum for a style that I am not ranked in. I would like to see some averages of what's out there so I can be assured that the requirements are somewhat of an acceptable standard. I know many of the feelings about testing and such, but beliefs in these are not what i'm looking for. And i'm not asking about higher dan ranking requirement either. I want real people, who teach or have earned a real black belt to post what you know, or what you were tested for on your sho dan testing. I do not usually post in my own forum and only did so to get this on track. this is very important to me, so thank you in advance for your help.[/i][/code]