Color Belt Curriculum Breakdown

[BrandonH45]

I have been a long time instructor, but I pretty much only teach adults now. I have been getting some kids in class recently (I don't take anyone under 10 typically) and I've been noticing that they are just not picking up the curriculum as effectively as I would like. I think this is primarily due to attention span more than anything, but regardless, I went back to the drawing board. We only have one training standard to promote, which is based off of the adult curriculum. If you cannot successfully pass it, then you do not advance. Because of this, I have been considering breaking down the Kyu curriculum into smaller segments. Currently, White belt has the most techniques in it (48 techniques) and every belt thereafter have 20 techniques to learn. 

I have contemplated breaking this down a couple of ways:

Option 1: 
Split white belt into 3 segments making each white belt Kyu 16 techniques instead of 1 belt with 48. Keep the rest of the belts the same as they are.

Option 2: 
Split white belt into 2 segments, making it 24 techniques per segment, and then keep the rest the same.

Option 3: 
Split white belt into 3 segments (16 techniques each), and every other color belt into 2 segments (10 techniques each).

Option 4: Split white belt into 2 segments (24 techniques each), and every other color belt into 2 segments (10 techniques each)

None of these options would increase the trainining time required to make black belt, it would only be for increased learning efficiency. Each whole color belt takes the minimum training time of 30 hours before they can promote, so white belt would be 10-15 hours per segment before they could test for yellow belt. The rest would be 15 hours each if you had 2 divisions of each color belt, or 30 hours if you did not split up the other color belts. I think I like option 3 and 4 the best because it gives less per belt, but then it adds 9-10 more kyu ranks. I think 18-19 kyu ranks sounds a little like a McDojo and looks like more of a money grab. 

If the belts were broken down into it's smallest divisions possible, it would look like this:

White belt: 10 hours
White belt stripe 1: 10 hours
White belt stripe 2: 10 hours

Yellow belt: 15 hours
Yellow belt stripe 1: 15 hours

Orange belt: 15 hours
Orange belt stripe 1: 15 hours (and so on)

 

I've been taking feedback from some of the students and it sounds like they at least would like to see white belt segmented into smaller chunks, what is your opinion?

[Zaine]

I've been to multiple schools that segment white belts like this, and it seems to be a good plan, especially for children. In my Shobayashi dojo, the kids must earn 2 stripes before testing for yellow. The adults, on the other hand, while technically following the same path, typically don't get stripes. Stripes are an excellent way to set expectations for students, particularly for younger students. Given students smaller mile markers makes them feel like the journey is more achievable, and gives them that dopamine hit of "ranking up" with more frequency. This also helps because it allows the student to feel like they belong faster. They've made it through the introductory part of the martial arts, and are now eager to practice.

 

So, in all, I definitely like option 3 for kids, option 4 for adults. 

[sensei8]

The OP’s proposed changes seem doable across the board. Not all black belts can teach, and furthermore, not a black belts can teach kids. Zaire’s idea is a proven solution when kids are concerned.

Teaching kids takes a special CI because kids will be kids in every shape, way, and form. Experts say that the age of the person, especially kids, is how many minutes their attention span will last. 

No matter what, if class is boring, no positive change will occur or be quite difficult to achieve.

Listen to your Student Body. If they prefer smaller segments in white belt, then seriously consider their feedback.

Hang in there. Rome wasn’t built in one day; thank the Lord for that

.

 

[BrandonH45]

7 hours ago, Zaine said:

I've been to multiple schools that segment white belts like this, and it seems to be a good plan, especially for children. In my Shobayashi dojo, the kids must earn 2 stripes before testing for yellow. The adults, on the other hand, while technically following the same path, typically don't get stripes. Stripes are an excellent way to set expectations for students, particularly for younger students. Given students smaller mile markers makes them feel like the journey is more achievable, and gives them that dopamine hit of "ranking up" with more frequency. This also helps because it allows the student to feel like they belong faster. They've made it through the introductory part of the martial arts, and are now eager to practice.

 

So, in all, I definitely like option 3 for kids, option 4 for adults. 

So to clarify, are you recommending options 3 and 4, but keeping the stripes as mile markers, perhaps primarily for kids, and not an official ranking? For example, the student goes through the 2-3 degrees of white belt, but on test day, they put it all together?

[bushido_man96]

I wouldn't see any reason to add any more official ranking.  By breaking white belt up into the three 10 hour segments, and providing a stripe for each 10 hours they have proficiency in, should be sufficient, and you don't have to add ranks and try to take more of student's money for a "testing" that really isn't.

I think option 3 would be worth a try to start with.  The nice thing is if you don't think it's working, you can alter it and the students won't be the worse for wear.  You'll need to break things down in such a way that segment 2 builds off segment 1, and that will help retention.

[BrandonH45]

1 hour ago, bushido_man96 said:

I wouldn't see any reason to add any more official ranking.  By breaking white belt up into the three 10 hour segments, and providing a stripe for each 10 hours they have proficiency in, should be sufficient, and you don't have to add ranks and try to take more of student's money for a "testing" that really isn't.

I think option 3 would be worth a try to start with.  The nice thing is if you don't think it's working, you can alter it and the students won't be the worse for wear.  You'll need to break things down in such a way that segment 2 builds off segment 1, and that will help retention.

I like that idea. Make it a milestone rather than an official rank. It could also be used to show other instructors and students how far an individual is in that particular part of the curriculum and tell them what the student needs to work on most.

[DarthPenguin]

7 hours ago, BrandonH45 said:

I like that idea. Make it a milestone rather than an official rank. It could also be used to show other instructors and students how far an individual is in that particular part of the curriculum and tell them what the student needs to work on most.

In my head it almost seems like something more akin to BJJ stripes, which are often more informal, with you having the discretion to award 1 or more as you see fit. Different students will learn at different rates so i could see one student being ready for 2 stripes after the 10hr segment and another ready for 1 etc.. Making it more informal makes it easier for you to apply instructors discretion i think

[Zaine]

16 hours ago, BrandonH45 said:

So to clarify, are you recommending options 3 and 4, but keeping the stripes as mile markers, perhaps primarily for kids, and not an official ranking? For example, the student goes through the 2-3 degrees of white belt, but on test day, they put it all together?

In the Shobayashi dojo, the stripes are official rankings. One stripe promotes to 9th kyu, etc. With adults generally making the jump from 10th to 7th in one test.

[Nidan Melbourne]

We run a system for all our Kyu Grades as follows; 

5 'Tags' per Belt are required to be eligible for Grading. To be eligible to test for a 'Tag' you must complete 5 lessons then on the 6th you can test; however if at your previous grading you were weak in a particular area you would test on the 12th instead of the 6th.

Each 'Tag' is denoted by a Black Piece of Electrical Tape at the end of the belt. Our Dan Grades if they wish to Denote Rank on their belt, they need to get it embroidered or if ordering a new belt they get it added then. 

So 5 Tags with 6 Lessons between = 30 Lessons minimum prior to being eligible for promotion. 

Also it assists us knowing where everyone is at in relation to testing and what their considered competent in. 

9th Kyu (White Belt)

1. Kicks

         - 6 Total; Front, Groin, Roundhouse (Body), Roundhouse (Head), Knee Joint, Side

2. Basics

         - Blocks, Strikes (Punches, Palm Strikes, Elbows, Snap Strikes)

3. Combinations

4. Kata

5. Pre-Arranged Sparring 

 

8th Kyu - 3rd Kyu 

1. Basics

2. Combinations

3. Kata

4. Pre-Arranged Sparring 

         - Bunkai included for Adults Curriculum (4th Kyu +) 

5. Sparring 

 

2nd Kyu + 1st Kyu

1. Basics

         - Throws and Takedowns (Demonstrate 2) have been recently added

         - Demonstrate SAFE Falls (Front/Back/Side): ALL From a standing start 

2. Combinations

3. Kata

4. Pre-Arranged Sparring 

         - Bunkai included for Adults Curriculum (4th Kyu +) 

         - Kyogi (Self-Defence Routines)

5. Sparring