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Belt testing for advancement is comprised of four main
categories. These categories include: forms, step-sparring, free-sparring, and board breaking.
Three other important categories that are considered are attendance, attitude, and ethics. Forms are a series of movements that utilize any number of striking or blocking techniques in conjunction with movement and proper stance. For each belt, until brown, there are three forms that a student must learn in order to complete the form portion of testing. Once brown, a student must perform seven forms, once red, a student must perform eight forms, and once navy blue, a student must perform twenty-five forms in order to complete the form portion of testing. At any time, instructors may request that students repeat any of the forms assigned for that testing. Step-sparring consists of an attacker and a defender each executing controlled attacking and defensive techniques. Such techniques include, but are not limited to: punching and punching counterattacks, kicking and kicking counterattacks, joint manipulations, sweeping, submission holds, and knife defense and disarming (advanced only). For all belts, there are five step-sparring combinations to learn. With each belt advancement the step-sparring combinations become more exacting in the quality of the techniques executed. At any time, instructors may request that students repeat any of the step-sparring assigned for that testing. Free-sparring involves at least two students of similar skill continuously utilizing punching, kicking, and defensive techniques in a controlled fashion against each other. The students are graded on control, skill level of attacks thrown, skill level of defense, movement, endurance, and sportsmanship. Typical sparring rounds will not last more than two minutes; however, instructors may lessen or lengthen the duration as deemed necessary. Also, instructors may initiate more than one opponent for any student pending individual skill level. Board breaking involves each individual student executing an assigned strike on a twelve inch by twelve inch by one inch pine board. The student is graded on the technique of the strike executed, confidence level, and overall attitude. The student IS NOT graded on whether or not he or she is able to break the board; however, all attempts will be made to do so. Instructors may substitute a different strike than the assigned strike. Also, pending the individual skill level of a student, instructors may add additional boards to the break attempt. |