Black Belt Tests

[baubin2]

This thread was inspired by one I found in GD, where they were taking polls on what everybody had to do to get to black belt.

Now we all know the requirements for black belt, and if we don't, we should. But what were your actual blackbelt tests like? Were you tested on absolutely everything you had to know? What did you do for the workout portion? Blow by blow accounts are especially welcome. And if you've tested for second or third degree, please share those experiences as well :) Espeically as I don't think there's an easily available list of what techniques/experiences are required to test for degrees higher than JKN.

Thanks :)

[TXKukSoolBB]

What I can tell you is that after all 7 of my BB tests...each were different. Some we would do all our techniques with falls...other times we did every other technique. What was consistent was the cardio part of the test. Ususally 100's of push-up and sit-up and over 1000 kicks with jah se training. I put some pictures of these tests under Paul JKN's post. We would always do our forms multiple times. I remember one test...Guhm Moo Hyung 34 times! We would also do high spin kicks for breaking. Bottom line...they were all tough and challenging...as they should be!

[CraigKSW]

All my black belt tests were really hard, but I'll tell you a bit about my final part as I supose thats what you're really wanting to know.

Started off with the usual - over a 1000 kicks, then we did forms many times over and facing different directions on both left & right sides! After all the kicking it was really hard to focus. It's weird how confusing a form you've done so many times becomes when you have to start it facing the corner of a room. :confused: :)

In between forms we'd do more kicking combinations with jumping kicks etc, strikes and stuff just to make us suffer some more! :bang:

I think we then went onto all our techniques with full pin & finish and then all the way back down again on our left side. So that was over 500 techniques and 500 falls. Then onto weapons, acrobatics and breakfalls. We finished with sparring - 1 on 1, 2 on 1, 3 on 1 then 4 on 1 and breaking with 4 advanced jump kicks!

Basically we went over everything on a very intense level!

Then a massive pizza hut to celebrate :D

Got me right in the mood for a testing!

TXKuksoolBB - were all 7 of your tests in front of Kuk Sa Nim or did you just do your 2 main tests in front of him???

[ManabiMashoMan]

Mine was very hard, and I have yet to meet any M.A. outside our style that was not impressed and baffled by what we had to do. I posted all the requirements and how hard it is because our school doesn't use Kata's for good reasons, but on that other post I placed everything down to the nitty gritty.


For those that are too lazy to look up the other post, my black belt first dan test was very hard, its based on a military style training. If you don't sweat out your weight in one hour then you probably passed out or are in the bathroom vomiting. Our grandmaster and style pushes the body to become solid and work hard, I don't mean to brag, but what is the point if you can execute a perfect combo and perfect kick when you're out of breathe in the fight in the first 5 minutes.


Also if you smoke and come to learn in our class you have two options...quit smoking or quit our classes because noone who smokes can pass even our lightest belt tests...noone.

[baubin2]

haha, once I heard someone say during class, "If you come to kuk sool when you smoke, you either quit smoking or you quit kuk sool." I can believe it manabi. And I saw your earlier post. It looked like a very hard test.

[ManabiMashoMan]

Yep...

Our school is apart of The World Head of Family Sokeship Council of Martial Arts. Its the largest of all the councils you have heard about. We have almost every real top celebrity or are testing them to see if they are for real, we have almost every reallife legend, many don't speak english, and I'm talking about those masters in Asia, China, and all around that are almost Gods.


The W.H.F.S.C. made it clear to everyone with a membership or a visitor/newspress pass that they are going to push EVERY martial arts style in thier testing and pushing that Black Belts be awarded to those 18 and older only. I know that last one is a heated issue, but the reason I am telling you all this, is because no matter how backwoods or how indepentant your school is from the rest of the world it will eventualy effect you.

In the last 20 years it was reported that people no longer fear a Martial Artist due to the T.V. and Movies where wire fighting and unbelieveable undoable moves or techniques are done. Like the showing off of the death touch, or the eagle claw, tiger claw strikes that you see in alot of movies. Because of alot of exageration, or misguidance the W.H.F.S.C. invited other groups like the N.K.A. which is National Karate Assisation, and other groups to thier meeting where they expressed a plea to have every style, and every master agree to push the Testing, and the Black Belt age up more.


I hope everyone here can also agree with it. Basicaly if you did, or do agree, it will eventualy push out those McDojos it will also make it to where a child with a Black Belt is not reconized by not just thier own style untill 18 or older but other styles as well. It will also make those styles that are very stubbern and in deep with tradition to add new stuff to thier tests and ranking systems. If you are a student or master in almost any chinese martial arts you will see these changes coming fast. The Imperial Temples of Japan also agreed with this logic, and requested all Japanese Martial Arts and styles to accept this change. So yes there will be a few styles who don't change and the McDojos will be around but slowly and hopefully they will die out. Alot of England Karate, Savate, Kickboxing, and Brazils styles of Caporiea and Judo/Jujitsu includding the Gracies also signed and accepted this agreement.



Many masters who know of this coming change and who see it happening may not wish to speak outloud about it, because it causes alot of contriversy but I promise you in the next 10 years there will be 2 kinds of schools. The McDojos, and the School of Hard Knocks! Where do you want to be? Im heading out in Sept for the Hall of Fame of Martial Arts this year in Orlando Fla, and I'm an honorary guest so I get access to almost everything they discuss and announce, I will keep you posted, and ESPN2 and Black Belt Magizine is suppose to be covering it this year as well.

[TXKukSoolBB]

TXKuksoolBB - were all 7 of your tests in front of Kuk Sa Nim or did you just do your 2 main tests in front of him???


My last four tests were before Kuk Sa Nim. I really enjoyed testing in Houston due to the number of people you get to meet. It is almost like a mini tournament.

You are correct about the confusion thing...especially when you have to perform the forms sometimes in a 8 by 8 "box". As one of the Masters recently told me...we are trying to confuse you. That is where we know how well you know the material and how strong your spirit is.

[davefly76]

And if you've tested for second or third degree, please share those experiences as well :) Espeically as I don't think there's an easily available list of what techniques/experiences are required to test for degrees higher than JKN.

Thanks :)

From 1st to 2nd dahn you have to learn

ki bohn bohn
goh gup sohn mohk soo
gaek doh bub
goh gup eau bok soo
juhn hwan bub
wah ki
jah ki
kuhn dae ryhun

plus other techniques that i can't remember because i have a hangover :o

and

baek pahl ki hyung (empty hand form, 108 movements)
bong dae ryhun (staff sparring)
juhn bong il hyung (staff form)
juhn guhm hyung (sword form)

:)

dave KSN

[ember]

Partly because of all the new people, I'm pulling up some of the better old threads for more viewpoints.

In my experience, every black belt test has been different. I'm pretty sure I got through forms on every test, but some tests would skip around on techniques. Not every test included nak bub or breaking.

Sometimes we'd do techniques with full nak bub, other times we'd be tested on nak bub as a separate section and then do techniques only to the point of throwing.

I watched one final test where the test consisted of practicing the ettiquette of receiving their certificates, and then doing Gum Mool Hyung 34 times. No other forms, no techniques, just Gum Mool Hyung.

The key to testing I've seen so far has been to listen hard for directions, answer correctly & quickly, work hard, and when asked to move, *run*. Much like marching band :) .

This thread was inspired by one I found in GD, where they were taking polls on what everybody had to do to get to black belt.

Now we all know the requirements for black belt, and if we don't, we should. But what were your actual blackbelt tests like? Were you tested on absolutely everything you had to know? What did you do for the workout portion? Blow by blow accounts are especially welcome. And if you've tested for second or third degree, please share those experiences as well :) Espeically as I don't think there's an easily available list of what techniques/experiences are required to test for degrees higher than JKN.

Thanks :)

[KSW_Martley]

I can't wait to start testing for 1st dahn, I think it'll be very enjoyable. :D

[baubin2]

Much like marching band
I never liked marching band. Too many bitchy fellow flutists (and yes, I know I'm swearing, but there's really no other word in this case)

[psbn matt]

From 1st to 2nd dahn you have to learn

ki bohn bohn (advanced foundermantal techniques)
goh gup sohn mohk soo (advanced wrist escape's)
gaek doh bub (principles of angles techniques)
goh gup eau bok soo (advanced clothing escape's)
juhn hwan bub (spinning techniques)
wah ki (techniques from a prone possition)
jah ki (techniques from a kneeling possition)
kuhn dae ryhun (set sparring techniques)


baek pahl ki hyung (empty hand form, 108 movements)
bong dae ryhun (staff sparring)
juhn bong il hyung (staff form)
juhn guhm hyung (sword form)


dave KSN

you missed out

jahp ki (escape's from a grab)
ee in jei ahp sool (two person escape techniques)
johk bahng uh sool (kick defence techniques)

dahnh bong ship pal doja hyung ( short staff 18 pressure point strikes form)

[davefly76]

you missed out

jahp ki (escape's from a grab)
ee in jei ahp sool (two person escape techniques)
johk bahng uh sool (kick defence techniques)

dahnh bong ship pal doja hyung ( short staff 18 pressure point strikes form)

ha ha thanks matt. i had to laugh when i re-read my post earlier but i really couldn't remember.

i really should think about giving up alcohol. :bang:








ok, thought about it. :Angel:








naah! :D

[ember]

When you get a population that's about 90% female... I hear you. At least the clarinets had a few more guys.

I wasn't referring to the band politics, although that can be good training too. I was referring to the work ethic.

I never liked marching band. Too many bitchy fellow flutists (and yes, I know I'm swearing, but there's really no other word in this case)

[Silentmonk]

When you get a population that's about 90% female... I hear you. At least the clarinets had a few more guys.

I wasn't referring to the band politics, although that can be good training too. I was referring to the work ethic.

Band sounds like heaven to me. mmmmmmmmmmm 90% female lol thats better trhan most of my exs lol :D

[ember]

That's if you want to learn piccolo / flute. If so, more power to ye.

Clarinet is probably about 60% female.

Saxophone I'm not sure, seems to be maybe an even mix. Brass tends to be more male-dominated.

The movie "American Pie" is right about one thing, band is ... ermmm... "educational".

Band sounds like heaven to me. mmmmmmmmmmm 90% female lol thats better trhan most of my exs lol :D

[PopeCoyote]

The movie "American Pie" is right about one thing, band is ... ermmm... "educational".

One of the first things we were told in band camp by the band announcer was to look around the room-you may have just looked at your future husband or wife-And you would not believe how often that's the truth.... Ember and I are proof of that.