Updated Belt Test Guidelines

The following has been updated, yet again, to reflect the most current guidelines as of June 2008.

Here are some important guidelines to help you prepare for your next belt test:

1. Review our belt test information, beginning with our article on belt testing and including our blog posts on belt testing.
   
2. If you are testing for yellow belt or above, you will need to arrange for a classmate to be your uke for your test. This person should preferably be close to your rank or above. (In some cases, size may be a more important consideration than rank.) You may want to set aside some practice time to work with your uke, both in and outside of class, although this is not required. Try to attend at least one Test Review class together prior to your belt test. Open gyms are also important. In addition, if you are a BasicPlus or BlackBelt Track member, you can arrange with Sensei to schedule additional practice times in the dojo.
3. If you are testing for blue belt or above, prepare yourself for an increasingly long test that will include sparring and possibly grappling as well. It is highly recommended that you attend as many Fight Classes prior to your test as possible.
   
4. Make sure your uniform is in order. If your gi is beginning to look shabby or small, you will need to have a new one in time for the test. Everyone should arrive looking sharp, with the proper patch in place, and the gi clean and pressed. If you are testing for an intermediate or advanced rank, please wear the appropriate gi.
5. Know what is expected of you at each rank, and prepare accordingly.

In addition to the guidelines on our website, here are the special testing requirements at each belt level:

• Striped Yellow and Yellow Belt --- Student needs to demonstrate all required material at the proper level and with confidence.
• Blue Belt --- In addition to testing on all requirements, candidates will be required to spar and may be required to grapple. (This also applies to Jr. Orange belt candidates.)
  
• Green and Purple Belts --- Candidates for green belt will be required to test in front of Sensei Gilliland. All candidates may be asked to spar or grapple, and may also be asked to demonstrate a weapons kata. (While weapons training is not required below black belt level, it is included in our optional/bonus material and can increase test scores as well as earn gold/silver stars.)
  
• Brown Belt Candidates:
• Sankyu --- All brown belt candidates will be tested either orally or in writing on the basic history of Keichu Ryu and general martial arts knowledge. Sparring and grappling is required at all brown belt tests. Students should be prepared for a long test that will require them to work hard. They should also prepare for surprises. Some of those surprises may be more fun than others. In preparing to advance to this rank, students need to demonstrate a high level of dedication and a readiness for leadership and service. Sankyu candidates will be required to test for Sensei Gilliland.
  
• Nikyu --- Students should be prepared to spar, grapple, scrapple, work hard, and demonstrate everything that they know to the best of their ability.
• Ikkyu --- Be prepared for a long test...a very long test. Once the candidate begins testing on the ikkyu requirements, the test will be closed to anyone but family. Testing for ikkyu is a huge step and requires a great deal of commitment. This will not be an easy test by any stretch of the imagination. Be prepared for anything. If you have ever heard any rumors about Sensei being "old school", you will discover that they were all understatements.
• Black Belt Candidates --- You will be informed at or after your ikkyu test about how to begin the final preparations for black belt. You will be required to write a thesis. During the last six months of preparation before the pre-test, you will be working many long hours. Sensei will give you a checklist of what needs to be accomplished before setting the date for your test, which will take place with Sensei Gilliland on the panel.
  

When you are preparing for a belt test, know that we will evaluate more than just your technique. The correct attitude is essential, and becomes even more crucial as you advance in rank. Your physical appearance at your belt test communicates your level of respect for the testing panel, the importance you place on advancing to the next rank, your degree of self-discipline, and your dedication to Keichu.

Remember that it takes three things to be a good student at Shinjin Karate. It takes respect, ultimate focus, and hard work. That is also what it takes to do well at a belt test.

Preparing for belt tests

[Please see the most recent guidelines here.]

About your karate-gi

As everyone in our 6:00 class knows, we've been having some problems with uniforms. Without wanting to embarrass anyone more than they have already embarrassed themselves, I think it is important to spell out some of the basics about uniforms and training, so that we can prevent things from ever again getting so out of hand, remedy the current situation, and encourage students to a higher level of discipline, training, respect, and dedication.

I've written the following, an updated version of our old guidelines, and will be making copies available in class. I've added a few additional comments at the end of this post.

Your gi, or uniform, is essential to your training at Five Cities Keichu-Do. It keeps you comfortable and safe. It also reflects your concern for martial arts etiquette, your level of self-discipline, your respect for your instructors and fellow students, and your dedication to training.

Choice of uniform. Students are required to wear a white karate-gi, which they may purchase from us. For most children who are just beginning, the basic student uniform is adequate. However, larger children may be more comfortable in a better quality uniform. Adults will definitely want to order the heavier weight karate-gi. Once a student begins competing, or advances in rank, it is advised that he or she purchase a better uniform as well. We have a number of options available for order. When a student is at the intermediate or advanced level, his or her uniform should reflect a higher level of discipline, training, and dedication, and should set the example for other students. That is why we strongly advise that these students replace their student gi's with a heavier weight gi that is a better reflection of their rank and achievements.

Care of uniform. In order for the uniform to stay in good condition, it is important to launder it as often as possible. Stains should be treated quickly. We've found that it helps to keep "Shout Wipes" in your gear bag. Before laundering, we recommend pre-treating the lapel area and any stains with liquid Shout. Blood stains can be treated with hydrogen peroxide, but the gi should then be washed soon afterwards to prevent yellowing. Bleach is not advised, nor is using a dryer. Pressing the uniform goes a long way towards looking sharp in class, at tournaments, and at belt tests. Some students may prefer having at least two workout uniforms so that they can always have a clean one for class, and can reserve their third, better quality, uniform for tournaments, demos, belt tests, etc.

The uniform should be carefully folded and stored when not in use. Even our younger students are encouraged to be responsible for the care of their own uniforms and belts.

Placement of patches. The Keichu-Do patch should always go on the left side of the karate-gi, over the heart. Students may choose to wear the Keichu Kai Lifetime Membership in its place. Ask Sensei about placement of any other patches.

Care of the belt. There are a number of martial arts traditions surrounding the belt. It is important to learn to tie it properly as soon as possible. The belt is similar to a flag in that it is a symbol of you and of the art you are studying. Because of that, it is important to treat your belt and the belt of others with respect. The belt should not be worn outside the dojo except when training, competing, or engaged in a Keichu-sanctioned event. The belt should not be dragged along the ground, carelessly tossed on the ground, or used for play. While belts may be laundered if they get really dirty; however, be advised that the stripes will probably need replacing.

Student responsibility. Each student is responsible for his/her karate-gi and appearance in class. It is each student's responsibility to look sharp, neat, and clean for every class. When uniforms no longer appear sharp, neat, or white, or when they become too small, it is important that they be replaced immediately.

Remember, your uniform reflects you. It demonstrates to your fellow classmates and your instructors how seriously you take your training, as well as how much you respect yourself, your classmates, your instructors, your Sensei, and your Soke. Looking sharp is part of training hard.

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A few other comments:

We realize that it is only fair to have a higher standard for our students who are older and/or more advanced in rank. Just as we expect that an advanced student's kata will no longer look like a beginning student's kata, we expect that an advanced student's appearance should not be that of a beginner.

When you compete at a tournament, know that you do not represent just yourself. You represent your dojo and the Keichu Kai. Your appearance should reflect that. So should everything that you do and say.

When you are preparing for a belt test, know that we will evaluate more than just your technique. The correct attitude is essential, and becomes even more crucial as you advance in rank. The condition of your karate-gi at your belt test communicates your level of respect for the testing panel, the importance you place on advancing to the next rank, your degree of self-discipline, and your dedication to Keichu-Do.

Also, we recognize that, in the past, we thought that friendly hints and reminders would be enough to remedy problems. We now realize, of course, how wrong we were. I apologize to my students for allowing things to go on as long as I have. I should have taken direct action much sooner. From now on, we will take this issue far more seriously.

Loyalty and Family

Some recent perusing of the websites of various martial arts schools and organizations turned up many instances of "loyalty" and "family" as being values taught and held dear by many martial artists. In fact, these are often referred to as being foundational values. The history of the martial arts is full of blood oaths of loyalty, of practitioners being inducted into families, of martial artists being willing to lay down their lives for their dojo mates.

That was, of course, another day and time ♠ even if some modern day black belt ceremonies still involve oaths and tattoos.

I am not one for oaths and vows and binding covenants. The last vows I took were during my marriage ceremony. I do not take these things lightly. I agree with Jesus' words, "Let your yes be yes and your no be no." I am thankful that Soke did not require any vows of allegiance from me during my black belt ceremony.

At the same time, the lack of loyalty and family sense among many martial artists disturbs me. I don't expect beginners in the martial arts to have a sense of loyalty; many of them are still "trying out" the martial arts. They are products of our American culture, which is more and more consumer-oriented and driven by felt needs. As long as the martial arts class "meets their needs", as long as it is fun, they will come.

For quite a while, "family" has been listed as one of the core values of our dojo. I've stressed the importance of family, not only our immediate family, but our dojo family, and our extended Keichu family. I sense, when I talk about these things, that most of my students think I am a bit odd to go on and on about "family members" they have never met. So what if this guy also does the same art in some other dojo somewhere? What is that to them?

One former student went so far as to say, "If I hear that guy's name one more time, I'm gonna scream!", referring to a Keichu instructor and impressive competitor. When there is exciting news to be shared about someone within the Keichu family, I share it. That's what family does. This student was simply annoyed. She thought our dojo should be more about her than about people she'd never even met. She didn't understand her place in the grand scheme of things. She didn't understand that this young man was her sempai, her senior within Keichu, and that she owed him her respect.

But, then again, she didn't see us as family either.

Students come and go. When do they actually become family? Is it when they first put their feet on our floor? Is it when they sew on their Keichu patch? Is it when they advance to a certain rank? Or is it when they recognize the kinship and bond that should exist among all Keichu practitioners?

And what about loyalty? What does it require of us? Does it fit within today's martial arts community, where too many students view martial arts simply as an alternative to fitness centers or team sports?

I don't need loyalty oaths to bind me to Keichu-Do. I don't need vows to recognize that those who train under the banner of "Keichu" are my brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, sons, daughters, and cousins, and that Soke is our father. That is what Keichu has become to me. It is my family. It is my way of life. It is my home.

All of this, I'm sure, sounds odd to beginners. "But it's just a martial arts class!" I can hear them say. Well, yes...for you. For me, and for many others, it is something far more.

I've been rethinking this whole "core value" thing, trying to put into words and distill the core values of Keichu that were handed down to me. Something seemed a bit amiss with the list we've been working from in our dojo. I ended up working on a new list, which at first was almost endlessly lengthy, echoing the Keichu Character Traits that we studied when I was coming up through the ranks and almost everything I could remember Soke emphasizing in his talks at the end of class. But who wants to be overwhelmed by two pages of "core values"? What values are really at the core of what Soke teaches?

This is what I finally came up with:

• Dedication (of course...that almost goes without saying!)
• Discipline
• Respect
• Honor
• Humility
• The Keichu Attitude

Wait a moment! What happened to loyalty and family? Ah, but that is what dedication and respect and honor and, in fact, all the core values are about. Loyalty and family are but a part of those values, an important part, but just a part.

I believe that the bonds of family are forever. It is a great privilege to be part of the Keichu family. May all of us grow in dedication, discipline, respect, honor, humility, and the Keichu attitude. May we be worthy of the name Keichu.

The responsibility of the martial arts

Many students do not realize, especially as they begin their martial arts training, that what they are learning brings with it a great deal of responsibility. With knowledge and skill comes increased responsibility, most specifically in five areas:

1. The responsibility of being defensive, not offensive. In our dojo, we have the following rule: "The skills and techniques you learn in class should never be used for harm. Use them only as a last resort in self-defense or in the defense of others. Any use outside the dojo must be reported to Sensei immediately." When a martial arts instructor teaches you, he or she is trusting you to use the techniques responsibly.

2. The responsibility of conflict resolution. Being able to defend yourself physically does not require you to do so. Fights are, if possible, best avoided. At the same time as you are training physically, you should also be training in patience, confidence, and other character qualities that will help you avoid altercations and resolve issues peacefully whenever possible. Fighting should be a last resort.

3. The responsibility of respect. The martial arts have a long, rich tradition of respect---respect towards instructors, towards those of higher rank, and towards fellow students. The basis of much of this respect is the recognition that skill and knowledge in the martial arts deserves respect, as does authority. Without an attitude of respect, a martial artist can never be a true warrior.

4. The responsibility of humility. Knowledge and skill should never puff someone up. The true martial artist recognizes how much he still has to learn, and is humbled. Without humility and respect, we are in danger of becoming little more than trained thugs.

5. The responsibility of setting a good example. As we progress up through the ranks, it is important for us to realize that we are role models for those coming up after us, whether we want that responsibility or not. We are also responsible, towards the public, of being a positive example of what it means to be a martial artist and, more specifically, a Keichu warrior.

[Adapted from a a sample newsletter copyright 2003 by the Martial Arts Management Network]

Respect

At the end of class one day, I made the comment, "A black belt is just a white belt who didn't quit." Later, it came to my attention that at least one student entirely missed my point.

There are always those students who struggle with the idea of rank and with the concept of respect within the martial arts. I've even encountered a few (thankfully very, very few) students who seem to want to turn the idea of rank on its head. They expect the higher ranking students to show them unreasonable respect, to follow their wishes, to teach what and when and how the white belt demands it, and they expect the Sensei to promote them when the student wants. Such students will attempt to argue with an instructor as to whether a technique was done correctly, will claim it is disprespectful to be asked to participate fully in a class, and will often simply refuse to do what is requested of them.

Our dojo isn't overly strict. We aren't "old school". We aren't terribly formal. In fact, I often tend to think that we are too relaxed. So it surprises me when a student balks at the very concept of rank and bristles at being expected to behave respectfully towards instructors and other students. These kind of students, thankfully, are rare. But they are, for the most part, unteachable. They often have their own agenda in class, and they resent that their agenda is not given priority.

In every case, those students have been adults.

And that's where I think the difficulty lies.

In our dojo, we have family classes. We line up in every class by rank and, within rank, by age. Rank is more important than age. This is something the founder of our system established. It's a bitter pill to swallow for some adults. I know. I began training as an adult and was sometimes taught by instructors younger than some of my own children. It is an exercise in humility. That's the point. Training in humility is essential in the martial arts.

Yes, a black belt is just a white belt who didn't quit. By the same token, an adult is just a baby who has lived longer...or who was born before the younger babies. But---an adult is NOT a baby. Not any more. A black belt is NOT a white belt. Not any more. That's why we don't treat adults like babies and why we no longer treat black belts like white belts.

That's a hard concept for some students. It is hard for them to accept that, in the martial arts, respect is earned. Rank is a recognition that respect has been earned. The greater the rank, the greater the amount of respect that has been earned.

I reminded my students of these things. I reminded them of what I often say, "Practice makes permanent." As adults, we've had many more years of practicing various attitudes and character traits. What have we made permanent?

In the dojo, the student's character will eventually be revealed. If the student has been practicing integrity, that will shine. If he or she has been practicing respect, humility, and a teachable spirit, that student will be setting an example for other students in those areas. Unfortunately, some adult students have spent years practicing pride, arrogance, disprespect, and a lack of integrity. That eventually becomes glaringly obvious to us as instructors, and we are faced with the problem of having to deal with these issues.

Some instructors have told me that they no longer teach adults. They think the adults are past the point of being able to learn the "way of the warrior", to have their characters molded in a positive way. Others have told me they teach adults separately, and concentrate on techniques and fitness, rather than on the martial arts as a way of human growth and development.

I don't like to have such a hopeless view of adults. I think, with God's help, we can overcome years of bad practice and replace that with the practice of what is good. I think the martial arts, as I try to teach them, are a wonderful vehicle for change, growth, and empowerment.

I'm going to continue teaching adults. I'm going to continue to invest myself in them, to give them the same benefits of training that I've received, to pass on the lessons I've learned, to pour out my time and energy on them.

But, at the same time, I'm learning that I cannot allow adult students to disrupt the class, to endanger the safety of other students and instructors, to attempt to humiliate other students, to threaten students and instructors, to lose their tempers and stomp off the workout area, to push and shove the younger instructors, to lie to instructors, to insist on being able to determine their own rank in class, or to do any of the other outrageous things I've seen a few bad apples do over the years.

My commitment is to all of my students. In our classes, the adults are not any more important than the children. I have to do what is best for my classes as a whole, what is best for each student. Sometimes that may mean reminding a student what the martial arts are all about. Yes, there is contact. Yes, we grapple. Yes, we spar. Yes, we sweat. Yes, you have to learn kata. Yes, we have to say "yes, ma'am" and "yes, sir". Yes, you will have to work. Yes, you will have to follow instructions. Yes, respect for upper belts is part of the martial arts. No, after six months of sporadic training, you are not an expert on the martial arts. Yes, there is a hierarchy in the martial arts. Ours is a lot less rigid than other dojos. But it does exist. Yes, you will have to treat your fellow students with courtesty and respect. Yes, we expect you to take other students' safety into consideration. If all of that impossible to accept, the martial arts---or at least as we understand them in our dojo---are probably not a good fit for you.

As adults, we are supposed to be the mature ones.

But, then again, practice makes permanent.