Had my BlackBelt test yesterday

**FCTKD** · Posted On: 6/20/2005 3:57pm

Started off with a written test
-korean language basically writting an de-cyphering Han Gul characters
-Korean History basic history without the BS
-Leadship principles how to teach basically
-nuitrition for competition
-self defense laws
-Essay

Basics
-Stances
-punches
-kicking combinations

Judo/selfdefense
-7 different throws (followed by strikes)
- one joint lock

Patterns
-9 patterns all taeguk plus one extra

Sparring
-WTF one 3 min round

Escrima(single stick)
-10 basic strikes
-12 striking patterns
-all blocks with counter attacks
-1 throw with stick

Sinawali(double stick)
-5 differnent striking patterns
-Fencing Basically you both are going through the 5 different striking patterns and you take turn fencing from standing to being on the ground

Breaking boards
- One continueous display, jump front, 360' round, turn left knife hand vertical, turn right vertical reverse knife hand, face foraward again 360 axe kick, back kick, spinning hook kick

Total time 4hrs.

This was quite a crazy test, the two other Masters there thought our instructor was crazy for expecting so much. My master said his test in korea was easy, he did 3 patterns and sparred that was it. Then again they were testing in a stdium with a thousand students from all over.

**Yrkoon9** · Posted On: 6/20/2005 4:51pm

Fairly intensive.

My question is why Judo and Escrima for a TKD black belt?

Personally I like the fact that you were required to do mental work as well as physical. For my ideal black belt test candidates would need to provide basic CPR certification and possibly first aid. And I am actually suprised you weren't given all the OTHER requirements you had!

**Meex** · Posted On: 6/20/2005 4:57pm

A four hour test?
I hope you got a black belt in all three arts.
Or, at least certificates in the others.

Q: Is this the standard BB test at your school?

`~/

btw - hope you passed!

**dramaboy** · Posted On: 6/20/2005 5:10pm

Hmm..each one of my judo promotions took at least 5 hrs...

Tomas

Originally Posted by Meex

A four hour test?
I hope you got a black belt in all three arts.
Or, at least certificates in the others.

Q: Is this the standard BB test at your school?

`~/

btw - hope you passed!

**Meex** · Posted On: 6/20/2005 5:34pm

My (old school) sensei never were for showiness of anykind. . .
when you were ready, they promoted you. Never before then.

However, I guess you get a different sort of 'high' from a test
that lasts four-five hours, and tests you fully, mentally as well
as physically, and releases your inner (fighting) spirit along the
way.

`~/

**a43** · Posted On: 6/20/2005 5:45pm

I don't want to sound condescending, but you know, that doesn't look terribly intense at all for a black belt test. I'm not a shodan in anything though, and to me personally that would be pretty demanding, so I'm not like "bah, I could have done that without breaking a sweat", but like... for an example, the requirements for a Kyokushin shodan is:

ALL previous techniques (I'm not sure if this includes kata too, it probably does but I can't guarantee it), from 10th kyu to 1st kyu are to be exhibited at a skill level that surpasses the requirement for 1 kyu .

Additional techniques:
2 punches
3 blocks
2 kicks

5 kata

1 combo

30 consecutive two minute full contact rounds.

I'm pretty sure there are some strength and/or endurance tests too.

When my Sempai (Sensei are only 3rd dan and up) took his Shodan or Nidan, the test took 2 days, with the fighting performed the second day.

Anyway, congrats on the grading, I really don't mean to come off as some "my style is harder than yours" troll, I'm just genuinely surprised as to how comparatively easy tests from other styles can be.

EDIT: Of course, it's the fighting that drastically amplifies how hard this test is.

**CanucKyokushin** · Posted On: 6/20/2005 6:21pm

I domn't want to sound condenscending either.But I just passed my Brown Belt and I had 1/3 what you had to do.I don't want to knock your accomplishments but. WTF?Why so much stuff thats not even TKD?

Started off with a written test

Check

-korean language basically writting an de-cyphering Han Gul characters

No

-Korean History basic history without the BS

Check
Part of the test,which I had 20 questions.

-Leadship principles how to teach basically
No
I should have led a class thru basis' but we we're running late that night.

-nuitrition for competition
Not I kyokushin

-self defense laws
Just self-defence.

-Essay
Only for BB

Basics
Yes .See above

-Stances
-punches
-kicking combinations
Yes.Yes.Yes

Judo/selfdefense
-7 different throws (followed by strikes)
- one joint lock
Oh !**** I wish!

Patterns
-9 patterns all taeguk plus one extra
Yes.Eyes closed

Sparring
-WTF one 3 min round
11 Fights.Dude

Breaking boards
8 boards.With different stirkes.

Do you know why you were expected to do somuch non-TKD stuff in the first place.I mean escrima.

**Wounded Ronin** · Posted On: 6/20/2005 6:23pm

30 consecutive rounds? At best, I can do like half that.

**I aint punchy!?** · Posted On: 6/20/2005 6:42pm

I always hate it when escrima is taken by other styles and relegated to a tiny amount of their curriculum... and then they somehow think they will be good at it. Tis a real shame...

**FCTKD** · Posted On: 6/20/2005 7:13pm

I know there's probably harder tests out there, but this is the one I had. We train Judo since it is probably the best self-defense in terms of self-defense law (just controling the situation). Also my teacher has done judo for 20yrs. The Language part I thought appropriate since you should know what the characters on your dobok are. Nuitrition helped too. As for Escrima our teacher has said that what he teaches us is considered basics, but if we wanted to move on from there we would have a strong base. The reason that we had so many other arts is our teacher believes in that a blackbelt should understand a broad range of martial arts. My instructor is even going to start paying for my Muay thai training since it'll help the club. This was the first batch of BB's from his school so I think we had a special test.