The first purported use of black belts in a curriculum is attributed to Kanō Jigorō, the founder of Judo, implementing the first black belts in the 1880s.
It is the journey to the mountain, and black belt is where you begin to actually climb the mountain. What I record below is what I had to do when testing for my 1st dan in Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do under Master Fazal Khan at Khan's Academy.
A well done black belt exam should perform the following;
The exam should have the practitioner perform every form learned in their style up until that point of the exam, to demonstrate adequate knowledge of the art being practiced.
One should be flexible- full splits, extended stretches for lengthy periods of time.
One should be able to do 200 jumping jacks and 200 push-ups throughout the duration of the exam.
It should have the practitioner run over a mile in a set amount of time, depending on the context of the person.
One should go over every strike that has been taught, every hand technique and every kick.
One should demonstrate at least 10 situations of self-defense situations taught, and 10 that they have created themselves.
The best method of testing fighting capability is thus; one fights a superior fighter for one minute, then for one minute two superior fighters, then for one minute three superior fighters, and then for one minute four superior fighters. This will demonstrate several concepts; indomitable will, endurance, appliance of techniques, and warrior spirit to survive an encounter. This should be applied to men and women, children and adults. Anyone who is seeking to obtain their black belt.
This was the fighting aspect of the exam as I listed it above, about 10 years ago when I was fifteen.
One should then, presumably exhausted, break a one inch piece of concrete. Avoid obtaining concrete slabs that are steel threaded. These are practically unbreakable because of the metal laced within. The last thing you want to do is go through all of the above and then break something at the very end.
Out of the eight black belt exams I have been subjected to across multiple systems, this format was the one which most left me with a sense I had truly earned my rank. Perhaps others could question whether or not I was a black belt, but afterward I never could.
That is what is important- knowing in your heart you are a black belt, and representing it. It took me nearly 11 years before I could realize this with certitude. And because of that attitude and self respect it allowed me, was able to radically improve my own arts as I continued along the martial path.
No comments:
Post a Comment