What is required to become a black belt at your school?

[fnorfurfoot]

Beyond the obvious skill needed, what requirements does your school have for achieving the level of Black Belt? I'm thinking in terms of how many techniques? Forms? Sets? Combinations? Or anything else that might be unique to your system.

[The Kidd]

30 combinations, 30 one-steps, 10 forms, 10 self defenses, that also does not include the crueling 6 hour physical test, the written test, the teaching evaluation, the breaking, and all the sparring.

[SFC JeffJ]

The TKD side of the school's testing for 1st Black includes 11 forms, a lot of one and two steps, (around 30 each) displays of competency in self defense scenarios form escape and run up to terminal control, and a lot of board breaking, including a suspended break and a three board flying kick break.

On the jujitsu side, falling and rolling, escaping, pinning, the four wrist-bends plus variations, four of the throws, being able to describe the concepts in detail, and a paper on the head guys subject of choice, and display both the techniques and concepts in SD roleplaying.

Jeff

[Nomad]

Hmmm... being able to at least walk through around 30 - 40 different kata (some minor), including 2-3 weapons kata, displaying a reasonably high competence level in at least a dozen or so of these kata, being able to perform about 18 formalized partner drills, several combinations, demonstrate competence and control in sparring.

Plus some history and philosophy through written and oral testing, etc.

[Brandon Fisher]

Physical warm up 30 - 45min
Kihon (Basics) All blocks, strikes, kicks, stances (around 80 total)
Ukemi Waza (falling) Front, side, back and variations on each (10 on average)
Kata: (12)
Kihon Kata Series (Taikiyoku Shodan Fukyugata Shodan & Nidan (matsubayashi Ryu)
Pinan Shodan - Godan (Shorin ryu)
Naihanchi Shodan - Sandan (Shorin Ryu)
Passai Sho (Itosu No Passai)
Ju Jitsu: 200 - 250 situational waza
History of Karate-Do, History Of Seijitsu Shin Do, Philosophy of Seijitsu Shin Do, My challenge to the students
Question & Answer Section
Kumite 1 on 1
Kumite 2 on 1
Kobudo 2 kata of canidates choice (if they trained with kobudo)
Tournament Experience

[bushidomartialarts]

Funny you should ask, we're testing 6 candidates for black this weekend.

Training Requirements
minumum of 36 months of training (average is 40-48).
187 techniques
10 kata

Personal Requirements
Accomplish 4 personal goals, 2 set by you, one by your sensei, one by a mentor or friend
Complete 'accumulated tasks': run a total of 365 miles in the year prior to your test, do a total 3560 pushups, practice a kata of your choice a total of 1000 times.

Scholarship Requirements
Written Exam
Thesis Paper
Oral Defense of Thesis

And you have to give your sensei a cookie.

[tellner]

We don't have belts. You get new material as the teacher thinks you're ready for it. When he thinks you're ready to teach you teach. Old School...

[Carol]

We don't have belts. You get new material as the teacher thinks you're ready for it. When he thinks you're ready to teach you teach. Old School...

Same here.

[Haze]

To many kata to list, about 25 or so.
List can be found here
http://cnygoshinkai.tripod.com/id17.html

Then along with that is all the bunkai, kumite, strength and conditioning drills,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[matt.m]

18 poomse, 27 one step sparring, 12 basic moves. This is all I know for Tae Kwon Do requirements, as for hapkido please refer to http://www.mskhapkido.com/id14.html

[searcher]

For Sho-dan: 10 kata, 20 SD sets with 5 variations each, all basic punches, kicks , blocks, 5 takedowns/throws, 5 joint locks, 50 man fight, history of the art and knowledge of the traits of other styles(what they are known for). This is just a general list. I may have missed something, but listed is the minimum.

[Cirdan]

Wado: 14 kata, 36 one step kumite, 10 khion kumite, ukemi, all blocks, strikes and kicks including animal hands, pressure point striking, a number of throws and locks, pushing hands, several rounds of free sparring and hitting pads.

You are also expected to be able to teach at this level. Brown belts are assistant instructors and when you are nearing your dan grading, the head instructor will evaluate your ability to instruct.

Not a BB myself but I think this is all.

[Kenpojujitsu3]

For me to award a Black Belt the person must have

1) Proper Attitude
2) Proper Dedication
3) Proper Conditioning
4) 154 Kenpo Self Defense Techniques + 48 of the 96 extensions
5) 8 of 10 Kenpo Katas I require
6) About 13 of 14 Kenpo Sets that I require
7) Ju Jitsu Throws, Takedowns and Breakfalls
8) Ju Jitsu positions and how to hold them
9) Ju Jitsu transitions between positions
10) Ju Jitsu escapes
11) Ju Jitsu Submissions
12) several variations of "the 4 basic combos of Ju Jitsu"
--A) position to position (also number 8 on this list)
--B) position to submission
--C) submission to submission
--D) submission to position
13) Ability to integrate Kenpo knowledge with Ju Jitsu knowledge

[Brandon Fisher]

There is some great requirements listed here. Good job all!!