C
C.E.Jackson
Guest
I wrote this article and posted it on my web site as a response to the need to award recognition often to students in this day and age. This ranking system would keep the "Full Black Belt" reserved for students that complete the base requirements while still awarding rank with greater frequency.
Toss the idea around some and see what everybody thinks.
:asian:
It is my belief that a Full Black Belt or First Degree Black Belt or ShoDan should not be awarded till a student has full knowledge of the basis of his/her Self Defense System and Forms.
That is NOT to say that continuing education, personal skill development and advanced studies should not be required beyond Black Belt, including advanced Self Defense applications and Forms.
I also firmly believe that a student should also be a teacher somewhere in this advancement. This teaching experience provides a wealth of new knowledge as the student must now look at the material he/she is teaching in several new perspectives in order to pass this knowledge on to others.
I am aware of the business needs however and can see a place for an updated system for recognizing a students progress through the system more often than in days past.
In this light I have divided the American Kenpo System into three basic levels.
1. The Student Level.
The Yellow Belt Introducton techniques and the lower 96 Techniques. This material is learned in stages of 16 and includes the ranks of:
0. 16 Yellow (I have 16 Introductory Techniques rather than 10)
1. 16 Orange
2. 32 Purple
3. 48 Blue
4. 64 Green
5. 80 Brown
6. 96 Advanced Brown (completes the "Base" Techniques)
2. The Instructor Level
This level includes the 48 Advanced Techniques and the upper 96 Extension Techniques. This material is learned in stages of 24 and includes the ranks of:
1. 24 Orange
2. 48 Purple (completes the Advanced Techniques)
3. 24 Blue
4. 48 Green
5. 72 Brown
These ranks are designated by a black belt with a color stripe the length of the belt. (Provisional Black Belts)
6. 96 First Degree Black Belt (Full Black Belt)
(completes the Extension Techniques and completes ALL the basis for the Self Defense System and Forms 1-6)
3. The Black Belt Level.
This level is for Advanced studies beyond the base Self Defense System.
:asian:
Toss the idea around some and see what everybody thinks.
:asian:
It is my belief that a Full Black Belt or First Degree Black Belt or ShoDan should not be awarded till a student has full knowledge of the basis of his/her Self Defense System and Forms.
That is NOT to say that continuing education, personal skill development and advanced studies should not be required beyond Black Belt, including advanced Self Defense applications and Forms.
I also firmly believe that a student should also be a teacher somewhere in this advancement. This teaching experience provides a wealth of new knowledge as the student must now look at the material he/she is teaching in several new perspectives in order to pass this knowledge on to others.
I am aware of the business needs however and can see a place for an updated system for recognizing a students progress through the system more often than in days past.
In this light I have divided the American Kenpo System into three basic levels.
1. The Student Level.
The Yellow Belt Introducton techniques and the lower 96 Techniques. This material is learned in stages of 16 and includes the ranks of:
0. 16 Yellow (I have 16 Introductory Techniques rather than 10)
1. 16 Orange
2. 32 Purple
3. 48 Blue
4. 64 Green
5. 80 Brown
6. 96 Advanced Brown (completes the "Base" Techniques)
2. The Instructor Level
This level includes the 48 Advanced Techniques and the upper 96 Extension Techniques. This material is learned in stages of 24 and includes the ranks of:
1. 24 Orange
2. 48 Purple (completes the Advanced Techniques)
3. 24 Blue
4. 48 Green
5. 72 Brown
These ranks are designated by a black belt with a color stripe the length of the belt. (Provisional Black Belts)
6. 96 First Degree Black Belt (Full Black Belt)
(completes the Extension Techniques and completes ALL the basis for the Self Defense System and Forms 1-6)
3. The Black Belt Level.
This level is for Advanced studies beyond the base Self Defense System.
:asian: