Color Belt Curriculum Breakdown

[BrandonH45]

I have been a long time instructor, but I pretty much only teach adults now. I have been getting some kids in class recently (I don't take anyone under 10 typically) and I've been noticing that they are just not picking up the curriculum as effectively as I would like. I think this is primarily due to attention span more than anything, but regardless, I went back to the drawing board. We only have one training standard to promote, which is based off of the adult curriculum. If you cannot successfully pass it, then you do not advance. Because of this, I have been considering breaking down the Kyu curriculum into smaller segments. Currently, White belt has the most techniques in it (48 techniques) and every belt thereafter have 20 techniques to learn.

I have contemplated breaking this down a couple of ways:

Option 1:
Split white belt into 3 segments making each white belt Kyu 16 techniques instead of 1 belt with 48. Keep the rest of the belts the same as they are.

Option 2:
Split white belt into 2 segments, making it 24 techniques per segment, and then keep the rest the same.

Option 3:
Split white belt into 3 segments (16 techniques each), and every other color belt into 2 segments (10 techniques each).

Option 4: Split white belt into 2 segments (24 techniques each), and every other color belt into 2 segments (10 techniques each)

None of these options would increase the trainining time required to make black belt, it would only be for increased learning efficiency. Each whole color belt takes the minimum training time of 30 hours before they can promote, so white belt would be 10-15 hours per segment before they could test for yellow belt. The rest would be 15 hours each if you had 2 divisions of each color belt, or 30 hours if you did not split up the other color belts. I think I like option 3 and 4 the best because it gives less per belt, but then it adds 9-10 more kyu ranks. I think 18-19 kyu ranks sounds a little like a McDojo and looks like more of a money grab.

If the belts were broken down into it's smallest divisions possible, it would look like this:

White belt: 10 hours
White belt stripe 1: 10 hours
White belt stripe 2: 10 hours

Yellow belt: 15 hours
Yellow belt stripe 1: 15 hours

Orange belt: 15 hours
Orange belt stripe 1: 15 hours (and so on)



I've been taking feedback from some of the students and it sounds like they at least would like to see white belt segmented into smaller chunks, what is your opinion?

 

[Flying Crane]

What system are you teaching, and how do you define “technique”?

 

[BrandonH45]

What system are you teaching, and how do you define “technique”?

Aikibujutsu. It is similar to Aikido, Jujutsu, Judo, etc.

When I say technique it would be:

1. various strikes
2. various kicks
3. basic footwork and movement

----- Throws / Takedowns / Locks----

4. Ikkyo
5. Nikyo
6. Sankyo
7. Jujinage
8. Hiji Kime
9. Hiki Otoshi
10. Mae Otoshi
11. Kote Gaeshi

^ Not the actual curriculum, just picked a few from it for an example.

 

[HighKick]

I have been a long time instructor, but I pretty much only teach adults now. I have been getting some kids in class recently (I don't take anyone under 10 typically) and I've been noticing that they are just not picking up the curriculum as effectively as I would like. I think this is primarily due to attention span more than anything, but regardless, I went back to the drawing board. We only have one training standard to promote, which is based off of the adult curriculum. If you cannot successfully pass it, then you do not advance. Because of this, I have been considering breaking down the Kyu curriculum into smaller segments. Currently, White belt has the most techniques in it (48 techniques) and every belt thereafter have 20 techniques to learn.

I have contemplated breaking this down a couple of ways:

Option 1:
Split white belt into 3 segments making each white belt Kyu 16 techniques instead of 1 belt with 48. Keep the rest of the belts the same as they are.

Option 2:
Split white belt into 2 segments, making it 24 techniques per segment, and then keep the rest the same.

Option 3:
Split white belt into 3 segments (16 techniques each), and every other color belt into 2 segments (10 techniques each).

Option 4: Split white belt into 2 segments (24 techniques each), and every other color belt into 2 segments (10 techniques each)

None of these options would increase the trainining time required to make black belt, it would only be for increased learning efficiency. Each whole color belt takes the minimum training time of 30 hours before they can promote, so white belt would be 10-15 hours per segment before they could test for yellow belt. The rest would be 15 hours each if you had 2 divisions of each color belt, or 30 hours if you did not split up the other color belts. I think I like option 3 and 4 the best because it gives less per belt, but then it adds 9-10 more kyu ranks. I think 18-19 kyu ranks sounds a little like a McDojo and looks like more of a money grab.

If the belts were broken down into it's smallest divisions possible, it would look like this:

White belt: 10 hours
White belt stripe 1: 10 hours
White belt stripe 2: 10 hours

Yellow belt: 15 hours
Yellow belt stripe 1: 15 hours

Orange belt: 15 hours
Orange belt stripe 1: 15 hours (and so on)



I've been taking feedback from some of the students and it sounds like they at least would like to see white belt segmented into smaller chunks, what is your opinion?

I like option 2. It is the closest to the rest of your belt progression in number of skills required and does affect the other belts. Easy-peasy.

 

[HighKick]

I like option 2. It is the closest to the rest of your belt progression in number of skills required and does affect the other belts. Easy-peasy.

***I meant to say does NOT affect the other belts.***

 

[MadMartigan]

I like option 2 for the most part.

Have you considered adding stripes as a means of benchmarking progress for the kids instead?

I also use the exact same grading syllabus for all ages (7+), but for the kids, I give them stripes once they can demonstrate memory and a basic understanding of certain portions of each belt's curriculum. I use a green stripe on 1 end of the belt for them learning their pattern and a blue stripe for them memorizing their fundamental movements for that belt. I do not use the stripes for my teens or adults (as they do not need the extra encouragement).

You could use 2 or 3 different stripes to signify them learning each segment of your curriculum, then allow them to test when ready after they have earned all 2, 3, 4, or whatever # of stripes you decide on.

This way you wouldn't have to change anything for your adults and also not have to change how many kyu ranks you have either.

 

[BrandonH45]

I like option 2 for the most part.

Have you considered adding stripes as a means of benchmarking progress for the kids instead?

I also use the exact same grading syllabus for all ages (7+), but for the kids, I give them stripes once they can demonstrate memory and a basic understanding of certain portions of each belt's curriculum. I use a green stripe on 1 end of the belt for them learning their pattern and a blue stripe for them memorizing their fundamental movements for that belt. I do not use the stripes for my teens or adults (as they do not need the extra encouragement).

You could use 2 or 3 different stripes to signify them learning each segment of your curriculum, then allow them to test when ready after they have earned all 2, 3, 4, or whatever # of stripes you decide on.

This way you wouldn't have to change anything for your adults and also not have to change how many kyu ranks you have either.

It doesn't look like we really need encouragement at this point, but more bite sized material than anything, especially for the kids at this point. Even my adults liked the idea of the stripes breakdown, especially for white belt. I think they could have gone either way on the color belt stripes afterwards.


I think my game plan is this for now:

3 stripes for white belt (1 stripe should be equivalent to 10 hours, but others may take longer). After white belt, the color belts will be broken down into 0 stripe and 1 stripe for teaching purposes, making it 10 techniques per division instead of the whole 20 technique set. This should be equivalent to 15 hours per stripe. The stripes are not going to be official rank, just milestones more than anything. I think it will give students an adequate way of seeing progress, regardless if they are an adult or kid, and it will narrow down what the student needs to learn for the instructor.