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Testing

© Mark W. Swarthout

Different styles have a wide variety of different ways of promoting individuals. As discussed in the article RANKING, belts are a relatively recent development in the world of martial arts, the first systems appear to have developed in the late 1800's. As more styles sought recognition from national based organizations, they adapted to the system then in place.

Originally most people trained with their teacher until they had learned as much as they could, then they either sought additional instruction or they continued to refine their skills with their current instructor.

If a practitioner was particularly skilled, his instructor might provide him with a document that had a certification that he had learned all that he had to teach. And in some styles the teacher would paass on his certificate to the senior practitioner in his style, passing the torch to the next generation.

Others would allow their senior students to copy the documents that they had been handed, passing on the knowledge that they had recorded, often using difficult to understand notation of limited value without detailed instruction to go with it.

In many styles, particularly outside of the Asian area, promotion requirements are carefully layed out. Many include a list of skills and a time frame, either actual calendar weeks/months or perhaps a specific number of classes.

Testing can be a very formal affair. A date is set, you are expected to be there at the designated time with the appropriate uniform and gear. A board of examiners will be in place and carefully watch each and every technique as the testees perform them one at a time.

Testing at the lower ranks tends to be a little less strenuous. It could be a simple as a senior student coming out with a clip board and checking off each technique as you do it in front of him.

I have had a number of people tell me that they would be surprised by their teacher approaching them after class and telling them to get a new belt of x color, they are promoted.

The testing for Shodan, that first level of Black Belt, is often a very strenuous one. Some styles will take a full day to do the testing, including miles of running and sparring with every other black belt present. In many cases they are expected to perform every single technique they have learned over the previous years, but only after they are so tired they can hardly move.