white belt testing procedures
Standard Training Time
OUR STANDARD TRAINING TIME BEFORE TESTING FOR A NEW RANK IS THREE MONTHS FOR ALL STUDENTS
We track new students’ training days through colored bars. Every day you train as a white belt, you will receive a YELLOW bar on the end of the belt. On the 8th training day, we will trade the yellow bars for a BLACK bar on the opposite end of the belt, signifying 1 month of training.
As a white belt, you are not expected to participate for testing until the 3rd month into your training. You are welcome to come in during testing days, but are not required to participate during the test.
Your white belt will look like this when you are ready for your belt test:
(2 Black Bars, 7-9 Yellow Bars)
Testing cycle timeline
Welcome to the West Valley Martial Arts Family! We are so excited to start this journey with you! For your first month here at the dojo, you can stay relaxed and enjoy learning all of your basic techniques and skills that are crucial for setting a strong foundation as a new martial artist.
Month 1
As a brand new white belt, you will not be required to demonstrate or perform during your 1st month of training on testing day(s).
By Month 2, you may have started learning the first required kata form called “Pinan Shodan.” In order to promote to your Yellow Belt, students must know at least half of the kata. Students and instructors identify the half-way point as the first “Kiai” (yell) on the 3rd upper-block of the kata.
Month 2
If you have reached this part in the kata, you may be asked to demonstrate as much as you know during the 2nd testing cycle, but are NOT required to. If you choose to demonstrate, you will receive what is called an Evaluation Form (also known as a Review Sheet).
This form signifies that you are in preparation for your next rank and have been evaluated by an instructor. This form includes personalized feedback and outlines areas for improvement, giving students the entire third month to refine their skills before the final belt test.
The Evaluation Form plays a critical role in determining whether a student passes their test.
More details about the Evaluation Form can be found below.
Month 3
Month 3 marks the final stage at this belt level. To earn your next belt, you will need to demonstrate the same kata you performed for your second stripe. This should be the kata you received feedback on in your Evaluation Form and the one you’ve been practicing and refining throughout the month.
Improving on the feedback listed in the Evaluation Form’s comments section is essential—it plays a major role in determining whether a student passes their final belt test.
rank requirement chart
EVALUATION & INTENT TO PROMOTE FORMS
EVALUATION FORM
Here at WVMA, our testing procedure includes a demonstration of a kata/form.
Ideally, when students (of any rank) reach the beginning of the third month of training and receive their 2nd Black Bar for their test, they will also receive an off-colored stripe on their belt as well as a written sheet which we call a STUDENT EVALUATION FORM.
This form includes personalized feedback and outlines areas for improvement, giving students the entire third month to refine their skills before the final belt test.
This Evaluation Form is essential for whether a student passes their belt test, or not.
INTENT TO PROMOTE FORM
Every instructor here at West Valley Martial Arts is interested in not only teaching the physical skills of martial arts, but also strives to instill good habits and character traits in each of our students. Traits such as a good work ethic, respect, patience, and many others.
As students continue to hone their physical skills in class, these Intent to Promote Forms will serve to supplement their character development with engaging questions where students can put their thoughts into words.
How They Work
Students will receive this form along with their Student Evaluation Form on the 2nd month into their testing cycle.
From there, the student has approximately one month to fill out the Intent To Promote form and may turn it in to us at any point BEFORE their belt test.
Students will NOT receive their new belt until we receive their finished Intent to Promote Form.
* Students can still pass their belt test without having turned in their Intent to Promote Form, but will simply not receive their belt until we receive the form.