APPLIES TO:
• All candidates testing for Black Belt
• All Black Belts maintaining rank and advancing through degrees
AGE & RANK POLICY
• Students ages 8–14 may earn Black Belt (no degree levels).
◦ They hold the rank of Black Belt with full responsibilities and recognition for their age group.
◦ Upon turning 15, their Black Belt converts to 1st Degree, beginning eligibility for degree advancement and time-in-rank tracking.
• Students 15+ earn traditional degree-based Black Belt ranks.
• System is capped at 5th Degree Black Belt
SECTION 1 – GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
All Black Belt candidates must demonstrate proficiency in:
• Essential history and terminology (written or oral)
• Performance of required forms
• Execution of foundation strikes, kicks, stances, and classical techniques
• Practical, functional self-defense skill
• Controlled free sparring demonstrating strategy, timing, and adaptability
Advancing degree ranks (15+) must also demonstrate:
• Continued improvement over time
• Creativity in personal martial development
• Technical growth, precision, and maturity
SECTION 2 – HISTORY REQUIREMENTS
KARATE
• Meaning: “Empty hand”
• Derived from: Kara (empty), Te (hand)
• Developed in Okinawa, influenced by native fighting arts and Chinese martial traditions
TAEKWONDO
• Meaning: “Way of the hand and foot”
• Tae (foot), Kwon (hand), Do (way)
• Organized in the 1950s by General Choi Hong Hi in South Korea
• Included as historical knowledge only (not a testing requirement)
SECTION 3 – TERMINOLOGY REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must know and demonstrate the following commands:
• Chunbi – Ready
• Charyo – Attention
• Kyungye – Bow
• Goman – End, return to ready
• Sho – Relax, feet apart hands behind back
SECTION 4 – FORM REQUIREMENTS
FIRST BLACK BELT TEST (Junior or Adult):
Candidates must perform:
• Beginner Form
• Advanced Form
BEYOND 1ST DEGREE (Adults 15+ only):
• No longer required to perform lower-belt forms
• Must create and perform an original form demonstrating:
◦ Understanding of karate fundamentals
◦ Balanced stance and footwork
◦ Integrated blocking and striking
◦ Logical transitions, structure, and application
• Creativity and depth of martial expression are evaluated
SECTION 5 – HAND STRIKES
Candidates must demonstrate:
• Backfist
• Jab
• Hook
• Uppercut
• Reverse punch
• Hammer fist
• Ridge hand
• Palm heel
SECTION 6 – FOOT STRIKES
Basic kicks:
• Front kick
• Round kick
• Hook kick (front, back, turn, spin)
• Side kick (slide, step, turn, spin, offensive, defensive)
Additional specialty kicks:
• Side stomp
• Crescent/Wheel kick
• Axe kick
• Tornado kick
Body weapon strikes:
• Knee strikes
• Elbow strikes
Combination kicking:
• Triple side kick
• Hook → Round → Side kick
• Triple tornado or hook kick
SECTION 7 – TAKEDOWNS & GROUND RESPONSE
Candidates must demonstrate:
• Be able to perform takedowns such as:
◦ Front leg sweeps
◦ Rear sweeps
◦ Double-leg takedowns
• Understand defense against all such attacks
• Demonstrate:
◦ Control
◦ Safety
◦ Practical application under pressure
SECTION 8 – STANCES
Candidates must demonstrate:
• Fighting stance (left, right, transitions)
• Front stance
• Riding/Horse stance
SECTION 9 – CLASSICAL TECHNIQUES
Candidates must demonstrate:
• Classical straight punch
• Knife-hand chop
• Sudo (knife-hand) block
• Low block
• High block
• Inside forearm block
• Outside forearm block
SECTION 10 – SPARRING SKILLS
Candidates must demonstrate sparring that shows:
Tactical concepts:
• Faking
• Directional movement
• Countering
• Jamming
Sample applied combinations:
• Jab → Punch
• Jab → Kick
• Low → High round kick
Evaluation is based on:
• Control
• Timing
• Distance management
• Practical effectiveness
• Calmness and adaptability under pressure
SECTION 11 – SELF-DEFENSE / ACTION DRILLS
Self-defense is flexible, adaptive, and interpretation-based.
Candidates must:
• Select three techniques of their choice
• Demonstrate practical logic, purpose, and realism
Possible examples include:
• Rear bear-hug escape
• Block → counter punch
• Ground escape
• Sweep takedown from clinch
• Block → strike → takedown
• Defending against takedown attempts
Higher-degree candidates (15+) are expected to:
• Develop variations
• Expand personal interpretations
• Create new refinements and training ideas
SECTION 12 – DEGREE ADVANCEMENT (ADULTS 15+ ONLY)
Minimum time-in-rank:
• 1st Degree → 2nd Degree: 2 years
• 2nd Degree → 3rd Degree: 3 years
• 3rd Degree → 4th Degree: 4 years
• 4th Degree → 5th Degree: 5 years
• Higher degrees require increasing:
◦ Time
◦ Maturity
◦ Responsibility
◦ Consistent training
Requirements for advancement:
• Maintenance of all Black Belt fundamentals
• Continued technical growth
• Creativity in:
◦ Original forms
◦ Self-defense development
◦ Personal martial expression
• Contribution to:
◦ White Karate school development
◦ Student mentorship
◦ The growth of the art
System Cap:
• Rank progression concludes at 5th Degree Black Belt