White to Orange Belt Curriculm: THE BASICS

Level 1: The Basics
Written for 8 to 15 years olds

To move from White Belt to Orange Belt a student attends classes for approximately 2 to 3 months.

He or she must have attended a minimum of 16 classes, which requires twice a week attendance; In addition, each student must have completed a minimum of 10 minutes of at-home practice each day, 4 days a week for the duration of the training.

• Physical Requirements

(Video Link here of all requirements).

Basic Stances

Footwork

Punches

Kicks

Defense

Ground

• Non-Physical Requirements
  
  Polite Greeting and Polite Departure
  
  School Orientation: Instructor’s Names, School Etiquette (forms of respect, care for uniform and other equip., school rules).
  
  

• One Community Based Project of the Student’s Own Choosing
  (To be added to the school’s Project Portfolio)
  
  
  100 Recorded Acts of Kindness
  
  View the Video: Laugh at the Fat Kid (on youtube.com). Engage in home and in-class discussion about bullying –related to this film.
  
• Repetition Requirements
  
  
  
  1000 kicks & 1000 punches
  A student must have completed 1000 repetitions of punches and kicks (any kick) before being eligible to test. One thousand kicking reps divided by 60 days equals less than 20 kicks a day.
  
  500 Push Ups, 500 Crunches
  

The written requirements for your first belt test, The Basics, are the minimum requirements to pass to your next level of training.

You can do more than is required, but you cannot do less and pass.

The requirements may take you 2 months or it may take you longer, the point of the training is not to earn a new colored belt, it is to become proficient at learning on the mat, learning the basics, and developing a good relationship with the teacher and your fellow students.

The primary goal behind all of our training is to teach you how to take your martial arts “out of the dojo and into the world,” so your behavior and accomplishment at home and at school are just as important to your test as what you are able to do in our classes.

A “thumbs up” from parents and teachers will be required for you to pass your test.

You should note that...

Fighting/Bullying

Fighting, in or out of our school, is not allowed. If you have someone you are in conflict with or someone who is picking on you, talk to your instructor and he or she will help you solve your problem –without resorting to violence.

Bullying other people is also something that is not allowed. If you recognize that you are playing the role of bully with someone else, talk to your teacher about it.

Chores/Room

You are expected to do home chores during your training –and the cleanliness of your room plays a major role in whether you are eligible to test and pass –or not.

The reason for this policy?

It’s simple: Your parents support you in this training –to make this a win-win situation, you must exchange your work at home for their transportation and financial support. If you’re unwilling to keep your room clean and do chores, then you are not demonstrating the kind of attitude we are working to build in our black belts.

If you need help with your chores, with having the self-discipline to do them, and with having a good and healthy attitude about doing them, just talk to your teacher –he or she will, no doubt, have some good advice for you.

Your Community-Based Project

Your instructor is an expert at thinking up, designing, implementing, and recording community-based projects. You get to choose the area you would like to work in (something you’re interested in); please see your instructor early for help and assistance with your project.

Surprise?

Be ready for surprises.

The ultimate self-defense is found in developing an attitude, a viewpoint, which allows us to see both the ups and the downs –of training and of life –as something valuable and important.

During the training that takes place between your child’s first lesson and his or her first test, we will more than likely have a number of “ups” –and probably a few “downs.”

Our goal is to stay the course to accomplishment, no matter the obstacles –as success will come, and when it does we will both have done something powerful for your child.

There are a few things you can do to help your child prepare for the successful completion of the first belt exam.

Developing the Connection Between "Practice" and "Success"

First, recognize that the “test” begins the day your child start classes. Creating a habit of daily practice is the real “test” of the training. There is more value in getting a child to practice every day (feel free to take Sundays off) than there is in successfully “testing” on the day of the final exam.

“Pick your battles carefully” is sage advice for parents –and martial arts teachers too. We would rather “fight the battle” of establishing the habit of daily practice than we would of what happens to a child’s self-esteem, attitude, and skill when they don’t practice.

Set Up A "Home Dojo"

Set up a “Home Training” area. It’s an easy way to encourage home practice. A good Home Dojo might contain a mirror, a kick-bag, and a small mat. It’s also a good idea to post your child’s belt testing curriculum in the training area as well.

Keep Us In The Loop

Communicate with us. If you’re having any difficulty with your child, in relation to any aspect of our curriculum, please contact us and we’ll do what we can to help you.

Help Us Teach By Example

One of the BEST things you could do for your child is to do his or her required push-ups, crunches, and acts of kindness with him/her. Not only does it allow you to engage with your child in a unique way, but you make your own accomplishment a part of your child’s “test story.”

“Sir, not only did I do 100 acts of kindness, but my Mom and Dad did 100 each too. So, here’s my journal with 300 acts of kindness!”