Are you ready for Yellow Belt?

Your first Belt Promotion at Johnson's Martial Arts

You started as a White Belt and are the beginner level martial artist. Leaving it up to the student, it would be difficult to determine that they are ready for advancement. For this reason, students at Johnson's Martial Arts have built-in checkpoints on their journey to Yellow Belt.

1. Belt Stripes

   1. Form

      1. Chonji Form is 14 movements and the beginner form.

   2. One-Steps

      1. Self Defense Combinations of Techniques when paired with a partner.

   3. T.A.P

      1. Technique, Accuracy, and Power Skills using a focus pad (hand target).

   4. Testing Ready

      1. Student has been checked and is eligible to test.

         
         

2. Instructor

   1. You should speak to an instructor.

      1. If you have reservations to testing, this is normal. Most students can be nervous. Students of Martial Arts can be their biggest critics, and an impartial viewpoint is needed. Instructors have seen thousands of students achieve this first milestone. They'll let you know if the student is ready

      2. And keep in mind, Yellow Belt is still considered a beginner level practitioner.

         
         

Reasons that you should test, now.

This is part of your martial arts journey. Having just begun, this is not the time to procrastinate. Adult students are able to better understand Intrinsic Motivation than Children. However, the Extrinsic Motivation of donning a shiny new yellow belt serves to reinforce the positive behavior you've engaged in from first stepping onto the mat. Testing for yellow belt is the most important step, because the student is still in the process of developing good habits.

A study from University College London found that it takes an average of 66 days to form a habit that becomes automatic.

Think about this for a moment. Things start exciting, but you don't have much invested into training, yet. We are trying to create good habits. Little obstacles such as a friend wanting to play outside during your scheduled class time or feeling a bit tired one-day after school can derail a student's progress.

If you have a child in martial arts (or soccer, Baseball, etc.) and they have attended for 2 weeks, and you let them quit, this can create a precedent of not finishing things that they start. We haven't gotten to the type of time-commitment where you can call it a passion or their "thing."

They have to put in more effort, and this is where we need the help of parents. If they have their stripes and/or the instructor believes that they should test, schedule them for promotional testing.

Reasons why a student should wait to test for Yellow Belt.

1. If you don't have any stripes on your belt, you should wait. Testing Opportunities are 6-times annually, and you should set the goal of testing in 2 months.

   1. If you only have one or two stripes, check with an instructor to determine if you know the remaining material. It is possible that you could be ready and just need to test for a belt stripe.