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West Valley Martial Arts

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West Valley Martial Arts

About

Classes

Videos

Contact

sTANDARD tRAINING tIME

OUR STANDARD TRAINING TIME BEFORE TESTING FOR A NEW RANK IS THREE MONTHS FOR ALL STUDENTS

We track students’ training through BLACK/WHITE bars. Every month, you will test for a black or white stripe (depending on the color of your belt) until the 3rd month, where you will be ready to test for your new rank.

Your colored belt will look like this when you are ready for your belt test:
(2 Black/White Bars, 1 Off-Colored Bar)

Every student progresses at their own pace. Your journey may look different from others. Focus on consistent effort, and growth will follow.

Testing Cycle Timeline

Month 1

Congratulations on earning your new belt! As part of your testing, you will be required to demonstrate a kata. This will be either a Kata of Choice or a Random Kata, depending on your rank.

Yellow Belt through Orange Black Belt:
You may select a kata of your choice to demonstrate for the kata portion of your test.

Blue Belt and Above:
You will be required to perform a Random Kata, drawn at random from a bag on the day of testing. Don’t worry—you will never be asked to demonstrate a kata you haven’t learned or completed, unless otherwise stated.

The Random Kata format is designed to help higher-ranking students actively review and retain their previous katas. We’re not only looking for accurate patterns, but also for the growth in technique, power, and understanding that should be evident at your current belt level.

Month 2

By Month 2, your rank is represented by a colored belt with one black or white stripe. To earn your second stripe, you will need to demonstrate either a Kata of Choice or the required kata for your belt level (refer to the Rank Requirement Chart on the right) .

Pre-Colored and Solid Colored Belts will perform a Kata of Choice.

Advanced Colored Belts must demonstrate their required kata (e.g., Blue Black Belts perform Pinan Sandan).

During this stripe test, students will also receive an Evaluation Form (also known as a Review Sheet). 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

New Belt Test

Rank requirement chart

Ranking Expectations

Pre-Colored Belt

Work on Current Kata / Previous Katas (Reminder: Testing Requirement is Random Kata so it is best to review and perfect. By the third month, you can start learning the new required kata for your belt color (ex: Green Belt Required Kata is Pinan Yondan)

Solid Colored Belt

Start learning or learn more of the required colored belt kata. This should be your main focus for during the three months at this rank. You will not be required to know the complete kata so no rush!

Advanced Colored Belt

Get feedback and start perfecting the required belt color kata. By this belt, you should have learned majority, if not all of the kata and now begin practicing for proficiency. In order to get the next color belt, you will be required to demonstrate the kata skillfully and proficiently.

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 gives the students a month to practice and improve on the criteria that was written for them in the comments section before they perform for their belt test. This Evaluation Form is essential for whether a student passes their 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 and will be required to submit this form before they test for their new belt.

From there, the student has approximately one month to fill out the Intent To Promote form out 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.

Have Any Questions?

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sTANDARD tRAINING tIME

Testing Cycle Timeline

Month 1

Month 2

Month 3

Rank requirement chart

Ranking Expectations

Pre-Colored Belt

Solid Colored Belt

Advanced Colored Belt

Evaluation & Intent to promote forms

EVALUATION FORM

Intent To promote form

How They Work

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