Author: sensei
Jim Sheedy 4th Degree Black belt Chief Instructor – Sydney Australian Freestyle Taekwondo Academy
The Australian Freestyle Taekwondo Academy is one of the strongest martial art systems in Australia today. This is due to two main areas, technical standard and gradings assessments.
The A.F.T.A. has developed a reputation for having one of the strongest Dan examinations in the country in Taekwondo. We believe that to create a strong spirit and excellent ability, you must be tested, both mentally and physically to the limit.
Organisations are judged on their standard and strength, and these qualities are fostered through gradings. This is one of the reasons why the A.F.T.A. has made the blackbelt grading examinations one of it’s top priorities.
The examination board of the Academy, headed by Chief Instructor, Mr. John Callegari researches exams on an international level. This is to maintain the highest level possible for black belt examinations. Mr. Callegari is an internationally recognised instructor and examiner for Taekwondo world wide. It is through his guidance and direction, that has made the A.F.T.A. one of the leaders in Taekwondo, both in Australia and overseas. His view, is if you are going to wear a blackbelt around your waist, then you must have the ability and maturity to back it up.
Two of the strongest black belt exams in the Academy are the 2nd and 3rd Dan’ gradings. These exams promote different aspects of black belt. The 2nd Dan grading tests the physical and mental ability of a blackbelt, while the 3rd Dan examination tests the maturity and experience of a blackbelt.
In Kyokushin Karate, there exists the ultimate test of physical and mental perseverance in martial arts, the “Hundred man Kumite”. The great Sosai Oyama adopted this idea as the supreme test of the spirit.
We believe that every black belt in our system must be tested in the same manner. Although we do not fight one hundred men, we believe that all skills must be tested to the limit. If you are not capable of knowing your full potential and ability, then how are you to progress.
To qualify for a second degree black belt examination, a black belt must have held the rank of first degree of a minimum period of two and a half years. In this time he or she must have kept a strong training programme in place. Once they have met these requirements, then they start six months preparation for the following exam.
All patterns from 10th grade white belt through to the black belt forms. Also five different forms of set sparring including free fighting set sparring.
The self-defence requirements must be exact and consist of ten separate various
attacks. This is then followed by five separate attacks with a knife. The knife defence must be accurate as we expect the use of a real weapon.
The breaking requirements consist of a 4 directional break with each break being of two one inch boards. This is followed by jumping and spinning kicks each breaking two boards. The final break of the examination is a knife hand strike through one house brick.
Bag work is an important ingredient in martial art training, so the 2nd Dan grading consists of three two minute rounds, the first round is legs, the second round is hands and the third round is a combination of both.
Following the bagwork is the sparring assessment. Sparring consists of five rounds of hard sparring at five minutes each. Each round is with a fresh black belt. The examination requires that body contact be made while extreme control to the head is to be taken. The sparring section also includes two on one sparring for five’ minutes after the five rounds are completed.
The mental and physical effort that is demanded to undertake this examination requires many months of preparation. Diet and rest also playa very important part of the preparation, along with a very hard training schedule. The examination lasts approximately one and a half hours with no rest period.
The Academy’s third degree exam also tests indomitable will-power and determination to its most extreme. The areas looked for in this examination is the maturity of the black belt.
The black belt must have held his or her second dan for a minimum period of three and a half years, again, as in the previous exam, they must keep up a strong training programme within the Academy. Some black belts have held their second degree for up to six years before given the official notification to prepare for their test.
The third Dan examination includes all black belt forms, all set sparring, including two to one set sparring. The breaking requirement consist of jumping and jump spinning kicks, as well as a four directional floor break. The highlight of the breaking assessment is two house bricks simultaneously with knife hand strikes. Ten armed one to one self defence attacks and ten two to one self defence attacks with knife and fighting sticks.
The free fighting consists of three rounds of ten minute sparring and ten minutes of two to one sparring. The black belt sitting for the examination must dominate the fighting at all times and show his or her ability to withstand continuous strong attacks. Again, the examination is designed to test the mental limits of the black belt, however the maturity of how the black belt handles the examination is one of the important aspects. This examination is approximately one hour in duration with no rest period.
The A.F.T.A. holds black belt examinations twice a year, one in June and the other in December. If a black belt fails his or her exam, then they must re-sit the examination six months later.
To test ones physical and mental limits to the utmost in martial arts training is one of the most rewarding aspects of training. The Academy’s black belt examinations offer these tests in human endurance. We are constantly looking at ways to improve and strengthen them, thus improving and strengthening our blackbelts and organisation.
One of the key areas to strengthening our black belt ranks, is to offer an examination that each and every black belt can be proud of doing. Each black belt knows that they have to prepare for these examinations with 100% commitment. Being successful in these examinations strengthens their character knowing that they have achieved their goal and have tested their spirit to the limit in human endeavour.
Dedication to training in our black belt ranks, is a demonstration to all in our Academy of what can be achieved with concentration and effort and takes one beyond the instinct of fighting to a complete fulfilling way of life.
The meaning of black belt should never be lost or watered down, thus our examinations are a way of reminding our black belts what is so special, in what they wear around their waist.
The most important message the Academy strives to get across to its black belt ranks through its examinations, is that to progress, they must seek to extend their limits and to try to go beyond what they were previously capable of. The only limitations, are those which you place upon yourself.
