Journey to Black Belt

Hello Premier Martial Arts Students and Parents

Thank you for trusting us with you or your family’s martial arts training. Premier Martial Arts is one of the largest, most successful martial arts organizations in the world. You can rest assure that you or your family will receive the best training the martial arts has to offer in a safe, professional and exciting atmosphere.

Premier Martial Arts is a Black Belt School, what this means is that it is our main purpose and goal for each of our students to one day obtain not just their Black Belt, but to also receive all the physical, mental, self defense and personal development benefits the martial arts are intended to instill in students through their journey to become a Black Belt.

What is a Black Belt in the martial arts?
“In my opinion, there is a huge difference between being a black belt and having a black belt. A black belt is after all, a black piece of cloth that is tied around one’s waist. On the other hand, being a black belt is something profound that represents who you are to the core. With enough effort almost anyone off the street can work out enough to accomplish the physical feats associated with having a black belt, but it takes someone truly special to have met all mental and physical requirements that embody what being a black belt represents. A black belt represents the never ending, life long quest to perfect your mind, body and soul; to treat others and the world around you with respect and to hold yourself to the highest standards possible.”So that our students can better plan, prepare and train on their journey to Black Belt Excellence and for them to clearly understand what is expected of them, the following is a summary of what a student can expect and what is required of them during our 3 different phases of training to become a Black Belt.

BEGINNING STUDENTS

(White – Yellow – Orange Belts)
“Today we are not in pursuit of perfection but progress.”

This is the beginner phase of a Premier Martial Arts student’s path to Black Belt. During this time our instructor’s goal is to build the student up within. During these 9 months we develop a bond with the student. It is a bond that is built on the foundation of mutual respect and trust. To earn a Black Belt a student must first and foremost believe that they can achieve and that they are worthy of such a large goal.

It is that reason alone that our philosophy in teaching our students in these ranks is geared towards encouragement and praise to build the confidence needed to pursue and achieve any goal in life. Technical mastery is not even a thought at this point. Every new movement that a student has success, every stripe earned, and every belt test passed helps to build within them a “yes I can” attitude that it takes once they move into the intermediate ranks. To be promoted in these levels, attendance, attitude, and a willingness to try even when things get tough are the predominate factors in leading to a successful belt exam.

In order to pass out of the beginning belt ranks and into the intermediate ranks, students MUST be able to meet the following requirements.

Mental Requirements

Dedication by attending class twice per week and practice 15 minutes at home two other days per week.
Confidence by showing a positive self-attitude and belief in oneself.
Showing respect for others and themselves.
Display discipline by being able to take direction and commands.

Physical Requirements

Understand physical application of required curriculum in the beginning phase of training.
Begin to show signs of increased strength and flexibility.
They must be able to properly execute the basics techniques of their training with Power, Speed, Focus, Accuracy, Intensity, and Excellence.
They must understand and execute the four elements of power in their basic technique.
Body Alignment – ie. Lining up their vision, shoulders, hip and heel of their foot when executing their sidekick.
Rotation – ie. Pivoting their shoulders, hips, and supporting foot when executing a rear leg kick or rear arm attack.
Back up mass –ie. Putting their whole body into their technique.
Speed – ie. Moving with urgency and timing.

INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS

(Purple –Blue – Green Belts)
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”

In the intermediate ranks the evolution of a martial artist and their techniques begins. Instructors have already built the foundation of trust and respect and therefor can become more demanding of the progress of the student’s techniques. A truly professional martial arts instructor knows that it is their obligation to discover what their student’s limits are and to safely expand those limits to overcome both physical and mental barriers in and out of the martial arts studio.

By the time a student enters their green belt ranking they should start understanding the system taught to them and how to best use the tools given within their strengths and weaknesses. Some people are aggressive, some are passive, while some are tall, others are short, some may have physical limitations and others may be natural athletes. Regardless who a student is, they will no doubt experience many challenges in this phase that prepares them with the perseverance to keep going and overcome challenges in life. They will also begin to see the mental and emotional benefits from training for an extended period of time. This is preparing them for the final phases before black belt, the advanced ranks.

In order to pass out of the intermediate ranks and into the advanced ranks, students MUST expanded and continue perfecting the requirements in the beginning ranks and be able to meet the following additional requirements.

Mental Requirements

Perseverance by never giving up when the techniques and physical training become more difficult and when a higher level of achievement is asked of them.
Self Discipline by not just doing what is ask of them, but having the ability to self recognize what is needed for their training, what should be done, and what is the right things to do, and doing them!

Physical Requirements

Understand and physical application of required curriculum in the intermediate phase of training.
Developed increased stamina in training and techniques.
Developed increased mental and physical toughness in application of their training.
Began sparring training.
Developed good fundamentals of the weapons curriculum. Meaning the basic spins and strikes of the bo staff, nunchucku, and kali stick for youth students and basic defenses from gun, knife and stick threats and attacks for adult students.

ADVANCED STUDENTS

(Brown 1 – Brown 2 – Red 1 – Red 2 – Red 3 – Junior Black Belt)
“The goal is not the destination but a guiding light to keep us on path.”

At this point a student has built the confidence to succeed at any challenge and developed the grit to keep trying when things get tough and we all know life gets tough. Now a minimum of a year and a half into training the stage is set for not only the instructor to put the pressure on, but the student themselves should be developing the self-discipline to strive for their personal best in all that they do both on and off the mats. There is no rush at this point. We do not graduate students to black belt based solely on the amount of time they have been training but rather their drive to continually get better and pursue the very best standards set before them. Along with the pursuit of excellence in the techniques, discipline, respect, hard work and community service, should be demonstrated on every level.

In order to be promoted to Black Belt, students MUST expanded and continue perfecting the requirements in the previous ranks and be able to meet the following additional requirements.

Mental Requirements

Develop mental toughness that is not easily rattled when presented with a challenge on or off the mats.
A sense of awareness of others, how they can help them and lead through example.

Physical Requirements

Understand physical application of required curriculum in the advanced phase of training.
Peak physical shape.
Developed increased mental and physical toughness in application of their training beyond that of their Intermediate Ranks.
Advance sparring training.
Developed expertise of the weapons curriculum. Meaning the basic spins and strikes of the bo staff, nunchucku, and kali stick for youth students and basic defenses from gun, knife and stick threats and attacks for adult students.

BLACK BELTS

“The bridge between knowledge and skill is practice, the bridge between skill and mastery is TIME”

LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE

Now that a student has obtained the life changing goal of becoming a Black Belt, a student needs to understand that continuous training and practice is needed to remain a Black Belt. A student now must evaluate what path they are going to take for their future self improvement to mastery.

Remaining a Student is a Must:
Training in new curriculum as well as continuing to perfect the basics is what keeps a person who once earned a black belt to actually continue to be a black belt.
Giving Back to Your Academy:
Teaching/Assisting is a great way. Premier Martial Arts has a Certified Instructor Training course for those who want to pass down their knowledge to help empower others.
Giving Back to Your Community:
A black belt shows others by doing, not just telling. We believe that Premier Martial Arts Black Belts should have developed core values that motivates them to be a leader in their family, social settings and community at large. A black belt is the first to volunteer when they can.
Lastly, a Black Belt’s mission is to more deeply understand the martial arts in way that transcends the academy. A desire to share with others, to empower them and to lead them by example through perseverance and encouragement to all. Many will tell you they learned more about the physics of martial arts and also the influence it can have on members of their community after becoming a Black Belt. An attitude that exudes the willingness to learn, perfect, and help others is what being and remaining a Black Belt is all about.