BELT TIPS

What are Tips?

The “Tips”, or black stripes on the end of a colored belt are a system to enhance the experience of our students and ensure that all students are well prepared for advancement to the next belt level starting at the white belt. The “tips”, represent mini-steps between the belt levels, almost like a quiz or a check-up. This helps to ensure that students are learning the requirements for the next belt along the way.

Tips may be earned from White Belt through Senior Red Belt.

How does it work?

Tips are awarded in eight different skill areas: blocks, arm strikes, leg strikes, physical fitness, miscellaneous techniques, board breaking, defense techniques, and weapons techniques. Tips will be awarded to students when the instructor notices an individual level of proficiency.

Tips are earned in the following order:

Blocks - 1st Tip
Arm Strikes - 2nd Tip
Leg Strikes - 3rd Tip
Physical Fitness - 4th Tip
Miscellaneous Techniques - 5th Tip
Board Breaking - 6th Tip
Defense Techniques - 7th Tip
Weapons Techniques - 8th Tip

Tips start at the end of the belt over the left leg and go upward with one-half inch spacing between tips. Once 4 tips have been applied to the left side the next 4 tips are applied to the end of the belt over the right leg in the same manner. In this way, when a student is ready for their belt promotion test they will have 4 tips on each end of their belt.

Students must wait at least one week after receiving a new belt before they can try for a tip. Students may only earn one tip per week, but may try as many times as they would like if unsuccessful.

Each tip takes them a step closer to the next belt so we are tougher about getting one as each tip is earned.

Why is it important?

The student will feel confident that he/she is prepared for the next graduation because they have already presented the required techniques to an instructor. They will feel a greater sense of accomplishment because their progress is made more apparent through the “tips.”

The tip system is also a valued tool for the instructors. It is easier for instructors to recognize the students’ needs by simply looking at their belt and seeing what areas still need work for rank advancement.

What does it take to earn a tip?

Students must demonstrate three things to earn a tip:

Good Technique (proper execution of movement)
Good Snap (combination of speed & power)
Good Stance (proper footwork)

Students should not ask to be checked for a tip until they are comfortable with all three parts.

Each student will be judged by their own ability and tips are awarded at the instructor’s discretion. A student should not be upset if they do not receive a tip after testing for one, rather they should feel progress even if a tip is not earned because feedback will be given to help guide him or her to the instructor’s expectations.

All board breaks must be completed on the same day for board breaking to earn a tip, with 3 tries or less for each target (instructors may require that students complete a target in 1 try or to add more boards).

Other things to consider

Most areas of student’s curriculum are covered by the tip system, but there are still other requirements that need to be worked on. Students need to make sure they are comfortable in these areas and may not be able to earn tips if instructors notice deficiency in these non tip areas.

Behavior in class, at home and overall respect and responsibility are also factored into whether students are ready for tips.