Questions about Testing
How do I know when to test?
Your instructor decides when you are ready based on how hard you have practiced, how well you are doing, and how often you have come to class. Testing occurs about every three to four months for most adults and teens, but younger kids may need more time. Remember, you aren't competing against anyone but yourself. Your instructor will pretest you in class before sending you to the formal test.
Where and when is the test?
On the last Wednesday of the month (usually), promotees may go to Master Tesdal's dojang to test. Try to arrive by 6 pm. Address: 4315 Pacific Ave, Forest Grove, OR - (503) 359-4997
View Larger Map
Those who cannot make the Wednesday test may go to Portland. Address:
6950 S.E. Duke Street, Portland, OR 97206. Click here for map.
Directions to the Portland Dojang: Take the Ross Island Bridge across the Willamette River, and you will be on Powell Blvd. Stay on Powell until it veers to the right at 50th; this puts you on Foster Road. Follow Foster to turn right onto 72nd Avenue, then turn right onto Duke Street.
Portland tests are held on the first full weekend of each month. The test on Friday starts at 5:30 pm, and the Saturday test begins at noon.
How much does it cost?
Prices vary according to what rank you are testing for: yellow stripe and yellow belt tests are $80, blue stripe and blue belt, $85, purple stripe and purple belt, $90, brown stripe and brown belt, $95, and black stripe, $100.
Why doesn't my instructor test me?
Promotion tests help Grandmaster Kim keep track of how his instructors are doing in terms of helping their students achieve skill. For you, each time you test, you gain confidence. Tests are goals that you and your teacher set for you, and when you accomplish these goals, you learn that you have the potential to achieve anything you set your mind to. Finally, because you are tested and certified formally through Grandmaster Kim, your rank is recognized by other martial arts schools, as well as schools in Korea.
What will happen at the test?
Tests begin with everyone warming up individually, and with white belts being guided through their form repeatedly. This repetition helps new students become accustomed to doing their form in an unfamiliar place. Master Kim will call "line up." We line up by rank, just like in class, then go through warming up together. We do forms, with each rank sitting down when they have performed their last form.
Instructors are then introduced, the three highest ranking black belts are called up to assist with testing, then everyone is seated and rules are explained-really, it's more like advice for how to do your best. Master Kim begins with white belts, working his way up two students at a time. Students do their latest form (transfer students perform all forms that they have learned), then spar together for one minute. Blue belts and above break boards.
What do I do when I spar at my test? Is this free sparring? Do I make contact?
It helps to remember the purpose behind promotion test sparring, as opposed to other types of sparring. Free sparring in class is for skills practice; tournament sparring is for scoring points and winning the match; promotion test sparring is to show Master Kim what you have learned. Generally, one student throws three kicks and a hand technique, then the other student throws three kicks and a hand technique or two-like combinations in class.
The difference is that Master Kim is watching, so you want to show off. Demonstrate the many different kicks that you have learned, demonstrate that you understand distance (don't kick your partner, but don't kick from too far away either). Demonstrate that you understand the importance of keeping your body sideways, of staying in a good fighting stance (loose back stance) and not wasting energy by jumping around too much. Don't forget spinning kicks and jumping kicks, and use both legs, concentrating on throwing mostly kicks, and perhaps a few hand techniques.
Why does Master Kim tell students not to block?
Remember that he is referring only to promotion sparring. In my humble opinion, the problem is that students attempt to block each other's techniques by striking out at each other. The arm is usually held much like a low block, but unlike a block, which has a rotating motion, the student throws the arm out to stop a strike before it comes closer. Without the rotating motion, the movement becomes a strike instead of a deflection. Master Kim, wanting to prevent unnecessary injury (either to the outstretched hand or arm or to the person kicking), simply yells at students to stop attempting to block.
Remember that one of our primary purposes in training is to learn control. During promotion sparring, there should be no contact made unless the students are black belt candidates. Students should be exercising control when throwing techniques. There is no need to block during promotion sparring, but there is plenty of opportunity for injury when nervous students throw out an arm or hand to stop a kick.
When do I get my belt?
Some instructors have students purchase their belts after the test, then the instructors do a small ceremony with students on the spot. Our school, like Master Tesdal's school, awards belts in a ceremony at class after the test. We buy the belts for our students, bring them with us to the next class, then present them to students. Stripes, however, are presented at the end of the test with Master Kim presiding.
Do I have to stay for the whole test?
Part of your training is to observe the testing of the belts. You should stay for the entire test, barring some emergency (or if the person who brought you has to go to work). The test ends with a speech from Master Kim, along with some tips for improving technique, and information about upcoming events.
What should I bring?
Besides money to pay for your promotion, and your uniform and belt, just bring water. There is no eating in the dojang (any dojang), and students are not supposed to leave the room during the test, so eat something about forty-five minutes before the test starts. Bathrooms are available, so don't hesitate to drink water: go too long without water, and you will go home with a headache.
What are the most common mistakes students make?
Many students forget to have a solid stance, with the back foot straight. They often forget to lock the back leg and bend the front knee-- remember, this is for stability and safety, so it does matter. Students often either rush a form or do it too slowly and carefully. Each movement should be about one second, unless it is a tension move (3 seconds, breathing out as if the air were passing through a cave), or a double movement (double speed!). Finally, work at putting each technique where it is meant to go: if you want to be able to punch where you mean to, practice control by placing that punch in the right spot each time. Targets in the early forms are usually the solar plexus or the nose.
Any last advice?
Most students forget to relax! Power comes from speed; speed comes from relaxation. This is hard to remember, especially when you are testing, but if you don't try to relax, you will wear yourself out and look too tight. The body should be loose until that moment when your technique makes its impact. If you keep getting tense, especially during testing, try using your breathing to release tension: breathe in through the nose, deep into the belly, out through the mouth. If the tendons on your neck feel tight, that's a sign that all your energy is being wasted in holding your whole body rigid. Rolling the shoulders back occasionally helps too.
Your instructor decides when you are ready based on how hard you have practiced, how well you are doing, and how often you have come to class. Testing occurs about every three to four months for most adults and teens, but younger kids may need more time. Remember, you aren't competing against anyone but yourself. Your instructor will pretest you in class before sending you to the formal test.
Where and when is the test?
On the last Wednesday of the month (usually), promotees may go to Master Tesdal's dojang to test. Try to arrive by 6 pm. Address: 4315 Pacific Ave, Forest Grove, OR - (503) 359-4997
View Larger Map
Those who cannot make the Wednesday test may go to Portland. Address:
6950 S.E. Duke Street, Portland, OR 97206. Click here for map.
Directions to the Portland Dojang: Take the Ross Island Bridge across the Willamette River, and you will be on Powell Blvd. Stay on Powell until it veers to the right at 50th; this puts you on Foster Road. Follow Foster to turn right onto 72nd Avenue, then turn right onto Duke Street.
Portland tests are held on the first full weekend of each month. The test on Friday starts at 5:30 pm, and the Saturday test begins at noon.
How much does it cost?
Prices vary according to what rank you are testing for: yellow stripe and yellow belt tests are $80, blue stripe and blue belt, $85, purple stripe and purple belt, $90, brown stripe and brown belt, $95, and black stripe, $100.
Why doesn't my instructor test me?
Promotion tests help Grandmaster Kim keep track of how his instructors are doing in terms of helping their students achieve skill. For you, each time you test, you gain confidence. Tests are goals that you and your teacher set for you, and when you accomplish these goals, you learn that you have the potential to achieve anything you set your mind to. Finally, because you are tested and certified formally through Grandmaster Kim, your rank is recognized by other martial arts schools, as well as schools in Korea.
What will happen at the test?
Tests begin with everyone warming up individually, and with white belts being guided through their form repeatedly. This repetition helps new students become accustomed to doing their form in an unfamiliar place. Master Kim will call "line up." We line up by rank, just like in class, then go through warming up together. We do forms, with each rank sitting down when they have performed their last form.
Instructors are then introduced, the three highest ranking black belts are called up to assist with testing, then everyone is seated and rules are explained-really, it's more like advice for how to do your best. Master Kim begins with white belts, working his way up two students at a time. Students do their latest form (transfer students perform all forms that they have learned), then spar together for one minute. Blue belts and above break boards.
What do I do when I spar at my test? Is this free sparring? Do I make contact?
It helps to remember the purpose behind promotion test sparring, as opposed to other types of sparring. Free sparring in class is for skills practice; tournament sparring is for scoring points and winning the match; promotion test sparring is to show Master Kim what you have learned. Generally, one student throws three kicks and a hand technique, then the other student throws three kicks and a hand technique or two-like combinations in class.
The difference is that Master Kim is watching, so you want to show off. Demonstrate the many different kicks that you have learned, demonstrate that you understand distance (don't kick your partner, but don't kick from too far away either). Demonstrate that you understand the importance of keeping your body sideways, of staying in a good fighting stance (loose back stance) and not wasting energy by jumping around too much. Don't forget spinning kicks and jumping kicks, and use both legs, concentrating on throwing mostly kicks, and perhaps a few hand techniques.
Why does Master Kim tell students not to block?
Remember that he is referring only to promotion sparring. In my humble opinion, the problem is that students attempt to block each other's techniques by striking out at each other. The arm is usually held much like a low block, but unlike a block, which has a rotating motion, the student throws the arm out to stop a strike before it comes closer. Without the rotating motion, the movement becomes a strike instead of a deflection. Master Kim, wanting to prevent unnecessary injury (either to the outstretched hand or arm or to the person kicking), simply yells at students to stop attempting to block.
Remember that one of our primary purposes in training is to learn control. During promotion sparring, there should be no contact made unless the students are black belt candidates. Students should be exercising control when throwing techniques. There is no need to block during promotion sparring, but there is plenty of opportunity for injury when nervous students throw out an arm or hand to stop a kick.
When do I get my belt?
Some instructors have students purchase their belts after the test, then the instructors do a small ceremony with students on the spot. Our school, like Master Tesdal's school, awards belts in a ceremony at class after the test. We buy the belts for our students, bring them with us to the next class, then present them to students. Stripes, however, are presented at the end of the test with Master Kim presiding.
Do I have to stay for the whole test?
Part of your training is to observe the testing of the belts. You should stay for the entire test, barring some emergency (or if the person who brought you has to go to work). The test ends with a speech from Master Kim, along with some tips for improving technique, and information about upcoming events.
What should I bring?
Besides money to pay for your promotion, and your uniform and belt, just bring water. There is no eating in the dojang (any dojang), and students are not supposed to leave the room during the test, so eat something about forty-five minutes before the test starts. Bathrooms are available, so don't hesitate to drink water: go too long without water, and you will go home with a headache.
What are the most common mistakes students make?
Many students forget to have a solid stance, with the back foot straight. They often forget to lock the back leg and bend the front knee-- remember, this is for stability and safety, so it does matter. Students often either rush a form or do it too slowly and carefully. Each movement should be about one second, unless it is a tension move (3 seconds, breathing out as if the air were passing through a cave), or a double movement (double speed!). Finally, work at putting each technique where it is meant to go: if you want to be able to punch where you mean to, practice control by placing that punch in the right spot each time. Targets in the early forms are usually the solar plexus or the nose.
Any last advice?
Most students forget to relax! Power comes from speed; speed comes from relaxation. This is hard to remember, especially when you are testing, but if you don't try to relax, you will wear yourself out and look too tight. The body should be loose until that moment when your technique makes its impact. If you keep getting tense, especially during testing, try using your breathing to release tension: breathe in through the nose, deep into the belly, out through the mouth. If the tendons on your neck feel tight, that's a sign that all your energy is being wasted in holding your whole body rigid. Rolling the shoulders back occasionally helps too.
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