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At Warrior’s Realm,
we believe in a thorough, methodological grading system
to help you develop and reach your fullest potential.
Why? Quite simply it is an easy, yet superb, way of setting
goals and attaining them! Moreover, it allows for a timely
education, ensuring that the individual is ready, both
physically and psychologically, for the next techniques
and theories to be discussed. It is a way to keep you
motivated, and at the same time realistic about your training.
It is exciting, and it helps you to grow as a person.
How? The only way we can ever really grow…..by stepping
outside our comfort zone! |
At Warrior’s Realm, we use the authentic
Muay Thai curriculum and grading system of Grandmaster Toddy.
This ensures the foremost training and licensing in Muay Thai;
in short, you are learning the best system of Muay Thai in
the world!
Sometimes we are asked how the student testing is scheduled.
Our philosophy is that a student should be eligible for an
exam after a certain amount of classes. For example, a white
belt should expect to take the Yellow Belt exam after approximately
24 group lessons. The number of classes increases as you go
through the higher levels.
To help prepare the student, each Belt level
consists of three progress check points.
- Typically, the first progress
check (for beginning levels) comes after one month of training.
This is for good attendance, work ethic, and attitude –
if these are present, the student receives their first star,
which is then sewn onto their sash or “belt.”
- After the second month (provided the
first star criteria are maintained), the student is scheduled
for a pre-test, which upon completion, will see the student
earning their second star.
- After the third month (again, following
criteria), the student is scheduled for their belt level
exam. Upon completion of the belt test, the student earns
the third star.
If their grades are sufficient, the student
then earns their next rank, which they will receive at the
monthly Graduation Day!
One comment we sometimes hear is, “I
am not ready to take the test.” Consider for one minute
how exams are scheduled in school. The math teacher doesn’t
administer the exam when students are ready. He would say,
instead, that the exam will be given a week Friday. Ready
or not each student will take the exam on the given day.
Warrior’s Realm is a Black Belt School! This means that
it is our goal to help each student achieve Black Belt status.
From years of experience we know that this system works -
some of the most hesitant people (in regards to testing) have
become some of the biggest advocates of this system!
Held once every month, Graduation Day is
used to honour those members of Warrior’s Realm who
recently displayed the courage and conviction to have their
skills judged by our panel of expert judges. Because each
level is a stepping stone to success, it is marked by an exuberant
celebration! Grad Day features various aspects every month,
including the presentation of belt awards, Black Belt Club
honours, student achievement awards, special demonstrations,
raffles, food, and fun!! Every month is different, and is
also a great time to socialize outside of class time.
While beginners,
intermediates, and advanced students may practice some of
the same techniques, there is a very big difference
in how they are performing
them. The longer the student is in the program, the better
they become. The typical order of progress is: general technique,
then power, then clean, sharp technique, then flow of combinations,
then smoothness of applications in sparring and self-defense.
We are not looking for perfection;
we are looking for ongoing progress.
No student should be compared to another student, but
to their own level of proficiency at each promotion. Your
belt level is not an indication of a standard level of skill.
It is more of an indication of time in the program. Just
like in any school, within each grade their will be students
of varying abilities. It is the same with each belt
level. It is the responsibility of each student to be the
best they can be at each belt, and to continuously improve
as they move up the ranks. The best and only way to do this
is to consistently attend at least two (2) classes per week,
and to give your best effort in every class. Remember,
you only get out of it what you put into it!
Mastery comes in the following stages:
- Unconscious incompetence; you don’t
know what you don’t know.
- Conscious incompetence; you realize this
is going to take time, effort and patience to master.
- Conscious competence; you are pretty
good, but you still have to think about it.
- Unconscious competence; you do
it naturally, just like walking or breathing.
Martial Arts mastery is a process of continuous
practice. Belt promotions are more like a celebration where
we recognize where you are in the process. We like to say,
“If you learn to love the practice, the progress
takes care of itself.”
- White
- Yellow
- Orange
- Green
- Blue
- Purple
- Brown
- Red
- Black
- Black/Gold
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