Black Belt Exam

Black Belt Exam

Dear Black Belts and Black/Red Belts,

Great Black Belt cycle we just had. The exams were awesome! 32 students took their exam on the cruise “BBE @ Sea” (next one already scheduled for 7 March 2020) and 103 in total started the exam process. Remember anything in life worth achieving is worth taking the risk of failing.

Train like a champion, train hard, practice and study your material. You will succeed in anything you want to. The TEAM is looking forward to helping you with your continued growth in the Martial Arts.

Names found below are ones who have passed this exam and will be graduating to the next rank.

We look forward to seeing all of you on the next one March 30, 2019!

All times are listed below for the next exam.

As you know there is a lot expected of you on this exam. If you practice hard and keep your attendance up to 3 times a week your exam will seem to be easier. Remember this is your black belt exam and you will be expected to do things that may not be listed here.

This Black Belt Cycle we will be working on:

• 1 TEAM Kata with your school
• Under 1st Degree Kata – Sai
• Past kata – 2 of them
• 1st Degree and Up Kata – Sai
• Self-Defense – Fighting Combos
• Written Exam will be on “The Way of the Champion” We did this book last year but got them in late. It’s a great book so we wanted to do it again and give more time to read it. Books are in stock and some of you already have one.

Dates and times may change. Check with your instructor or check this page for updated information.

Kyoshi F. DePalma


Due Dates & Times

Exam Applications/Belt Fee – November 21, 2018 Must be in full uniform for all parts of the Exam!
All parts of the Exam from Sparring to Graduation must be attended to qualify and receive a belt.

Pre-Exam - Push-Ups, Sit-Ups, Pull-Ups, Bag Kick & Breaking

Mesa, Scottsdale & Surprise Schools
Monday, March 11, 2019 - 7:30 PM (location Desert Mountain School NEC of Via Linda/136th)

Gilbert & Queen Creek Schools
Wednesday, March 6, 2018 - 7:30 PM (location South Gilbert School NEC Lindsay/Pecos)

Run – All schools March 30, 2019 - 8:00 am, South Gilbert School

All who competed at 3 AZMARRS Rated events in 2 black belt division each (sparring & forms, weapons or musical) Between 10/20/2018 and 3/30/2019 and qualify to skip the run, need not show up for it. Visit www.AZMARRS.com for tournament listings.
Please check with your instructor to see if you qualify to skip anything!

Sparring – February 23, 2019 - 8:30 am at the Arizona Open Karate Tournament. The black belt sparring exam in NOT part of the tournament and there is no fee to fight or spectate. The tournament will start after the sparring exam which black belt candidates may enter. Visit www.AZMARRS.com for tournament info and location.

Basics – March 30, 2019 - 10:00 am @ South Gilbert School – located on the NEC of Lindsay/Pecos

(What time is the lunch break? After the basic portion of the exam! ? We don’t know how long the basic portion will last. We will finish it when we see everything we need to see. A note will be put on the South Gilbert Facebook page to notify when we are getting close to break.)

Kata – March 30, 2019 - After a lunch break @ South Gilbert School

Self-Defense – March 30, 2019 - after 15 min. break from kata @ South Gilbert School

Graduation – April 13, 2019, TBA PM – location TBA – Graduation must be attended to receive a new belt.

Exam Fee is due the week of sparring exam.  To help things move along for sparring please sign-in and pay at your school before Thursday, February 21, 2019.  Fee is $25.00 cash and must be paid to your Instructor. Re-Test Pre-Exam will have an additional $50.00 charge. March 27, 2018 7:30 PM at South Gilbert

Kata Scoring & Breaking

On your exam you will have to perform two kata of your choice. You are scored by the examining board on a scale of 0 - 3, 3 being the highest. If you perform a kata of the beginner level the highest you can score is a 2, if you perform a kata from the intermediate level the highest you can score is a 2.5, from the advanced level the highest you can score a 2.75 and from the black belt level a 3.

Breaking will be done either at the Pre-Exam or Exam

On the Black Belt Brochure mailed out there is a typo of age to board. It should read:
Blue/Brown Board – 10 & Under
Brown Board – 10 - 12
Black Board – 13 & Up

The above are suggestions. Your Instructor may challenge you to do higher. Train for the challenge
Age 10 is in two categories and decided by the instructor.
All ranks must have attended 50 regular classes and 25 sparring classes between November 3, 2018 & March 30, 2019


Students Who Passed BBE October 2018

Exam rehearsals will be held with your Head Instructor. Check with your school for dates, times & locations. Click here to visit our School Calendars

To E-mail your instructor please go to the “locations” page.

Students graduating must arrive at Franklin/Brimhall Jr. High School, Mesa 5:30 PM for an all school rehearsal.

Black Belt Graduation: Franklin/Brimhall Jr. High School, Mesa - Saturday, November 3, 2018 - Doors Open 6:00 PM, Show begins at 6:15 PM

"Failure is the opportunity to begin again, more intelligently."
-- Henry Ford, Founder of the Ford Motor Company

Please see your instructor for a bio form. This must be filled out and emailed to your instructor no later than the Wednesday before Graduation. Only the bio form from the instructor can be used.

The below names are in no particular order and not in any order of score.

*** Some results are still being processed!

1st Grade Black Belt:
Abhinav Chede
Andi Swirbul
Arthur Strutzenberg
Charles Roth
David Rounds
Dylan Phillips
Dylan Steidley
Gannon Heslin
Joshua St. Clair
Milad Fallah
Nico Collins
Peter Lopez-Hodoyan
Ravi Bushanam
Riley Callahan
Talon Maier
Todd Goit
Tristyn Brown
Westley Caryl

2nd Grade Black Belt:
Caden Moffett
Emily Sanchez
Grantham Smith
Jacobb Leo
Mary Koch
Morgan Rhorer
Nate Crooks
Owen Barkley
Seth Kueltzo

3rd Grade Black Belt:
Cameron Hartman
Gaetano Greco
Nived Ambadipudi
Shekaina Rigrish
Sheri Ashton
Timothy Kobylka
William Robinson

4th Grade Black Belt:
Anthony Barone
Austin Bolstad
Braven Velasco
Chloe Hom
Noelle Hom
Peyton Taylor
Sloane McDaniel
Wyatt Calantog

5th Grade Black Belt:
Adrian Ciotinga
David Francoeur
David Mincks
Devon Olson
Emme Velasco
Ethan Gohn
Logan Scrima
Louis Velasco
Marco Aguinaldo
Sedona Ashton

1st Degree Black Belt:
Anokh Ambadipudi
Braedon Thomas
Ethyn Terhune
Hayley Rhorer
Joshua Leo
Julian Sanchez
Katie Yokoyama
Matthew Layne
Ben Kuzmich (2nd Level)
Cassie Scrima (2nd Level)
Jenna Brilon (2nd Level)
Sarah Collins (2nd Level)
Vincent Trocchio (2nd Level)
Christopher Manuel (2nd Level)
Kira McDavid (3rd Jr. Level)
Luke Brewington (3rd Jr. Level)

2nd Degree Black Belt:
Andrea Van Duyne
Emma Fredrickson
Jake Tangeman
Marco Bergsagel
Nicole Hart
Mason Faust
Zak Hori
Greg McDavid (2nd Level)
Skylar McDavid (2nd Level)
Josh Culbreath (3rd Level)

3rd Degree Black Belt:
Stephen Stewart
Max Waaler
Mike Haywood (2nd Level)
Jordon DePalma (3rd Level)