DePalma's Team USA Martial Arts
Black Belt Exam
Black Belt Exam
Dear Black Belts and Black/Red Belts,
Great March 2019 exam full of energy. We started at 8:00 am with our run and finished in recored time at 12:30 am. :-) The exam process started with 96 on the sparring portion. Come to exam day we had 78 take take the full day. In my eyes no one failed, some just weren't ready yet, but no one is a failure!
Don't forget about our next “BBE @ Sea” scheduled for 7 March 2020
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. Remember what I talked about at the begining of the exam. Don't just reach black belt, visit it!
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 September 21, 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: Universal 5
- Past kata: 2 of them, your choice
- 1st Degree and Up Kata: Universal 5 and Strike Set
- Self-Defense: IB & AA
- Written Exam will be on Ed Parker's “Book 1” This is an open book exam on chapters 1 - 5. Book is available in our Pro-Shops.
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 – April 30, 2019
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
All Schools:
Wednesday, September 4, 2019 - 7:30 PM (location South Gilbert School NEC Lindsay/Pecos)
*** Alternate Exam Options; September 28, 2019 in Ankeny, Iowa. If you are interested please talk with your instructor or Kyoshi.
Run – All schools September 21, 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 4/13/2019 and 9/21/2019 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 – September 14, 2019 - at the Inter School Tournament. The black belt sparring exam IS part of the tournament and there is a fee to fight or spectate.
Basics – September 21, 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 – September 21, 2019 - After a lunch break @ South Gilbert School
Self-Defense – September 21, 2019 - after 15 min. break from kata @ South Gilbert School
Graduation – Friday October 4, 2019, PM – TBA – Graduation must be attended to receive a new belt.
Exam Fee is due the week of Pre-exam. To help things move along for pre-exams please sign-in and pay at your school before your scheduled date. Fee is $25.00 cash and must be paid to your Instructor. Re-Test Pre-Exam will have an additional $50.00 charge. September 18, 2019 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 April 13, 2019 & September 21, 2019
Students Who Passed BBE March 2019
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 Gilbert High School, 5:30 PM for an all school rehearsal.
Black Belt Graduation: Gilbert High School, Gilbert - Saturday, April 13, 2019 - Doors Open 5:45 PM, Show begins at 6:00 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 alphabetical order and not in any order of score.
