A “Tip” is a stripe added to a student’s belt that signifies that the student has successfully completed a specific portion of their current curriculum. It is used as a measurement of that student’s progression at their current rank.
A “Promotion” to a new colour of belt signifies a completion of an entire set of curriculum and therefore recognition of a student’s increase in skill levels.

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Tip and Belt Testing

Here at KickFit Martial Arts Schools, our curriculum is broken into segments (10 weeks at white, yellow, orange), (15 weeks at green through adv. purple), & (20 weeks at brown through intermediate red). Each one of these segments is broken into five-week periods.

Red Tip Testing

At the conclusion of each five-week period, each student will review his or her curriculum with the instructor. After displaying knowledge of the curriculum, the instructor will award a red stripe of tape onto the student’s belt. Depending on age, it takes a minimum of one red stripe to become eligible for belt testing for the basic program. Thereafter a minimum of two red stripes will be required for adults through blue belt.

Black Tip Testing

Prior to testing for the next belt rank, each student will be individually pre-tested. If the student successfully pre-tests for the next belt rank, they will be awarded a black stripe of tape. Only those students who have passed the pre-test will be allowed to belt test. Here at KickFit Martial Arts Schools we do not believe in publicly failing a student. That runs contrary to our main goal, which is to enhance our students’ self-esteem and sense of overall success. If a student does not successfully pass their black tip test, they may attempt another black tip test. Students who have successfully passed the black tip test are then given a test date and are encouraged to bring family and friends to view the belt promotion.

½ Red / Black Tip

Occasionally, when a student is not quite ready for a red tip, the instructor will award a ½ tip. A ½ tip is an “almost” tip, which means that generally students won’t have to repeat a 5-week cycle. When an instructor sees a ½ tip it is a red flag that a student needs extra help. Over the next week or two the student will be given extra help until they have the material down, at which point the instructor will replace the ½ tip with a complete one.

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Five Areas of Testing

There are five areas in which students must perform competently in order to be ready for belt promotion:

Knowledge of Curriculum
Spirit and Energy
Attitude and Protocol
Fitness
Basics and Applications

1. Knowledge of Curriculum

Students must know the entire curriculum necessary to progress to the next level. This curriculum is available at the front desk on a curriculum sheet for the student’s particular belt level. Although effort is rewarded more so at beginning belt levels and greater technical proficiency is expected as students attain higher rank, students must still be able to perform all movements in their belt’s curriculum in order to promote.

2. Spirit and Energy

Students are expected to perform their moves with high energy. “Kia’s” and intensity of movement can demonstrate this.

3. Attitude and Protocol

Students should demonstrate a positive and respectful attitude and follow the protocol of the school, such as bowing on and off the mat and remembering their “sirs” and “ma’ams”. (Junior students are also required to get a school teacher’s and parent’s signature on their intent to promote letter showing that their behaviour at home and at school is acceptable.)

4. Fitness

Students are expected to improve their fitness as they progress. This can be demonstrated by doing good push-ups and callisthenics, as by well as by performing the movements required with good endurance (not being completely out of breath at the end of a form, etc.).

5. Basics and Application

Good basics are the foundation of a good Martial Artist; therefore we expect students to perform basics competently at all belt levels. Students should also be able to demonstrate an understanding of the application of the movements they are learning.

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