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About Time and Practice In Rank Time in Rank has been with the ISU Martial Arts Club since Grand Master Pak began teaching here and possibly, even before. For TaeKwonDo, it may have been posted on occasion. Hapkido has it posted on the bulletin board and Judo practitioners also have their criteria for time in rank. All of the instructors at Grand Master Pak’s satellite clubs also have their own criteria for time in rank and it may vary slightly from club to club.

In our society where one demands something “now” and means “I wanted it yesterday” and where everything moves so fast, time in rank may be a difficult concept for some people. Time in rank is neither meant to be a “punishment” nor something established to “try” one’s patience. Time in rank is meant for people to “grow” within their rank, to learn more for the next level, to understand the principles of the martial arts one is studying and to demonstrate this growth within the rank to fellow martial artists and to his/her instructor. It is also to demonstrate one’s commitment and dedication– as Grand Master Pak most recently said, “ consistency and continuity” .

What have you learned in your current rank? What are your goals? What have you done to help your fellow martial artists? What have you done to help your club? Have you been coming to practice regularly and really “ training” for your next level? Have you really learned and practiced the tenets: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit? Do you follow the rules of the club? Do you show everybody respect in the dojang? These are just a few questions to ask yourself when preparing for future testings.

Our current sponsor forms for blue and above show the time in rank when it states, “I have trained solidly for ______months......” Of course, there will always be some exceptions to time in rank, and Grand Master Pak and the black belts will look at each case individually.

Which do you want to show everyone what you have acquired? Do you want the black belt/next rank belt (material object)? Or, do you want the physical skills you have acquired with your sweat, blood and tears; the knowledge that comes with learning things over and over, again and again; and the practice of the tenets day in and day out through your consistency and continuity in the martial art you choose to study?

Time and Practice in Rank Advice:
  1. Take calendars and plot out when you plan to test - set goals for yourself. (If it does not work out for a testing at a certain time, that is fine, just make the modifications necessary.)
  2. Let the black belts know of your intentions of testing well in advance of the testing date (recommended 3 - 4 months in advance).
  3. Don’t wait until you’re assigned a sponsor– ask upper rank people to help you at any time.
  4. Keep a record of all your testings. TaeKwonDo practitioners will need this information when you apply for your kukkiwon (which also has their own time in rank).
  5. Keep a record of your seminars, workshops, fundraising help, competitions and demonstrations. 6. Train for your testing. If you are going to be absent from workouts, please advise Grand Master Pak AND your sponsor. If your absences amount to greater than 25% of the practices in the two months prior to the promotion date, consider testing at a later date.
  6. DO test when you've been training regularly and have met the time in rank, DO test when you feel that you are ready to test and have met all of the requirements for your rank (not because someone else is testing or because you simply want to advance to the next level).
  7. Listen to your sponsor. If you have problems with your sponsor, talk to another black belt about it– but remember that getting along with all kinds of people is part of the test.
  8. Practice the tenets BOTH inside and outside of the club at all times.
  9. Read the paper, "What Does a Black Belt Really Mean?" by Reverend Kensho Furuya. 12. If you have any questions about "why" things are done in a certain way within the club, talk with 2 or more of the blackbelts.
Time Requirements
White to Yellow 6 - 8 weeks
Yellow to Orange 6 - 8 weeks
Orange to Green 6 - 8 weeks
Green to Blue (first all Korean testing 3 - 5 months
Blue to Brown (need a sponsor from now on) 4 - 6 months
Brown to Red 4 - 6 months
Red to 1st Rec. Black 6 - 9 months
1st Rec Black to 1st Dan 6 - 9 months
1st Dan to 2nd Dan 24 months
2nd dan to 3rd Dan* 40 months
3rd Dan to 4th Dan 48 months
4th Dan to 5th Dan 60 months
5th Dan to 6th Dan You will be notified by Grand Master Pak

In addition to meeting the objective TIME requirements listed above, you are also required to meet PRACTICE requirements. These include regular attendance, participation in testings, tournaments (refereeing and competing if a black belt), seminars, workshops, demonstrations, etc. As mentioned on the checklist, extra workouts in the form of sparring workouts, forms practices, weekend workouts, nationals training, and any workouts you do at other Pak family clubs are only supplementary. At least 80% of your workout time should be in the ISU dojang under the direction of Grand Master Pak.

* 2nd and above must submit testing application and supporting materials to Master Shilkaitis 2-3 months before testing.