Black Belt Test Results

Fourteen students have tested and earned new black belt ranks!

Black belt is a prestigious rank, one recognized around the world. In the American Eagle Style, there are ten degrees (Dan) of black belt. Only one person may hold the rank of 10th Dan, the head of the school who determines its direction and certifies its instructors. For the American Martial Arts Institute, this is Grandmaster Crandall. In addition, there are 8 gyups (belt ranks) that must first be earned. All students begin as white belts and test for each rank, maturing in the style through its traditional process.

Essential for all students who test for the black belt ranks is a demonstration of school involvement, a proper martial arts attitude, self-motivation, and accountability. This includes participating in seminars, school competitions, weapon's classes, cleaning days, ceremonial luncheons, and other events held by the school designed to help students grow as traditional martial artists. These events are held specifically as part of their training. They must also have attended multiple classes each week in the months prior to testing, including being observed by all five Master Instructors. They must be directly accountable to their instructor reporting on their attendance, participation, and other factors.

Black belt candidates should have read in their entirety and be familiar with the American Eagle Style Textbook, the American Martial Arts Institute American Eagle Style Superkick Workbook, Be Safe Physically and Mentally with the Crandall System, and Leadership Piece by Piece. In addition, they must write a 500-650 page paper, which must be accepted by Grandmaster Crandall and all five Master Instructors. These are all pre-qualifications before the student's instructor can even consider them to test. They must also have a minimum of 6 months as a first rank brown belt, but this is a minimum and it can often take much longer.

On Friday, March 9 and Saturday, March 10, 2018 fourteen candidates tested for new black belt ranks. Four students tested on March 9 for Junior Rank Black Belt, with the testing lasting 4 1/2 hours; whereas, on March 10 four students tested for 1st Degree Black Belt (adult status), four tested for 3rd Degree Black Belt, and two tested for 4th Degree Black Belt, with the testing lasting 8 1/2 hours without break. The panels were comprised of the Master Instructors, the titled instructors and several additional fifth and sixth degree instructors.

Junior Rank Black Belts are under the age of 18 and expected to complete the same requirements as the adults with the exception of the kata Old Koryo, weapons forms, board breaking, and sparring adults.

First Degree Black Belt candidates have already been a student for a minimum of 5 1/2 years prior to testing, with many having trained for 6, 7, or 8 years. The exam began with a written exam about the style, the school and more. All levels of black belt include written exams, with the 3rd and 4th degree candidates completing more conceptual and essay based questions.

Following the written exams some of the physical skills and knowledge of the students were tested. The first degree candidates are required to know 13 traditional katas, including Chulgi 1, Eye of the Eagle, the Palgwes, and others. Other areas included punches, kicks, stances, 36 basic forms, advanced techniques, floor exercises, takedowns, self-defense, defenses against guns and knives, sparring individual and multiple opponents, bag work, flying side kick on a hanging bag, and other areas. In addition the adult rank candidates demonstrated board breaking, weapons forms, sparring multiple partners over 18 years of age, demonstrated the kata Old Koryo, and completed other requirements.

The American Martial Arts Institute is a traditional school. In part, this means that the style's knowledge, techniques, etiquette, philosophy, and processes are maintained consistently from generation-to-generation. The rank of first degree is graded out of a score of 100 possible points, with a minimum of 80 points needed to pass. Second degree candidates also need to know five additional black belt katas including Chugli 2, Heian 1, New Koryo, Chip su, and Geum Gang. They needed to know two weapon's forms . Third degree candidates need to demonstrate Chip Jang, American Eagle, Taebaek, Bassai Dai, Chulgi 3, and Heian 2. The fourth degree candidates needed to know a total of 30 katas including Long Hand, Continuity 2, Pyongwon, and many others. This exam also included seated self-defense, advanced techniques, seiza waza, come-along to control techniques, and many other areas.

This is only a small part of what goes into earning a black belt in the Amerian Eagle Style.

Grandmaster Crandall is pleased to announce that the following American Eagle Style students have passed their black belt examination:

1st Degree Black Belt, Junior Rank Status Peyton DeAngelo, Edis Bubalo, Caitlin Mazzotta, and Adriana LaBuz