As a student comes in as a novice, that is the most crucial time in their training. Within those  first few weeks, they will find out if they have what it takes within themselves to be a martial artist.  Martial arts is not for everyone; just as no one thing is for everyone.  As an instructor, it is my responsibility to guide students and to help them develop their strengths and to overcome their weaknesses – physical or mental.  The best time for me to identify those characteristics is at the beginning of their training. Through observation, I can help them determine the type of training path  which fits them best. If I am unable to help direct the new student or if they leave before they understand all of the roads they have the option of following, then we all lose – the student, the training hall, and myself.

It is no surprise to me that after wearing my blackbelt for years, it began to turn white again with wear. In my case, my original instructor in Korea had my white belt covered with black material which he later presented to me as my blackbelt. After years of consistent use, my white belt re-emerged through the black covering – thus completing the full circle. We should  all strive to be white belts in our hearts – keeping an open-mind, and always growing as a martial artist.

-Master John Dowdy

I recently promoted two more hapkido students to 1st degree black belt. This makes a total of 68 first degree blackbelts (33 females and 35 males) whom I have certified. Both of these students were intelligent young men with about a year age difference between them. The younger student came to me with a black belt in a mixed style of Tae Kwon Do and the older student came with no previous martial arts experience.

The asset that they both brought to the training hall was desire and attitude.

This test ran smoothly because both young men were fully prepared and had the desire and attitude to fulfill all of the requirements. For the black belt in Tiger Shark Hapkido, there are many parts to a black belt test including katas/ forms, kicks, strikes, techniques, notebook, essay, sparring, and a question and answer period with over 100 questions. You must also be able to express yourself to others in the teaching mode clearly and in a professional manner.

Through diligence, desire, and consistent attitude, students slowly evolve throughout the training journey as black belts. These blackbelt characteristics and skills will carry over and enrich other areas of their lives as well.

Know Name Of The Art:  Tiger Shark Hapkido

Bow                                               Wrist Breakaways

Kick Form                                       Inside

Block form                                     outside

Ready Stance

Crane Stance

Strikes Kicks Techniques

Jab                                   Stretch                      Front Choke

Punch                            Front Snap             Full Nelson

Sweep                          Shoulder Grab

Inner crescent    Head Lock

Name 2 Rules Of The School

Personal And School Hygiene

School Etiquette

Attendance

White Belt With Double Yellow Stripe

Horse Stance               Strikes Kicks

Cat Stance                    Ridge Hand              Thrust Kick

Falling Techniques   Knife Hand              Outer Crescent

Back Fist

Techniques

Foundation #1             Two Hands Grab Front Wrist #1 – 2

Inside Wrist #1 – 2      Collar or Hair Behind The Back

Outside Wrist #1        Hair Grab Front

Bear Hug                         Both Elbows Front

Name 4 Rules Of The School

Personal And School Hygiene

School Etiquette

Attendance

Know All Rules and Requirements Prior to Your Level

Yellow Belt

Strikes Kicks

Spear Hand                               Roundhouse

Snake Hand                               Side

Wing Block                               Inverted Heel

Hammer Fist

Cross

Uppercut

Tigers Mouth

Single Claw

Techniques

Foundations #2 – 3           One-Step Sparring #1

Outside Wrist #2                Clothing #1 – 4

Rear Choke                            Double Lapel

Two-Hand On Wrist Back

Name 5 Rules Of The School

Personal And School Hygiene

School Etiquette

Attendance

Kata—Beginners

Know Rules And Requirements Prior to Your Level

Explanation Of When And Where To Use Your Martial Arts Skills

Yellow Belt With Single Green Stripe

Strikes Kicks

Single Eye Dragon                Axe

Double Eye Dragon               Jump Snap

Dragon’s Head                        Knee Kicks (All 4 Ways)

Palm Strike

Palm Heel

Elbow Strikes (All 4 Ways)

Dragon’s Jaw

Techniques

Outside Wrist #3 – 6                 Inside Wrist #3

Foundation #6 – 7                      Two Hands On One High

Two Hands On One Low           Clothing #5 – 7

One Step Sparring #2—4

Name 8 Rules Of The School

Know The Color And Order Of The Belt Ranking System

Personal And School Hygiene

School Etiquette

Kata—Beginners Continued

Know All Rules And Requirements Prior to Your Level

Sparring {optional}

Yellow Belt With Double Green Stripe

Strikes Kicks

Single Phoenix Eye                Inverted Snap

Double Phoenix Eye              Hatchet

Dragon’s Tooth                      Turn Outer Crescent

Dragon’s Tongue                    Wheel

Tiger Claw                                Hook

Open Fist

Knuckle Rake

Techniques

Foundations #8 – 11                      Outside Wrist #7 – 8

Inside Wrist #4 – 5                          One-Step Sparring #5 – 6

Two On One Behind The Back    Clothing #8 – 9

Straight Kick And Punch Defense With A Kick #1 – 6

Name 10 Rules Of The School

Ability To Perform All Prior Katas And Techniques

Know Rules And Requirements Proir to Your Level

Personal And School Hygiene

Attendance

Kata—Beginners Finish                                         Sparring {optional}

Green Belt

Strikes                                                    Kicks

Crane Beak       Pray Mantis          Spinning Heel

Bear Claw         Tarantula             Drop Spinning Heel

Crane Head       Boar’s Head          Drop Sweep

Eagle Claw       Eye Rake                 Turn Side

Cup Hand            Dragon’s Foot     Mule Kick

Double Crescent

Scissors

Techniques

Foundations #12 – 15

Outside Wrist #9 – 10

Inside Wrist #6 – 7

Clothing #10 – 12

One-Step Sparring #7 – 10

Straight Kick And Punch Defense With Kick #7 – 10

Straight Kick and Punch Defense With Punch #1 – 10

Name 12 Rules Of The School

Ability To Perform All Prior Katas And Techniques

Know All Rules And Requirements To Your Level

Personal And School Hygiene

Attendance                   Know All Basic Fundamental Safety Requirements For All Weapons To Black Belt

Kata—Beginning Of Life                                  Sparring {optional}

Green Belt With Single Blue Stripe

Techniques

Straight Kick And Punch Defense With Foundation #1-15

Hard Blocks #1 – 6

Soft Blocks #1 – 6

Define Tiger Shark Hapkido

Ability To Perform All Prior Katas And Techniques

Know All Rules And Requirement Prior To Your Level

Personal And School Hygiene

Attendance

Know The Motto Of Tiger Shark Hapkido

Kata—Four Corners

Sparring {optional}

Green Belt Double Blue Stripe

Techniques

Outside Wrist Set Two #1 – 10

Two Hand Front #1 – 10

Short Stick #1 – 5

Ability To Perform All Prior Katas And Techniques

Know Rules And Requirements Pertaining To Your Level

Personal And School Hygiene

Attendance

Know The Importance Of Kata

Know The Five Fighting Ranges

Know The Four Dimensions Of Martial Arts

Kata—Short Stick, Little Circle

Sparring {optional}

Blue Belt

Techniques

Two Hand Grab Front #11 – 20

Two Hand Grab Back #1 – 10

Short Stick #6 – 15

Explain Ki

Ability To Perform All Prior Katas And Techniques

Know Rules And Requirements Prior To Your Level

Kata—Rising Moon

Sparring {optional}

Blue Belt With Single Red Stripe

Techniques

Two Hand Grab Back #11 – 20

Advance Clothing #1 – 10

Explain Circle Theory

Ability to Perform All Prior Katas And Techniques

Know All Rules And Requirement Prior To Your Level

Kata—The Wall

Sparring {optional}

Blue Belt With Double Red Stripe

Techniques

Advanced One-Step Sparring #1 – 5

Two Hands On One High #1 – 5

Two Hands On One Low #1 – 5

Two Hands On One Back #1 – 5

Double Kicks Different Leg

Outer Crescent-Inner Crescent    Sweep-Sweep

Outer Crescent-Roundhouse           Snap-Jump Thrust

Inner Crescent-Roundhouse            Side-Turnside

Inner Crescent-Spinning Heel        Wheel-Thrust

Turnside-Roundhouse                          Hook-Thrust

{Note; This Is Just A Small List Of Possible Double Kicks Used}

Explain Air Theory

Ability To Perform All Prior Katas And Techniques

Kata—Kuk Sool                  Kata—Staff, Big Circle          Sparring {optional}

Red Belt

Techniques

Advanced One-Step Sparring #6 – 10

Staff #1 – 10

Chokes #1 – 10

Double Kicks, Same Leg

Inverted Snap-Roundhouse                      Sweep-Side

Roundhouse Low-Roundhouse High         High Side-Low Side

Inner Crescent-Turn Outer Crescent    Hook-Roundhouse

Spinning Heel-Drop Spinning Heel            Thrust-Jump Side

Inner Crescent-Low Side                                Snap-Axe

{Note, This Is Just A Small List Of Possible Double Kicks Used}

Explain Water Theory

Ability To Perform All Prior Katas And Techniques

Know Rule And Requirements Pertaining To Your Level

Kata—Dancing Crane

Kata—Knife, Dragon’s Tooth

Sparring-Grappling {optionial}

Red Belt With Single Black Stripe

Techniques

Advance One-Step Sparring #11 – 20

Knife Offence #1 – 15

Jump Kicks   Inverted Snap             Thrust

Double Snap                Side

Roundhouse                 Hook

Outer Crescent        Axe

Spinning Heel             Turn Outer Crescent

Ability To Perform All Prior Katas And Techniques

Know Rules And Requirements Pertaining To Your Level

Kata—Cane, Extended Claw

Sparring And Grappling {optional}

RED BELT WITH DOUBLE BLACK STRIPE

Techniques

Cane #1 – 15

Pressure Point Healing #1 – 25

Know The Benefits Of Martial Arts

Define What It Means To You To Be A Black Belt In Tiger Shark Hapkido

Ability To Perform All Prior Katas And Techniques

Know Rules And Requirements Pertaining To Your Level

Kata—Staff, Tail Of The Dragon

Sparring-Grappling {optional}

1^ST DEGREE BLACK BELT

Techniques

Pressure Point Strikes #1 – 15

Knife Defense #1 – 15

Explain What Each Move In Your Blue Belt Is For

Ability To Perform All Prior Katas And Techniques

Know Rules And Requirements Pertaining To Your Level

Hand In Copy Of Your Notebook

Write Paper On Your Choice Of Martial Arts Topics

Kata—Dragon In The Sun

Sparring-Grappling {optional with choice of extra work in other areas}

2^nd DEGREE BLACK BELT

Techniques

Sitting#1 – 15                               Hand Grasp #1 – 5

Two Man Defense #1 – 10     Kick Defense #1 – 10

Staff Defense #1 – 10            Double Jump Kicks #1 – 10

Speed Throws #1 – 10             Lying #1 – 15

Sword #1 – 10

Single Hand Move Outside Wrist #1 – 10

Counters For All Techniques Learned In 1^st Degree

Ability To Perform All Prior Katas And Techniques

Teaching Responsibilities

Kata—Close

Kata—Room

Kata—Sword

Kata—Single Fan

Sparring {optional}

3^rd DEGREE BLACK BELT

Techniques

Nunchaku #1 – 10                     Short Stick #1 – 10

Nunchaku Grabs #1 – 15    Jump Kick Defense #1 – 15

Mercy Grabs #1 – 6                Hard Counterattacks #1 – 15

Rope Or Belt #1 – 10             Soft Counterattacks #1 – 15

Pressure Point #1 – 10        Ki {Open Palm} #1 – 10

4^th DEGREE BLACK BELT

Techniques

Elbow Counters #1 – 5                 Circle Strikes #1 – 10

Knee Counters #1 – 5                    Head Butts #1 – 10

Circle Techniques #1 – 15

Double Pressure Point #1 – 15

Ability To Perform All Prior Katas And Techniques

Teaching Responsibilities

Give At Least One Seminar

Have Knowledge To Conduct A Tournament

Kata — Speed

Kata — Ki

Kata — Double Sword

Kata — Double Short Stick

Ability To Perform All Prior Katas And Techniques

Teaching Responsibilities

Kata — Strong {Kenpo Style Karate}

Kata — Soft {Great White Crane Style}

Kata — Sword

Kata — Nunchaku

Ki Demonstration

5^th DEGREE BLACK BELT

Techniques

Staff Against Staff #1 – 10

Crane Head Strikes #1 – 10

Continuous Movement Attacks #1 – 15

Pressure Point Use And Knowledge #1 – 25

Ability To Perform All Prior Katas And Techniques

Teaching Responsibilities

Kata — 60 Day

Kata — Double Fan

Kata — Two Weapon {open}

-Master John Dowdy