You have reached the point in your training where you are being considered to test for your next rank. Even with Martial Arts being a common practice in our environment, being considered for the rank of black belt is a fantastic testimony to your hard work and dedication.

The Uechiryu Butokukai Black Belt Testing is a six-step process that spans for nine months beginning in January:

• BLACK BELT TESTING CROSS TRAINING: From January to May, select dojos in the association open their classes to all the candidates. While all the candidates are required to make a minimum of ten “off-site” classes, candidates who participate in as many as feasible find the experience very rewarding. REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

• BLACK BELT TESTING PREVIEW on January 20th at the Atkinson dojo. This is for all candidates Sandan/Level Three and below. During the review candidates will be performing in front of a panel of senior judges. In the days following the preview and the review, all the candidates will receive detailed feedback from the judges.

• BLACK BELT TESTING FEE AND REGISTRATION: This covers everything needed for the nine months of the candidates’ progress to the Graduation in September. This is required for all candidates by February 25th, 2024 (see below).

• BLACK BELT TESTING REVIEW on March 23rd at the DoubleTree in Manchester. This is where the candidates get to demonstrate their IMPROVED skill levels. With the intense training from both their home dojo and the many available opportunities at the select dojos across the Association, combined with the feedback from the preview - the candidates demonstrate how far they have come. For those who need a little extra work, a BLACK BELT TESTING POST-REVIEW is scheduled for June 1st.

• BLACK BELT PROVISIONAL STATUS Black Belt Testing Provisional Status, which is the final phase between the REVIEW and the GRADUATION. Traditionally, the title is “HO” (i.e. Shodan-Ho, Nidan-Ho), where the candidates demonstrate that they will continue the lifestyle of the rank that they have worked up to.

• BLACK BELT GRADUATION CEREMONY on September 14th, 2024 at the Double-Tree. This is where they receive their belts and diplomas. This is held in conjunction with the 2024 UECHI CONVENTION. All graduates are automatically registered for the afternoon training sessions.

Please look at the links below for more details.

During these nine months the expectation of all candidates in performance, attitude and commitment will be especially high. Please look through everything below and ask any and all questions that you may have!

Ultimately, your eligibility for testing will be based upon your time of practice and your performance level. Please refer to the below links to help get you ready for this “next step” as a black belt.

Lastly, for informational and communication purposes, we are asking all potential candidates to fill out the below registration form.

As always, please feel free to TEXT or EMAIL ME with any questions.

Sincerely,

Marcus Traynor | Director – Uechiryu Butokukai