Tae Kwon Do Simsa

 

Testing (Simsa) for higher ranks/belts is an important part of Tae Kwon Do. When students are promoted to a higher belt, they receive tangible recognition for their hard work in class, completion of promotion requirements, and satisfactory performance of all required patterns and techniques during the testing. Belt promotions give students a great feeling of pride and accomplishment and build their confidence and self esteem.

After students have been training for a few months, their instructor may invite them to test for the first color belt, if the instructor thinks the students are ready. Students should not ask to test. When the Master Instructor or Chief Instructor of the school feels the student is ready to test then they will be asked. All too often students feel just because they have time in they are ready to test. Some may heave the “Bruce Lee” syndrome where they feel they have perfected techniques and are more than ready to test. However, attitude plays a key role as to when a student is ready to test. Students must not just possess the physical ability but also the maturity to handle a higher rank. During the testing, students must demonstrate their knowledge of Tae Kwon Do and their ability to perform the techniques and patterns required for the belt for which they are testing. They also will be given a verbal test. This test is on historical figures and facts of Korea and the Art of Tae Kwon Do.

In the beginning stages of their training, most students find that their belt tests are scheduled closer together and are shorter in length. This keeps up their interest in Tae Kwon Do until a pure love of the art itself takes over and maintains their interest for a lifetime. As students move further along in the belt ranking system and their knowledge and skills increases, their exams will be further apart and will take longer to complete. This is because the skills are more difficult and require more time to learn and more time to perform correctly in a test.

All tests are held in complete safety under the personal guidance and direction of the Master Instructor and numerous assistants. In most promotion tests, a panel of senior Black Belts will judge and score each student's performance.

Double promotions are allowed only in the Grade (Gup) Level. Under no circumstances can a student double promote in the Black Belt level.

 

 Purpose of Testing:

Motivation

Examinations (Simsas) motivate students to train harder than if there were no tests. Tae Kwon Do exams provide extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. The reward of receiving a higher rank belt at the end of a test provides extrinsic motivation. The belt ranking system provides goals for students, giving them a purpose to continue training. Peer pressure causes a student to want to keep up with the promotions of their peers. It also causes them to try to do better than their peers. Due to the drive to succeed and face new challenges, the mere presence of a test motivates students to keep training and trying to prove and improve themselves. This is the intrinsic motivation.

Measure Progress

Examinations are a way to measure the student’s progress. The belt system indicates progress and, since belts are earned-not given away-the exam serves as an indicator of the students progress in Tae Kwon Do. 

Analysis and Feedback

Testing helps the Examiner and the instructor to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of students. Feedback is a useful part of a student's learning process. The more detailed the feedback, the more useful it will be. 

Testing provides the instructor feedback as to the standards of the school as a whole as well as on individual students. It lets the instructor gauge the effectiveness of his or her teaching and their teaching methods.

The physical exam allows the Examiner to see how instructors are doing, whether standards are uniform, and which areas need more attention. For example, testing may highlight weaknesses in a particular technique taught by instructors of the school or in a specific area of the curriculum.

However, students test for promotion. For them, tests are not for receiving feedback on problems rather on receiving their next rank and approval from their peers.

Certification

Certification is formal recognition by the School or authorized national or international body that a student has attained a certain level of knowledge and competence. Anyone may buy a Black Belt, but an authorized belt certificate from a national organization if difficult to attain. They are earned by successfully completing the physical exam. The certification is prized for a lifetime as proof of belt status even when the skills have faded. 

Standards

Standards for Exams within a given school or national organizations are what separate many Tae Kwon Do organizations and other Martial Arts. Standards are updated within organizations to maintain a high level of knowledge and skill. High standards must be maintained for School’s and national organizations to receive respect form other Martial Arts Instructors and Organizations. The physical exam from white belt to 8^th Dan help set and maintain these standards.

Selection

Where demand exceeds supply, selection is required to determine who gets the resources. There is no limit on the number of Black Belts that may be awarded, however, too may blacks belts dilute the status of the back belt. Strict requirements on rank leading up to Black Belt, as well as for the Black Belt itself, help ensure that only the most deserving students receive a Black Belt.

Fee

A fee is charged for the testing, which covers facility costs, instructor's time, a new belt, a certificate of promotion, etc. The fee is usually waived for the next testing if you are not advanced.

 

 

Requirements for Belt Tests

To be eligible participate in a testing, students must have a minimum time in their present rank, minimum number of class training hours, minimum age, and their Master Instructor recommendation. To be promoted, students must adequately demonstrate all of the following: a combination of specific techniques, specific pattern or patterns, set of step-sparring techniques, board breaking, and free-sparring skills. Promotion requirements vary depending on the school, the belt level, and the organization to which the school is affiliated. 

What is Being Tested?

During a test, Black Belt judges look at the way students perform their basic and more advanced techniques of Tae Kwon Do as well as the required test material. Examiners grade each student's performance on the basis of correctness, power, timing, control, and enthusiasm. Examiners look for the students’ confidence to increase with each Simsa. The Master Instructor closely monitors ones attitude not only during the Simsa but also in class as well. One area that is often overlooked during a Simsa is Humility. The Master Instructor and Examiners will not promote a “hot shot” that does not show Humility. The Samurai were very proud and brave yet they were very humble. Humility therefore is also being graded during a Simsa.

One’s knowledge of Tae Kwon Do is also evaluated during the verbal exam.

 

1^st Gups taking their verbal exam for I Dan before the Board of Examiners

 

What do you get when you pass your Simsa

If you pass the promotion testing, you will receive a certificate of promotion from either your instructor or the organization with which your instructor is affiliated. You will also receive your new belt. A certificate of excellence is given to the student who excels at his/her Simsa.

Black Belts will receive their new rank Black Belts and Uniforms upon successfully completing their exam.

They will receive their Black Belt Certificate 6 months after the physical exam.

Ceremony

Immediately following the conclusion of the Simsa the Master Instructor will formally present you with your new belt and certificate of promotion.

 

From the TKD Tudor

From My Tae Kwon Do-Master David D. Drysdale Sr. VII Dan

 

Edited by Master David D. Drysdale Sr. VII Dan

Mrs. Joan M. Drysdale VI Dan