What are tips?

The “Tips” are a system to enhance the experience of our students and ensure that all students are well prepared for advancement to the next belt level starting at the white belt. The “tips”, represent mini-steps between the belt levels, almost like a quiz or a check-up. This helps to ensure that students are learning the requirements for the next belt along the way.

How does it work?

Tips are awarded in six different skill areas: forms, one step sparring, kicking requirements, hand techniques, board breaking (for gold belt and up) and physical fitness (for gold stripe and up). Tips will be awarded to students when the instructor notices an individual level of proficiency. Tips may be earned in any order, but students must wait at least one week after receiving a new belt before they can try for a tip. Students may only earn one tip per week, but may try as many times as they would like if unsuccessful.

Why is it important?

* The student will feel confident that he/she is prepared for the next graduation because they have already presented the required techniques to an instructor.
* They will feel a greater sense of accomplishment because their progress is made more apparent through the “tips.”

The tip system is also a valued tool for the instructors. It is easier for instructors to recognize the students’ needs by simply looking at their belt and seeing what areas still need work for rank advancement.

What does it take to earn a tip?

Students must demonstrate three things to earn a tip:

1. Good Technique (proper execution of movement)
2. Good Snap (combination of speed & power)
3. Good Stance (proper footwork)

Students should not ask to be checked for a tip until they are comfortable with all three parts. Each student will be judged by their own ability and tips are awarded at the instructor’s discretion. Nor should a student be upset if they do not receive a tip after testing for one, rather they should feel progress even if a tip is not earned because feedback will be given to help guide him or her to the instructor’s expectations. The entire sequence must be completed on the same day for board breaking to earn a tip, with 3 tries or less for each target (instructors may require that students complete a target in 1 try or to add more boards).

Other things to consider:

Most areas of student’s curriculum are covered by the tip system, but there are still other requirements that need to be worked on. Terminology and sparring don’t have tips but are important to student learning, progression, and overall martial arts proficiency. Students need to make sure they are comfortable in these areas and may not be able to earn tips if instructors notice deficiency in these non tip areas. Behavior in class, at home and overall respect and responsibility are also factored into whether students are ready for tips. Graduation forms will be given out when students earn their last tip, but minimum class requirements must be met before scheduled graduation. Black Belts must also earn tips before being eligible to graduate to a higher Kup or Dan.

* Red Tip - One Steps
* Blue Tip - Kicking Requirements
* White Tip - Board Breaking - Gold belt and up
* Black Tip - Form
* Green Tip – Hand Techniques
* Yellow Tip – Physical Fitness – Gold stripes and up