12 Month Chodan Test Preparation Checklist

You should know at least one year out if you are a potential candidate to test for your 1^st degree Blackbelt at the next year’s TKA World Conference, i.e., be at least a Green II and have discussed your training progression with your instructor.  This checklist is a guide for you to use as a starting point in tailoring your preparation schedule. 

1. Nov – Dec (at the latest): ask for a private meeting with your head instructor and your parents to discuss:
   1. If you should test for Chodan the next year
   2. Any schedule constraints (vacations, school events, etc.)
   3. A planned schedule of when you will take any remaining Gup tests
   4. Discuss any weak areas you had on previous tests.  [Remember the requirements listed in the Student Learning Guide are the minimum requirements.  The Examining Board may ask to see any requirement from any of the Gup tests.]
   5. Your head instructor may assign on assistant instructor to act as your personal coach and mentor
       
2. Dec (1^st weekend): attend TKA World Conference to observe Chodan testing
   
    
3. Dec – Jan: Review Journal for consistency of recording entries.  If class meets twice a week, you should have approximately 100 entries per year .
   1. Complete Section F, Student Activities, of the Student Learning Guide multiple copies are required to be turned in prior to testing.
   2. Memorize the names of blocks in Korean (Green Belt Requirement).
   3. Memorize the SELF DEFENSE CREED [Student Learning Guide, page C-3] (Orange Belt Requirement)
   4. Set-up a schedule to read and study the entire Student Learning Guide.  You will be interviewed by the Executive Council during the test.  The answers to most questions are in the book!
      
       
4. Jan: Set up a physical conditioning schedule and stick to it!  The first thing you will be tested on is Kicks.  You will perform close to 500 kicks or kick combinations.  This is exhausting if you are not prepared.
   
    
5. Jan – Apr:  Stick with your schedules.  Review progress at least monthly with your instructor.
   
    
6. ****30 April****: Nominations to test and any required paperwork are due to Grand Master Thompson
   
    
7. May: Get with Grand Master Thompson to find out who from other schools is planning to test for Chodan.  Get together and work together.  You may want to plan on working together at least once a month on the weekend.  [Maybe one month meet in San Angelo and the next in San Antonio]
   
    
8. May: Participate in Grand Master Thompson’s “Battle of the Alamo” tournament.
   
    
9. July: Participate in Master Troncoso’s tournament
   
    
10. August: Demonstrate free form and 20 required one steps for your instructor.
    
     
11. Sep - Oct:  Have a mini-test for your head instructor.  Get last minute corrections.
    
     
12. Oct –Nov: Continue to practice and polish
    
     
13. 1 Nov: Inspect and replace (if necessary) uniforms, sparring gear, and weapons
    
     
14. Late Oct - Early Nov: Receive letter from Grand Master Thompson confirming that you are testing.  Also:
    1. Essay Question(s)
    2. Assigned Board Breaks.  [Remember the paper giving the assigned breaks, gives the order and pattern to follow.  The pattern is not normally a circle.]
    3. Newsletter Article [You know that you have to write one and the topic is normally your choice, so get this out of the way earlier in the year if you can]

15. Remaining Time:
    1. Practice Board Breaks.  Remember, Examining board members are evaluating how you set up your holders as well as the number of boards you break.  You are expected to be able to teach breaking the day after your promotion.  [My personal recommendation is no breaking or sparring in the last two weeks before the test.]
    2. Practice: at this stage you should just be polishing.  Quality is more important than quantity.
       
        
16. Test Day
    1. Arrive at test site No Later Than 30 minutes before test start
    2. Turn-in required paperwork with specified number of copies to test proctor or designated representative of Executive Council.

                                                             i.      Journal

                                                          ii.      Essay Questions

                                                        iii.      Completed exercises from Section F, Student Activities, of the Student Learning Guide

                                                        iv.      Testing Fees

3. Have the following items:

                                                             i.      Uniform(s): recommend at least two (2); 1 heavy weight/heavy starch for techniques & hyungs [makes it easier to have “pop” in your techniques] and one spare [maybe lighter weight for sparring]

                                                          ii.      Weapon (if used) for free form

                                                        iii.      Sparring Gear [recommend spare mouthpiece]

                                                        iv.      Food! – you’ll need your energy

                                                           v.      Water!!!

                                                        vi.      Towel

                                                      vii.      First Aid items: band aids, Ace bandages, painkiller, etc.

                                                   viii.      Camera?

                                                        ix.      Any gifts for your instructors, etc.

4. If you have any limiting factors (handicaps, injuries, medical conditions (asthma, diabetes….), etc. let the Examining Board know at the beginning of the test.  There is nothing to be ashamed of, all board members should know, not just your instructor, because you don’t know who will be grading you when the limiting factor comes into play.
5. RELAX: it is supposed to be and will be rough.  The test is designed to be one of the hardest things you will ever do.  However, everybody grading you has survived a similar experience and wants you to succeed.  You will look back on this day fondly.