JOURNEY TO A BLACK BELT: PART THREE – INTERMEDIATE PHASE (PURPLE, BLUE, GREEN BELTS)
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”
In the intermediate ranks of Premier Martial Arts, the evolution of a martial artist and their techniques begins. Instructors have already built the foundation of trust and respect and therefore can become more demanding of the progress of the student’s techniques. A truly professional martial arts instructor knows that it is their obligation to discover what their student’s limits are and to safely expand those limits to overcome both physical and mental barriers in and out of the martial arts studio.
By the time a student enters their green belt ranking they should start understanding the system taught to them and how to best use the tools given within their strengths and weaknesses. Some people are aggressive, some are passive, while some are tall, others are short, some may have physical limitations and others may be natural athletes. Regardless of who a student is, they will no doubt experience many challenges in this phase that prepares them with the perseverance to keep going and overcome challenges in life. They will also begin to see the mental and emotional benefits of training for an extended period of time. This is preparing them for the final phases before the black belt, the advanced ranks.
In order to pass out of the intermediate ranks and into the advanced ranks, students MUST expanded and continue perfecting the requirements in the beginning ranks and be able to meet the following additional requirements.
Mental Requirements
- Perseverance by never giving up when the techniques and physical training become more difficult and when a higher level of achievement is asked of them.
- Self Discipline by not just doing what is asked of them, but having the ability to self recognize what is needed for their training, what should be done, and what is the right thing to do, and doing them!
Physical Requirements
- Understand and physical application of the required curriculum in the intermediate phase of training.
- Developed increased stamina in training and techniques.
- Developed increased mental and physical toughness in the application of their training.
- Begin sparring training.
- Developed good fundamentals of the weapons curriculum. Meaning the basic spins and strikes of the bo staff, nunchucku, and kali stick for youth students and basic defenses from the gun, knife and stick threats and attacks for adult students.
If you are interested in Premier Martial Arts training for you or your family, check out our convenient nationwide locations.