Archive for the ‘UTKM Testing’ Category

UTKM Belt Testing: Adult Requirements

Posted: January 11, 2018 by urbantacticskravmaga in UTKM Testing
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First of, if you haven’t read our post on our belts, in general, please see the page UTKM Belts – Our Story & Process.

First off, in order to test for any specific belt level, you must meet the MINIMUM requirements. Remember, these are MINIMUMS and do not entitle you to test even if you have met them. Please do not ask your instructor to test, you will be asked when your instructor has deemed you ready. It doesn’t matter if you think you are ready, if the instructor does not think you are ready, you are not ready. In addition, there are various factors to consider when inviting students to test. Please do not take it personally.

UTKM Adult Belt Rankings (Age 16 +)

Yellow Belt
  • Complete a minimum of 70 hours at white belt, warrior and defence classes and be approved by your regular instructor
  • Have shown competency in, and  can safely spare with contact
  • Completed a group 2 hour yellow belt pre-test Seminar (All persons with 50 or more hours at white belt may take these pre-testing Sessions)
  • Should Have volunteered or witnessed a yellow belt test previously
  • Attend classes a minimum of once a week 6 weeks prior to testing
  • Are physically and mentally ready for the test as determined by your instructor
Orange Belt
  • Complete a minimum of 70 hours as a yellow belt with at least 50% of classes attended in the colour belt (Yellow & Orange) Belt classes and be approved by your regular instructor.
  • Have volunteered or witnessed an Orange or Green Belt test
  • Completed a pre-test assessment
  • Attend classes a minimum of once a week 6 weeks prior to testing
  • Have shown competency in the yellow belt curriculum
  • Are physically and mentally ready for the test as determined by your instructor
  • Are prepared for the written test, including multiple choice, true and false, and short answer. All information can be found at www.utkmblog.com or by asking your instructors.
Green Belt
  • Complete a minimum of 140 hours as an orange belt with a minimum of 50% of classes attended in the colour belt (Yellow & Orange) Belt classes and be approved by your regular instructor
  • Have volunteered or witnessed an Orange or Green Belt test
  • Completed a pre-test assesment
  • Have shown competency in the Orange belt curriculum
  • Attend a minimum of once a week 6 weeks prior to the test date
  • Are physically and mentally ready for the test. This includes being prepared for the “Bar Or” test including a 2 km run.
  • Are prepared for the written test which is a more comprehensive test and may include multiple choice, true and false, and short answer. All information can be found at www.utkmblog.com or by asking your instructors.
  • Have received your PAL (Canadian Firearms lesson) or for non-residents have completed a minimum 8 hours of firearms safety classes. If your province, state or country has an equivalent that is legally required then this will be required prior to advancement.
Blue Belt
  • Complete a minimum of 210 hours as a Green Belt with a minimum of 25% of classes attended in the colour belt (Yellow & Orange) Belt classes and a minimum of 25% of classes attended in the advanced green belt + Classes and be approved by your regular instructor.
  • Volunteered a total of 8 times for Test Helper
  • Attend a minimum of once a week 6 weeks prior to the test date
  • Are physically and mentally ready for the test as determined by your instructor
  • Have completed all level 01 Firearms courses on all 3 platforms, pistol, shotgun rifle, either as independent courses or in the scope of your advanced training.
  • Be competent on the subjects of Krav Maga History and organizations.
  • Be competent on the subjects of firearms safety and firearms general knowledge.
  • Shown competency on the Green Belt Curriculum
Brown Belt
  • Complete a minimum of 280 hours as a Blue Belt with a minimum of 25% of classes attended in the colour belt (Yellow & Orange) Belt classes and a minimum of 25% of classes attended in the advanced green belt + Classes and be approved by your regular instructor.
  • Volunteered a total of 10 times for Test Helper
  • Attend a minimum of once a week 6 weeks prior to the test date. Including any additional prep requested by your instructor.
  • Are physically and mentally ready for the test as determined by your instructor
  • Have completed all level 02 live fire Firearms courses on all 3 platforms, pistol, shotgun rifle, either as independent courses or in the scope of your advanced training. and prove that you have done an additional 16 hours or more on live fire training either through UTKM or other approved training organization.
  • Be competent on the subject of Police application of Krav Maga
  • Shown competency on the Blue Belt Curriculum.
Black Belt
  • Complete a minimum of 400 hours as a Brown Belt with continued regular practice at all levels of Krav Maga classes, beginner, novice and advanced. Classes and be approved by your regular instructor.
  • Attend a minimum of once a week 6 weeks prior to the test date. Including any additional prep requested by your instructor.
  • Are physically and mentally ready for the test as determined by your instructor
  • Shown competency on the Brown Belt Curriculum
  • Be competent on the subject of Military application of Krav Maga
  • Show competency on All prior belt material to such a degree that is capable of teaching it regardless of having completed a UTKM Instructor course
  • Have acheived a Blue Belt in BJJ or show an acceptable grappeling equivalent. Can be from UTKM or any other recognized school.

* The information on this page takes precedence over any other belt requirements at all times. This page is subject to change as determined by UTKM HQ. Remember, all requirements are MINIMUMS and your instructor may ask more of you prior to being asked to test.

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UTKM Belts – Our Story & Process

Posted: August 29, 2017 by urbantacticskravmaga in UTKM Testing
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What is a Belt? A belt is a milestone in progress with regards to martial arts. I couldn’t tell you why belts became common practice for ranking in martial arts I am sure someone out there could tell you. But I can tell you that Belts or more specifically the Judo Belt system was chosen early on in Krav Maga to recognize progression. Later a patch system was added in approximately 1996 when one of the first major offshoots of Krav Maga, IKMF was formed. They opted to go with the now famous patch system. Practitioner 1-5, Graduate 1-5, Expert 1-5 and Master levels.

UTKM Ranking System

So when forming a Krav Maga school with no direct parent organization there is always 2 choices, the Belt system or the Patch system. We opted for the belt system for the following reasons:

  1. Belts are more recognizable globally in the martial arts world and are easier for people to comprehend with out detailed explanation.
  2. It was the original choice and we stuck with the lineage of Imi’s decision
  3. We felt that the patch system is gimmicky and has far too many levels which in our opinion is a cash cow scheme. It was probably created to relate more to the target market of Police and Military rather than the General populous.
  4. Belts are harder to lose and easier to pass down.
Our belts have now evolved into what you see below:
IMG_20170818_130506

UTKM Branded Belts

In choosing the final design we thought about Krav Maga, and how it is designed to be practical. Thus, we wanted the belts to have more purpose than simply an indication of ranking and a symbol of UTKM. Just like our students, wanted them to be something more. The following are some possible uses for the belt (Assuming you keep it with you or even wear it outside of class).

  1. A weapon of opportunity – Because of the hard metal D-rings, the belt can be easily taken off and wielded as a weapon against would be attackers.
  2. An Emergency Rescue tool – Because the belt is made of strong webbing it could be used to pull someone or hold something in an emergency situation
  3. A tourniquet – In a true emergency it can easily be used to stop bleeding assuming, of course, you are familiar with first aid practices

This is just a short list, as the only limit is the imagination, however, like Krav Maga our belts are meant to be practical and adaptable for the given situation and of course looks stylish in the process with UTKM Branding. Who knows, perhaps out belts will literally save someone’s life some day.

Lastly, something we do at UTKM is passing down our belts. This is a tradition we adopted from the IDF, where Sargents and Officers at various points in progress will pass down their Baret or Pins to the soldiers who they feel are most deserving.

Every time a person gets a belt they write their name in a perminent marker on the back, then when they achieve the next belt level they give their belt back to the school. When the test comes for the appropriate colour if we have any lineage belts we will give them to the students who we feel for whatever reason exemplified things we want to see in our students. They then write their name on the belt and it continues the cycle until the belt has 5 signatures/names. At this point, the belt is retired and hung up for all to see on the wall of belts. Something which we have yet to create but when our first belt hits 5 signatures we will build with Joy.

So assuming there is a lineage belt to give away at the conclusion of a test here are some of the things we look for when handing out these belts.

  1. Courage & Strength – There have been cases where students have had to over come whether mentally or physicaly to pass their test. Some students in the past have injured themselves but faught through to complete the test, or were injured prior to testing but as the injury was not severe enough to re-schedule they pushed through
  2. Spirit & Attitude – Through their training they have always been in class and never have exucses no matter what is going on in their life. Or they have gone out of their way to promote the school and what it represents.

So do you have what it takes to achieve a UTKM milestone and get a belt from us, or even better prove to us you have what it takes to receive a lineage belt? There’s only one way to find out.

So ask yourself, Can you be turned from a lamb into a lion?