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A grading test or skills test is a periodic assessment which tests the results of training and ensures that a student has achieved a certain skill level before moving onto more advanced skills. In addition to a formal test, students are continually assessed during class training for skills, fitness, attitude and effort.
Grading systems using coloured belts to indicate skill and experience levels in martial arts are a relatively new idea which were first introduced into Judo in around 1900, then later adopted by Karate in around 1930, shortly after the arts introduction into Japan from Okinawa. Many other much more recently developed martial arts such as Taekwondo, Kickboxing and Krav Maga also use coloured belt grading systems. Grading systems were first introduced into Thai Boxing when it was first introduced into the UK in the late 1970's. Most of the original Muay Thai instructors that came to the UK from Thailand also had Taekwondo backgrounds.
Some people in the Thai Boxing community say, "They don't have belts in Thailand or the belt's in the ring etc". This is true, but there are many differences between Thai Boxing in Thailand and in the west. In Thailand there are very few people who box for pleasure. It is a means to put food on the table and boxers start very young and live at the camps, training six hours a day, six days a week. Some boxers will have hundreds of professional fights in their careers. In the west we generally have other jobs and may train for a few hours a week for various different reasons. The vast majority of people in the west will never have any competitive fights at any level.
A grading system does have many benefits for all students, irrespective of age and whatever their reasons are for training. If it helps in any way then why not use the system?
* Setting easily identified targets and rewards
* Good for motivation
* Giving a sense of achievement
* Indicating skill and experience levels to instructors and students
* Ensuring that the full syllabus is learnt
* A stepping stone to becoming an instructor
At the BKK Gym we wear different coloured sashes to denote level and our Thai Boxing equivalent of the black belt 1st dan is the level 10 grade, which is symbolised by a black sash with a red tag, and a black and red pra-je-at (armband) can also be worn. With regular training this should be achievable in less than 3 years.
Gradings for student levels 2(white) and 3(yellow) are informal and are conducted by continual assessment over the first 12 weeks or 24 hours training time during normal classes. Coloured sashes for these levels can be borrowed from the gym.
Gradings for student levels 4 to 10 are more formal tests and are conducted six times per year at regular intervals by invitation. Coloured sashes for these levels can be purchaced for £4.00 each.
It is possible for students with sufficient previous relevant training experience to skip some of the early grades.
Grading Syllabus
Our grading syllabus has been carefully structured to ensure that students learn at a sensible speed and that all basic skills and concepts are learnt and understood before progressing onto more advanced techniques. There are no "fitness" tests required for any grading levels, as any deficiencies in this area will be highlighted during the grading tests.
All new students start at this level.
At these levels students should be able to demonstrate all techniques learnt so far with style, balance, co-ordination and control. Good technique is more important than speed and power.
Students should be able to recognise an incoming attack and use an appropriate block, parry and/or evasive technique before it hits the intended target.
New students are taught the following:
* How to make a correct fist, the basic fighting stance, guard and footwork.
* Attacking techniques: 4 punches, 5 kicks and 2 knee strikes.
* Defences to all these attacking techniques.
* Hand wrapping for training.
* Combination techniques on pads.
* Shadow boxing.
* Pre-arranged sparring (one attack, one defence).
* Light contact, controlled, attack only or defend only sparring wearing protective equipment.
At these levels students should be able to demonstrate all techniques learnt so far with style, balance, co-ordination, control, speed and power.
Students should be able to recognise an incoming attack and use an appropriate block, parry and/or evasive technique before it hits the intended target, then reply with an appropriate counter attack.
Students are taught the following:
* Additional footwork skills.
* Attacking techniques: 4 punches, 9 elbow strikes, 4 kicks, 2 knee strikes.
* Defences to all these attacking techniques.
* Clinch techniques (stand up grappling).
* Combination techniques on pads and bags.
* Shadow boxing.
* Pre-arranged sparring (one attack, one defence, one counter attack).
* Light contact, controlled free sparring wearing protective equipment.
* Wai kru/ram muay (short version).
* Elements of Thai language, history and culture relating to Muay Thai.
All the basic attack and defence techniques have now been taught. It's time now to develop these techniques into natural and instinctive movements.
Students should now be able to create openings in the opponent's defence using a feint, dummy or other methods and successfully land an attacking techniques on the newly created target.
Students are taught the following:
* Intermediate attack and defence techniques.
* Intermediate clinch attack and defence techniques.
* Pre-arranged sparring (multiple attack, multiple defence, multiple counter attack)
* Numbers 1 to 15 of the standard mae mai techniques.
* Wai kru/ram muay (full version).
* Elements of Thai language, history and culture relating to Muay Thai.
* At Level 6 students will be permitted to start the Class Assistant training program.
All the intermediate attack and defence techniques have now been taught. It's now time to develop these techniques into natural and instinctive movements.
Students should now be able to anticipate attacking techniques and land a counter attack before the opponent has time to complete the attack.
Students are taught the following:
* Advanced attack and defence techniques.
* Advanced clinch attack and defence techniques.
* Numbers 1 to 15 of the standard look mai techniques.
* Elements of Thai language, history and culture relating to Muay Thai.
* At Level 8 students will be permitted to start the Trainee Instructor training program and will be permitted to instruct upto level 5 under supervision from a qualified instructor.
At this level students should have a thorough knowledge of all aspects of both modern and old style Muay Thai. They should be able to demonstrate a high level of skill, knowledge, fitness, dedication and good character.
Only when a student reaches Level 10 will they be able to qualify as a Trainee Instructor.
At these levels an increasingly thorough knowledge of all aspects of both modern and old style Muay Thai should be demonstrated.
In the not too distant past when a martial arts student achieved their black belt grade they automatically became instructors. Whist the black belt grade is a very commendable achievement and a considerable amount of skill, knowledge and experience has been gained at this level, it should not automatically qualify a student as an instructor.
Basic requirements of an instructor are that they should have a thorough knowledge of all aspects of Thai Boxing and be able to demonstrate complicated and technical techniques, combinations, strategies and tactics with proficiency. They should be able to accurately assess a student's performance and make constructive criticism to assist them to make improvements. They should be able to prepare lesson plans appropriate to the levels of the students being taught and deliver lessons in a confident manner. They should have good interpersonal skills and be able to encourage and motivate students to achieve their goals. All instructors will need to have enhanced CRB disclosure (Criminal Records Bureau) to work with children and vulnerable adults and be First Aid trained.
Student Level 1
Student Levels 2 & 3
Student Levels 4 & 5
Student Levels 6 & 7
Student Levels 8 & 9
Student Level 10
Expert Levels 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15
Instructor Levels
Thai Language, History and Culture Grading Q & A
These are some examples of questions which could be asked at a grading.
1. What is the name of our school, and where does the name come from? A. BKK Gym. BKK is the international airport code for Bangkok Airport, so it means Bangkok Gym.
2. What does Muay Thai mean in English? A. Thai style boxing.
3. How do you say "hello" in Thai? A. Sawatdee Krap (for males), Sawatdee Ka (for females).
4. How do you say "thank you" in Thai? A. Kob Kun Krap (for males), Kob Kun Ka (for females).
5. How do you count from 1 to 10 in Thai? A. neung, song, saam, see, haa, hok, jet, bairt, gaow, sip.
6. What does "wai kru" mean in English? A. Respect to teacher.
7. What does "ram muay" mean in English? A. Boxing dance.
8. What does "chok" mean in English? A. Box. It is the command the referee uses for the fighters to begin boxing.
9. What does "yut" mean in English? A. Stop. It is the command the referee uses for the fighters to stop boxing.
10. What does "yak" mean in English? A. Break. It is the command the referee uses to separate the two fighters.
11. What does "kru" mean in English? A. Teacher.
12. What does "a-jarn" mean in English? A. Master teacher, (professor).
13. What is the name of the armbands worn by Thai boxers? A. Pra-je-at.
14. What is the name of the ceremonial headband worn by Thai boxers? A. Mongkon
15. Who is known as the father of Muay Thai? A. Nai Kanom Tom.
16. What does "nak muay" mean in English? A. Boxer.
17. How many rounds are there in a professional Muay Thai bout? A. 5
18. How do you say "left" (side) in Thai? A. Sai.
19. How do you say "right" (side) in Thai? A. Kwa.
20. What date is the annual Nai Kanom Tom day"? A. 17th March.
21. How do you say "excuse me" in Thai? A. Kor-toad.
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