Seven Karate Students Promoted to New Belt Levels

One year into the “new normal” of practicing karate in living rooms and garages, MAC Karate is proud to announce that its students have continued to grow in their training. Seven karate-ka (practitioners) promoted to new belt levels amid all-virtual classes. Six students promoted to purple belt — the unofficial designation between beginning and intermediate levels, and one to brown belt — the designation for advanced students.

Previously, belt tests were held about every two months; they were crowded events with up to 50 students from Japan Karate Federation Ryobukai NW (JKFNW) regional dojos, along with a number of other karate-ka, friends, and family on hand to cheer on test candidates. As COVID-19 restrictions stretched into 2020, like many other aspects of life, JKFNW experimented with a virtual testing format so that students could continue to grow in their practice and work towards goals — something that helps keep many of us motivated.

The key components of the test remain the same: students must demonstrate a proficiency in their belt level’s kihon (punches, blocks, kicks, stances), kata (choreographed patterns of movements), and kumite (sparring). The kihon and kata sections are essentially unchanged, with smaller Zoom break-out rooms for each belt level to run through drills called out by the black belts who administer the test and score techniques. The kumite skill set is now a shadowboxing format, because karate-ka cannot have any contact even while wearing masks. Students have the option of “sparring” against a heavy bag or other physical target, or they can work against an imaginary opponent. Just the same, the intention is to show both varied and logical combinations of technique, control, and power in executing techniques, and stamina as more advanced students spar for longer periods.

In March, as COVID-19 restriction began to ease, JKFNW offered the option to test in person for the first time in more than a year. Only test candidates and examiners were allowed in the dojo, with assigned times for each skill level to minimize the number of people inside. The flow of the test was also adjusted to accommodate standard masking, spacing, and cleaning protocols, along with a continued ban on sparring between people. Students were given the option of testing in person or remotely via Zoom. Even with the restrictions in place, all students chose to test in person.

The last 12 months have proven to be an especially challenging time to maintain training goals, and these karate-ka are commended for improving their technique and promoting:

Third Kyu (Low Brown)

Carol Pausz

Sixth Kyu (High Purple)

Rubi Foster

Seventh Kyu (Low Purple)

Brady Remick, Todd Foster, Elizabeth Flores, Theo Lydgate

Ninth Kyu (Low Blue)

Don Olivia

For more information about MAC’s Karate program, contact karate@themac.com.