Rank Testing: Getting Ready to Show Off Your Skills
The rank test is the means in which you advance at the Academy. It is a test of your knowledge, skill, and over-all conditioning. It is also the time to show off what all of your hard work and dedication has developed.
Your test is broken into two broad areas: the monthly Test and the Rank Test. The monthly Test is a chance for you to get to demonstrate the techniques, drills, and training methods you have worked on for the past several months and have an instructor one-on-one to show you how to do them better. During the monthly Test you will also be given pointers and tips on how you can better prepare for your rank test.
The monthly test is also the time your instructor will see if you are 100% ready to test for a new rank. Not everyone earns enough grade points to rank Test. If your instructor feels you should wait a month to cleanup or learn some of the required techniques or skills, then take advantage of that extra month to improve and work the new things you’ve just learned. If you earn the required grade points you now will have several weeks to work your skills and condition yourself for the Rank Test. The Rank Test is the time to show off your new skills. It is also a test of your overall physical and mental conditioning.
The Rank Test is the time to demonstrate your ability to perform your techniques in a training format; primarily, the Thai Pads. You will be showing your ability to hit the pads AND hold the pads. It is a test of your ability to train the techniques required for your new rank. The Rank Test is also an intense test of your conditioning. You will be stressed, get tired, and know that you definitely earned your next rank.
Getting Ready
1. Know your required techniques. If you don’t know them, ASK. Your instructors are here to teach you what you need and want to know.
2. Know the Thai pad drills, and how to hold the pads for the drills and techniques during the month you are testing for the next rank.
3. Be in condition. You have to train for your Rank Test (it will be tough).
4. Take advantage of open training times. Train on the bags or with a partner. Doing this will improve your skill dramatically.
5. Get private instruction from an instructor of your choice to work on exactly what you need to.
Rules Of The Dojo 2015
Follow Along Now, As We All Learn The Rules Of The Dojo….
Ippon Judo
During Japan’s Tokugawa period (1603-1867), jujitsu schools focused exclusively on training for combat and specialized in particular methods of fighting such as striking, throwing, choking, joint locking, etc… Recognizing a need for a martial art that could be practiced not only for self-defense but also for self-cultivation and the betterment of society, Jigoro Kano established Kodokan judo in 1882 as a modern martial art based on scientific and educational principles. In developing judo, Kano’s aim was to develop a style that promoted physical training, mental training, and ethical training. The two methods of instruction in judo are kata (forms) and randori (free practice), with randori being further sub-divided into tachi-waza randori (free practice involving throwing only) and ne waza randori (free practice involving grappling only).
Tachi-waza randori is a crucial element of judo training and occupies a third of each practice at Team Academy Judo. Through practicing tachi-waza randori, judoka improve functional strength and stamina (physical training), develop strategies for attempting particular throws in particular circumstances along with the timing required to execute throws (mental training), and they cultivate character by employing virtues associated with judo training (ethical training). The ethical aspect of judo is often overlooked, however when judoka are learning to face their fears, when they are patiently taking falls for a partner who is learning a technique, when they tailor their efforts during randori to match their opponent, they are doing more than getting a good workout; they are becoming better persons, which was Kano’s ultimate aim in creating judo.
To incentivize judoka to practice regularly and make continual progress, Kano also introduced shiai (competition). There are several ways to win a match: by throwing, by pinning, or through submitting by choke or armbar. However, the ideal way of winning is by throwing for ippon (full point), which immediately ends the match. It corresponds to a knockout in Thai boxing or a submission in Brazilian jiu jitsu. Scoring ippon means the winner threw with complete control, full force, and threw his opponent squarely on his back. At Team Academy Judo, judoka train with an aim of perfecting technique and developing strategies to score ippons in randori or shiai. In short, the judo we practice is ippon judo.
Team Academy Winter Fight/Competition Results
Another great season of competition brought with it both adversity and triumph. We’re so proud of all our Team Academy competitors that continue to push themselves and grow as martial artists in victory and in defeat! Here is a quick summary of this winter’s results:
Ben Smith taking the title!
MMA Results
RFA 24 (3/6/15)
- Ben “Silver” Smith captured the RFA welterweight title with a TKO from punches
- Dan Moret suffered a defeat by unanimous decision
- Andre Tieva got caught on the receiving end of punches and lost his fight via TKO
- CT Bailey took a loss in a unanimous decision
King of the Cage 17 (2/21/15)
- Nick Compton defeated Brandon Jenkins via unanimous decision
A-Town Throwdown (2/13/15)
Sean Richman, victorious at WWFC
- Jon Ebert submitted his opponent with a triangle choke in the 1st round, winning his amateur debut!
- Anthony Rose lost his bout, tapping to a guillotine choke in the 2nd round
Dakota FC 20 – Winter Brawl (1/24/15)
- Clarence Jordan lost his fight by unanimous decision
- Jason Huntley suffered a close, split decision loss
World War Fighting Championship 17 (1/17/15)
- Sean Richman finished his opponent in the 1st round by TKO
- Nick Compton put up the second “W” of the night for Team Academy, securing a rear naked choke to win his fight in the 1st round
Chaos At Cantebury VI (12/20/14)
Nick Compton with the “W”
- Nate Howe earned a victory from an arm bar submission in the 1st round
- CT Bailey also edged out his opponent with a 1st round arm bar
- Melvin Cruz secured the win by TKO/referee stoppage in the 4th round
- Jason Huntley won out in a unanimous decision
KOTC Industrial Strength (11/22/14)
- Clarence Jordan found himself on the winning side of a unanimous decision
A-Town Throwdown IV (11/15/14)
- Hayden Buckner tapped out his opponent with a guillotine choke early in the 2nd round
- Anthony Rose executed a beautiful knock out after just 14 seconds of the 2nd round
A beautiful TKO by “The Marine”
Bellator 131 (11/15/14)
- Mike Richman earned a swift TKO victory over Nam Phan, prompting a stoppage to the fight after just 46 seconds!
RFA 20 (11/7/14)
- Ben Smith defeated his opponent via a unanimous decision after 3 rounds
BJJ Results
Submission Hunt (11/22/14)
Team Academy grabbing gold at the SubHunt
- The Academy competitors came out on top, winning several divisions and taking home the championship trophy for team points!
NAGA Chicago (11/1/14)
- Another exciting and successful grappling tournament for Team Academy!
FIVE Grappling Tournament (10/18/14 – 10/19/14)
- Brandon Bergeron took home gold in his gi division
- Kelly Johnson was victorious, also taking the top spot in his division
Troy Jones celebrating the win with a proud team!
Muay Thai Results
ESP (2/21/15)
- Troy “Trouble” Jones captured the ESP kickboxing title!
Team Academy Summer Fight/Competition Results
Dan Moret wins via Submission
It was a jam packed summer for the competitors of Team Academy! The endless hours of training shone through, and in both victory and defeat, they displayed true respect and sportsmanship toward their fellow fighters. We’re incredibly proud of the members of Team Academy and can’t wait for more of the battles that this winter will bring! Here is a quick recap of the results:
MMA Results
- RFA 19 (10/10)
- Dan Moret won by rear-naked choke in the first round
- Mike Zimmer lost his bout by unanimous decision
- Nate Howe got caught in an arm triangle choke early in the second round
- KOTC Magnum Force (9/28)
- Andre “The Diva” Tieva won his fight by split decision
- Clarence Jordan was victorious after a unanimous decision
- Bellator 126 (9/26)
- Mike “The Marine” Richman triumphed over Ed West, knocking his opponent out in the first round, a finish that has now been labeled as one of the best MMA knockouts of the year for 2014
KO by “The Marine”
- Driller at 7 Clans (7/26)
- Carl Deaton III won by TKO in the first round
- Dustin Murphy secured a rear-naked choke in the first round, winning his fight
- Michael Jokondo was defeated via rear-naked choke in the third round
- Last Man Standing (7/12)
- Jason Huntley won by TKO (knee injury) at the end of the second round
- Shine V (6/30)
- Jesse Midas lost his bout, suffering a TKO in the second round
- A-Town Throwdown III (6/27)
- Melvin Cruz edged out his opponent in a split decision victory
- Mecca V (5/31)
- Carl Deaton III won by guillotine choke in the first round
- Sean Richman earned a submission victory due to strikes at the end of the first round
- Linsey Williams won her fight by rear-naked choke early in the second round
- Dustin Murphy was forced to tap out of a rear-naked choke in the first round
BJJ Results
- IBJJF Pan No-Gi Championship (9/27)
- Mike Wayman won the gold medal, becoming the IBJJF Pan No-Gi Champion
- Greg McDermitt took gold in his weight class, following up with 3rd in the open weight division
Muay Thai Results
Troy Jones, the new Champ!
- TBA SA (6/27 – 6/29)
- Troy Jones became the Men’s Novice Light Cruiser Champion
- Adam Hill, Art Harris, Hayden Buckner, Nora Schull, Sarah Bishop, and Tommy Matlon all fought hard and ended up with 2nd place in their categories. Andrew Yeh, Caleb Kolodge, Jeff Thao, Katie Vogel, Nate Kosberg, and Shane Chanslor also represented The Academy at the TBA
- Live Kickboxing & Boxing (6/13)
- Tom Jenkins was victorious in his fight
- Tremayne Williams was defeated
Coaches Corner: The Mental Edge
Developing yourself to your potential in the martial arts, or athletics is the sum total of many physical attributes, techniques, and training methods. The deciding factor in reaching your potential primarily revolves around one factor– “mental attitude.” This is often the missing piece in many people’s lives, even highly talented athletes and martial artists.
A
s an athlete for most of my life,I have seen extremely talented individuals fail when they were faced with less talented, but highly motivated and mentally tough adversaries and/or teammates. One of the major themes of training in any program at The Academy is self-defense and developing the mental edge and attitude that can be built through the physical demands of hard training and conditioning. The tough training sessions are not simply to develop strength, endurance, speed, power, flexibility, and overall conditioning, as much as it is to develop a strong mental attitude. Hard physical training over time begins to develop a person’s mental attitude and in time the mental control we have over ourselves.
You will find that the physical aspects of training are relatively temporary. Take time off and see what happens to your endurance, flexibility, and strength. These attributes will stay with you as long as they are maintained through training. Your fitness level rapidly declines when your training stops. Your endurance and strength will drop back to the level of when you started your first class in a matter of weeks when your training stops. However, what does stay with you is the mind set of winning, that “no quit” attitude. This is the reason behind our physically demanding classes and tough testing standards. I read and watch many things that center on success as a teacher, coach, and competitor (all are very different in function). One of the greatest no-nonsense football coaches of all time has to be Vince Lombardi.
Pic from http://www.vincelombardi.com/
During the 1960’s; the Green Bay Packers, under the guidance of Coach Vince Lombardi, were unrivaled in professional football. Lombardi was successful because he understood what the difference was between winners and losers. It wasn’t skill, physical talent, strength, or speed, but rather it was his players’ mental attitude. He built a desire and a will to win. The team’s training developed a positive” attitude that showed in every game. He said, “All the rings and all the money and all the color and all of the display, they linger only in a memory. But the spirit, the will to win, the will to excel. These are the things that endure and these are the qualities, of course, that are so much more important than any of the events that occur. I’d like to say that the quality of any mans life is a full measure of that mans personal commitment to excellence and to victory, regardless of what field he may be in.”
It’s all about a healthy attitude to be the best you can be. One of the main ways to develop the “mental edge” is by the constant reinforcement of succeeding at hard training sessions and tests. Training is not about easy workouts and pampering our students-it’s about physically demanding workouts that tests not only your physical capabilities, but, really your mental toughness and fortitude. The bottom line is that a coach or instructor can guide you by telling you what needs to be done and how often to do it. But you have to want to do it. Only the positive mental attitude to succeed will allow you to go to the Academy when you think you’re too tired to go to class, and help you avoid or bash through the many obstacles and distractions that will get in your way.
Being in shape and fit is about NOT GIVING UP, and this is key to your success in everything worth your time. The winner of any event, be it a self-defense situation, competition, your next rank test, or a personal goal, is not necessarily based on talent and not always the fittest or strongest, but the one with the strongest mind, the mental edge, who is committed to excellence.
