The IKCA Leadership has repeatedly received requests to provide a modification to our testing policy. The majority of these requests center around one question: Can students test solely using a dummy for demonstration of material?
Short Answer: No, a live partner is required to complete tests from Orange Belt to Black Belt for advancement in the IKCA.
Now for the Long Answer:
Testing Process
In the ideal video testing situation, the most complete demonstration of a student’s ability and skills would be:
- Techniques done on a training partner
- Techniques done with full power contact on a dummy
- Sparring
Doing techniques on a live body demonstrates: accuracy, knowledge of targeting, and the ability to cause body reaction.
Executing techniques on a dummy shows us: the penetration, power, and timing needed as a result of contact in most cases.
Sparring displays: the ability to deal with spontaneity, ranging, evasive maneuvers, and entry/exit speed.
IF we could require every student to test with all of these elements – this would be the best representation of a student’s ability and skill. We get it, but the reality is requiring every student to purchase or build a dummy is financially both unreasonable and impractical.
We Experimented
The IKCA conducted a trial with several students submitting tests solely using a dummy, and found the results to be subpar.
The lack of a realistic body created challenges for the students to understand how a body would react to a blow. Timing for flow of motion sequences had to be corrected. Targeting in sequences is challenging for those who cannot visualize at an above average level.
Decision
The Leadership of the IKCA led by SGM Sullivan reviewed the results and unanimously voted that our criteria will remain in place for testing. All testing will require a live partner for demonstration of self-defense techniques. In addition, a live partner is required for the sparring portions of tests from Blue Belt through 1st Degree Black Belt.
This requirement is non-negotiable.
Acknowledgement
The IKCA realizes that some prospective students, unfortunately, may not be able to find a training partner. We hope those people understand our primary responsibility is to preserve and protect the integrity of the system.
We will continue to accept suggestions and feedback for alternative methods of testing and evaluations when presented by our students. This was a suggestion we evaluated, trialed, but ultimately were forced to reject for the reasons presented here.