Before we look at the curriculum in more detail, I wanted to take some time to discuss the progression that students will go through as they train. First, I would like to define my expectations as an instructor, and that will frame the requirements for students at each level.
Individualized Training
First, I realize that not every student is at the peak of fitness or athletic ability. Fortunately, the training has a lot to offer students at every level of fitness. The goal is to improve oneself, and barring that, to maintain oneself over a lifetime of training. Second, I realize that not every student will have the time in their schedule to train every day (although they should try to make time for some training every day), and on the average, students will attend classes 2-3 days per week. It is important to make the most of that time.
Since everyone starts at different levels, with different schedules, fitness levels, and interests, we should expect them to progress through the ranks at different speeds. I will promise this — those who put in the time, will see the results, and their rank will reflect that.
A 10 Year Program
Because of the breadth and depth of our program, given the number of Arts in which we train, I consider 10 years to be a minimum amount of time for students to become proficient in the majority of what we teach. If a student is showing up for class 3-4 days per week, avoids major injuries, trains at home daily, and supplements their training with conditioning and stretching, I think 10 years is a reasonable expectation for attaining the 5th rank. If students are not meeting that mark, in terms of regular training time, then they should be prepared to adjust their expectations accordingly.
Student Levels
Because testing, for me, is a laborious process, and getting students ready for a formal test is very time consuming and sometimes frustrating, I prefer to evaluate a student’s progress over a long period of time. It is because of this that I have also made the decision to have only 5 ranks. I think this is the minimum number of strata required to maintain a healthy school, and highlight the fundamental differences in experience levels.
Some schools will have 12 or more ranks between beginner and a black belt, where you can hardly go two months without testing for a new rank, and that is fine if they have the staff to manage that, but as a sole instructor with a few helpers, I find it easier to do testing less often.
Below is a list of our student levels, what the training focus is for each, and what a student of that level should be capable of, in my judgment. There will be more specific descriptions within each area of training, but this will give students an idea of what to expect.
Level One
The training focus for a Level One student should be on the basics. This means developing an understanding of range, basic offensive and defensive techniques in each area of training. The focus of this level will be on single stick, double stick and stick & dagger formats, as well as empty hand striking and basic grappling.
Consistent body mechanics, and responsive footwork are two key areas I look for to determine if a student has a grasp of the fundamentals. They should be capable of performing most of the drills we commonly use, so that when training in Level Two, we don’t have to slow the class down. Further by this point, a student should have all of the gear necessary to train in each area.
Level Two
A Level Two student will begin training more interactively, having to deal with resistance, misdirection, deception, and counter strategies. During this level they will train to make their body mechanics second nature, and to learn how the body mechanics translate from one weapon mode to many others. Students at this level will be exposed to staff, single and double dagger, and more specialized forms of Empty-hand movement. They will obtain a basic understanding of the wooden dummy, and begin to expand their grappling repertoire.
A Level Two student is ready to promote when they have a competency in each of these areas. They should also demonstrate good reflexes under pressure, and have a more nuanced understanding of range and timing.
Level Three
A Level Three student will begin training to develop options that go beyond the basics. This is an intermediate rank, so the basics should be second nature, allowing the student to focus on more advanced techniques and strategies. Both Sparring and Conditioning will play a significant role at this stage. Students will spend more time working at the different ranges, and learning to bridge between them. Students will also learn how to transition from one mode of fighting to another.
A Level Three student is ready to promote when they demonstrate the ability to change gears at any time in training. This change should be seamless. I should be able to call out a technique or strategy during a complex drill, and they should be able to find the moment in which to make that happen, and they should be able to demonstrate a certain multi-tasking awareness while preoccupied.
Level Four
Level Four is about competency and realizing advanced attributes after so much time in training. A Level Four student should be focused on functionality in their fighting, no longer playing tag, or just demonstrating technique, but actually being able to fight effectively, under pressure.
A Level Four student is ready to promote when they begin to manifest the physique and movement characteristics of a trained fighter. They should demonstrate a capacity for repetition and exploration, and above all, imaginative engagement with all that they have learned up to this point. Further, they should have demonstrated repeatedly, a commitment to training, that involves sacrifice and dedication.
Level 5
Once a student reaches Level 5, the question is what comes next. Level 5 is about Refinement. Students will focus on refining their technique to become more perfect, more efficient, more subtle. They should work to find an area of specialization, where they can become an expert, and should demonstrate a willingness to explore new material for further insights. What a Level 5 student does should look to a novice like magic.
Supplemental Programs
In addition, and separate from the ranks we offer to Sage students in our curriculum, some may have an interest in being promoted in one or more of the arts that supplement our training. This would include Doce Pares Eskrima and Brazilian Jiujitsu. Each has their own curriculum above and beyond what I require of students generally at Sage. If there is an interest in this, we will make it available to the students.
Instructor Training
If at anytime in their studies, a student has an interest in becoming an instructor, we will make additional training available to them. Instructor training will be on-going throughout their training, and largely focuses on being able to look at the system from an overall viewpoint, while also training in it. In addition, there are certain skills that have to be developed in order to be a competent instructor. This includes communication skills, building rapport, being able to identify progress, and being able to solve problems. There are also logistical skills, such as time management, record keeping, and other things that help to sustain a community. This website contains an Instructor Area that is designed to help students on this path.