Blackbelt Testing is an annual event that lasts several months and culminates in Blackbelt Week in the Fall. The key dates for Selection in 2024 have been announced.
The dates for Blackbelt Selection 2024 have been announced by Sensei.
Blackbelt Selection begins with invitations to candidates who are believed to be ready to test and to do so successfully. Keep in mind that anyone being considered has trained for years to be eligible for consideration for selection; even to be invited is a great milestone and marks those selected as being at the very top of the kyu (color belt) ranks.
Only adults (testing for shodan) or teens (testing for shonen shodan) who have a rank of 1st Kyu (advanced brown belt) are eligible for consideration, and holding that rank by no means automatically assures an invitation to selection and testing.
Blackbelt Week 2024
An exiting part of blackbelt selection is that it culminates in Blackbelt Week in the Fall.
As selection and testing draws closer, the dates and events for Blackbelt Week 2024 will also be announced. In general, however, those are expected to begin on October 5th and run to approximately October 12th, 2024.
Blackbelt Week offers classes and special events for all students, including current and new blackbelts. (Interested in seeing the events from last year? See the Blackbelt Week 2023 schedule.)
Blackbelt Selection 2024: Key Dates
May 10Friday |
Selection Begins: Invitations Issued |
May 22Wednesday |
Final Acceptance of Selection Due |
June 6Thursday |
Meet with Sensei Candidates Begin Wearing White Belts |
June 22Saturday |
Written Test: Testing Day 1 of 4 |
July 27Saturday |
Kihon: Testing Day 2 of 4 |
August 24Saturday |
Kata: Testing Day 3 of 4 |
October 5Saturday |
闘魂 Tohkon: Testing Day 4 of 4 |
