Rank Testing

Have you lost contact with your instructor or have no one to go to for evaluation, testing, and possible rank advancement and promotion?

Do you have more than the required time in grade for evaluation, testing and possible promotion to your next rank? Keep in mind that having the required time in grade does not automatically qualify an individual for promotion, but merely makes that individual eligible from promotion.

Are you teaching your own unique style of martial arts and wish to have it formally recognized so that you may be ranked and certified as an instructor of that style?

Do you seek certification as an instructor, rank examiner, or other title related to the martial arts?

Have you been held back or passed over for rank evaluation, testing, or promotional opportunities making you a victim of the destructive influence of politics, discrimination and bias in the martial arts?

Are you under-ranked for your experience in the martial arts as a result of being neglected for rank evaluation, testing, and possible promotion?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above, perhaps the SMAA can help you. Please contact us to explore the opportunities that may be available to you. The SMAA was founded to unite the martial arts – not technically, but in spirit – by providing the fair and timely services that martial artists from all styles require without politics, discrimination, or bias.

Each club leader or instructor may use the rank criteria that he chooses. For informational purposes, some of the rank requirements used by various SMAA members can be viewed here.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE SEEMS TO BE QUITE A BIT OF CONFUSION WITH REGARD TO OUR REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING RANK REGISTRATION AND VARIOUS OTHER CERTIFICATIONS. THE FOLLOWING SHOULD BE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BEFORE BECOMING A MEMBER OR APPLYING FOR RANK TESTING, REGISTRATION OR OTHER FORMS OF CERTIFICATION...

Keep in mind that when sending in your Membership form, we CANNOT consider registering ranks or making certifications until a full evaluation is completed. In some rare cases the evaluation may be waived by submitting previous certifications that were made through a major governing body that is widely respected and accepted.

Please contact us if you would like to register your rank, be considered for promotion, instructor certification, rank examiner certification, or other certification Be aware that the ranks up through and including 3rd dan are based largely on technical ability, while the ranks from 4th dan and up are based more and more (for each successive rank) on teaching ability, service and contributions to the arts and individuals will be evaluated accordingly

We are NOT a diploma mill and it is not possible to simply "buy" rank, certifications, or other services without first being evaluated. The martial arts are often corrupted by this sort of thing in the 21st century and we wish to distance ourselves from these questionable practices as much as possible.

Some may consider this verification process unnecessary, but nothing could be further from the truth! No legitimate martial arts association or instructor would promote or certify an individual without actually seeing them perform, and we are in the very same position. If some feel this process is unwarranted, then clearly they are not the type of martial artist the SMAA is looking for!

It is our sincere hope that each and every SMAA member understands the reason for this…it is not meant to doubt an individual’s ability or question their integrity…it is merely to confirm the ability of those individuals that the SMAA are not familiar with. If we document their skill level in person or on video, then our martial arts association is 100% justified in certifying that individual at the appropriate level and NO ONE can ever question our motives or integrity, or the credentials that we have awarded. This is quite different from many other martial arts associations, federations, and organizations where it is possible to just send in money to get whatever rank is desired...usually with no form of verification of that individual’s ability level.

We do not wish to circumvent the traditional teacher/student relationship in any way. If an individual is currently under the guidance of an instructor, the SMAA will only work with that individual once we have the express consent and blessing of his/her instructor. This is in line with proper martial arts protocol, respect for the chain of command, and is in fact, simply common courtesy.

The SMAA encourages the highest level of loyalty to one's instructor and seniors. Please don't ask us to undermine this loyalty by going behind your instructor's back to explore possible rank evaluation, promotion and certification - we will never knowingly work with another instructor's students unless given permission to do so by that instructor. Have your current instructor contact us for more info.

Donn Schucker, Executive Director
P.O. Box 2171
Florissant, MO 63032-2171
Phone: (314) 606-7306
Email: ds@smaa-martialarts.com