The Ultimate Black Belt Test

This is what my boys are doing for the next 6 months. They are both brown belts in mixed martial arts. Jack has to do 1/2 of what Austin has to do. I am going to list Austin's requirements. As I read over this list I am realizing what an accomplishment this will be for both of my boys, and how proud I am of both of them.


Ultimate Black Belt Test

Written Goals: Each candidate is required to discuss his or her goals with Coach Jamie and then supply a set of written and specific goals that he or she plans to accomplish as part of the test. Written goals should be quantifiable and as specific as possible.

Weekly Journaling: Every UBBT participant is required to make a weekly journal entry. It should be approximately 100 words long and chronicle the personal journey of each participant as he or she lives with the UBBT experience.

10 Personal Victories: Each UBBT team member is required to fulfill and record 10 achievements that they consider to be "personal victories".

10 Testing Performances: A testing performance is a demo of the techniques and skills that you have mastered in your martial arts career and for your test. To polish these skills each participant is required to put together a demonstration featuring their personal test requirements and curriculum. You will be required to perform your demo in front of 10 different groups.

Push ups and Crunches: 36,400 (minimum) push-ups,crunches, or the combination of both are required by the final exam. That's 700 a week. 100 a day.

Reading Requirements: Each candidate will be required to read 10 or more books pertaining to management, philosophy,motivation or enlightenment. Books will be read and tracked in the UBBT's journal.

Acts of Kindness: Each candidate must perform and log 1000 acts of kindness and compassion in his or her UBBT journal.

Righting Wrongs and Mending Relationships: Candidates are required to right three wrongs that they have done in their lives or mend three broken relationships.

Empathy Training; One full day of living in a wheelchair, one full day blind, and one full day mute are required by all candidates.

Walk or Run 1000 miles: "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step". -Lao Tsu
Each participant will be required to walk, run, or walk/run 1000 miles over the duration of their test.

Whatever It Takes: (WIT) This card (the WIT card) is a special challenge that Coach Jamie might issue during the test to the individual candidates. If you receive a WIT Card, your challenge is to do Whatever It Takes to get the task done in the quickest and most efficient way possible.

Dropping out of the UBBT: Forget about it. Don't join if you can entertain the idea that anything could make you withdraw. The UBBT is about overcoming obstacles, not giving in to them. See it through.....or don't enroll.