08/17/2026
When a student has learned the basics of the curriculum and has passed their level six -completion of the art -test, it is a great opportunity and achievement.
The opportunity is in recognizing that they have learned only the basic curriculum, in the easiest way possible. It is not yet a true application. Nothing is truly “realistic.”
That shouldn’t take away from the accomplishment.
The opportunity is in recognizing this fact, and then continuing their education by challenging what they know. Me, too!
Some examples might include learning to do something that they have learned, adding progressively more active or passive resistance. It may include seeking opportunities for countering a technique or a movement.
When I have people in our group trainings that are approaching or at that level, it becomes a whole New World
As an example, we spent time exploring the 12 basic angles of striking, and figuring out how we might be able to pull off a semi advanced technique. This meant that we had to break down the technique as we had learned it. We had to question what elements made the technique what it was. And we had to challenge ourselves to learn to apply it from different positions. 
From that perspective, we were able to do semi-advanced one from 1,4,5,7,9,11,12 angle strikes without a lot of adaptations.
We were also able to adapt basic angle strikes two, six, and 10 to pull off that same technique.
This also led to an exploration of some of the footwork and coordination, which yielded a “new“ technique. I had a lot of fun with that one, since it involved incorporating a joint lock. With so many instructors now, who knows if I will get a chance to share it at world camp. But I am excited to share it. 
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