by klonk on Fri Jul 16, 2010 5:03 pm
We all know about martial arts testing for grades: Some approve, some do not, but some here have had to do some forms, fight some matches, maybe break a few boards to get achievement recognized, before strangers no less.
Personally I think the duan examination system silly, but, as it is not Chinese, and was adopted eagerly by the Communists, you might expect at least one person on earth to think that.
In any case the rank system is with us now, and so it is time to devise a test for Ling Kong Jin. This is only a first effort; I hope you will help me to refine it.
1st Duan Applicant, in Ling Kong Jin skill:
Applicant:
May not touch the examiner in any way. Applicant may attack or defend at will without making intentional physical contact with the Examiner, or the stick used by the Examiner in this test.
Examiner:
May not touch the Applicant in any way, and is forbidden from using any ling knong jin, chi redirection, empty force or cosmic effect in any way. Examiner may, however, strike the Applicant with the tip, only, of an ordinary walking stick.
The Examiner may not swing the stick to hit Applicant, but may thrust with it so that only the tip contacts Applicant. Only one end of the stick may be used. Examiner may grip the stick in one hand or two, or first one way, then the other. The Examiner may, in most ways, use the stick as he likes. The general intent and provision of the rules is he shall not use it like a baseball bat. That technique is left for the higher duan grade examinations.
Testing Process:
The process is largely self explanatory, only a few clarifying details being needed. Decency and decorum becoming the tradition of Chinese martial arts is to be maintained at all times. We add this clarification so certain American, and Brazilian Examiners do not do something inappropriate with the stick.
But, that aside, the Examiner may attack freely and at will.
Scoring the Examination:
The Examination shall be terminated at Applicant's request. Inability of the Applicant to respond to the question, of whether the Examination should continue, will be understood as a response in the negative, and the Examination terminated.
There is granting of 1 point if:
Applicant terminates Examination at own request (no point for equivalent unconsciousness)
2 points if Applicant is standing at conclusion;
3 points if Examiner in unable to continue. We wish to be broadly generous in the application of this rule. If Examiner is exhausted from chasing Applicant, without having convinced Applicant to stop Examination, three points are awarded.
4 points are awarded if Examiner drops dead upon commencement of Examination, or before its conclusion.
3 1/2 points are needed to pass, but discretion is granted to the judges to make allowances for style.
I define internal martial art as unusual muscle recruitment and leave it at that. If my definition is incomplete, at least it is correct so far as it goes.