Black Belt at Home Blog
“What? You can earn a black belt in a weapon? This is impossible! This is a joke, this is some made up program to sell people!!!”
I have heard it all….I created Ultimate Bo in 2007 as the world’s first (and still only) full white to 2nd black belt bo training program. Ultimate Bo is a CURRICULUM PROGRAM that allows one to train in freestyle bo and sparring bo through a well organized, rigorous curriculum in which you can achieve a black chevron. (our unique ranking designation). Let me clear up a few things:
- I did not create the bo or even many of the techniques within Ultimate Bo. These are collected from hundreds of years and training through many martial artists from Japan to the United States.
- The rank of black chevron is an officially recognized and earned rank; one must complete the full requirements.
- I do not know everything or claim to be the best bo instructor in the world.
Going through training with the bo; I was mystified by the weapon and its abilities. I studied with various instructors and learned from every resource possible. I saw a unique opportunity to ORGANIZE a curriculum for others to earn rank by staying motivated and seeing real recognition.
Ultimate Bo students earn “chevrons” instead of belts. This is because most Ultimate Bo students are also active students in other martial arts styles (such as Karate, Tae Kwon Do, etc); so they can wear their active belt, and their chevron on their uniform sleeve.
There are over 100 martial arts schools currently teaching our program to their students, who are certified instructors to promote rank. You can also be a Distance Training student by learning at home and uploading rank exam videos for our Instructors to critique.
Earning a black belt can be explained through overcoming obstacles, being someone that you were not when you began training, and setting a high, diffifult goal; and actually achieving that goal. You can apply this mindset to any style of martial arts – whether it is Karate or Bo. Don’t be afraid to blaze your own trail; as long as you know you are doing right, and making progress.
Very interesting article posted here.Good to learn that BO can be used as a black belt weapon. Keep up the good work. Keep surprising us.
Glad to see someone is reading these posts! I have a lot of great knowledge and unique content to share; but without many comments and page views I have been holding in. Thanks again! 🙂
Hi, you videos look great! Just so I understand, your entire training collection is $149? About how long is each video? For the bo staff, who are these chevrons recognized through as my TAEKWONDO dans are recognized and certified through Kukkiwon directly. Thanks a ton!
Glad to see this program in existence! I know sometimes you catch flack for ranking in a weapon and using chevrons instead of belts. Keep up the good work!
Glad that you appreciate Ultimate Bo. I’ve learned to tune out the negative noise. I know we have something that is meaningful, creative, powerful, and even transformational for our students, and that is all that matters. There are other martial arts systems (especially with the sword), that have a belt system. It only makes sense that the same can be applied to a different weapon, and the chevron patch, is a smart way to be able to display your rank, while maintaining your traditional belted rank. Thanks for reading.
How long is each belt ? Thanks
Most students earn a chevron in 3-4 months. There is no minimum wait required or time period, it is more about how often, and the intensity that you train, that will drive the frequency of testing from one chevron to the next.
so with ultimate bo you can only earn chevrons
not belts?
You absolutely do earn real rank. Rank can be shown in different ways, depending on the martial art. Some arts use belts, some use chevron patches, some use t-shirt colors, some use certificates (nothing is worn). In Ultimate Bo, you use a chevron patch to denote rank, but it holds the same “value” as a belt would.