BLACK BELT TESTING INFORMATION
Your Path. Your Progress. Your Black Belt.
Before You Apply
To be eligible for Black Belt Testing, students must:
Should have attended at least 2 Official Black Belt Prep Camps
Be an active PMAA member in good standing.
Meet the minimum training time requirement for the rank being applied for.
Complete all required curriculum requirements for the rank being tested.
Obtain approval from their instructor before submitting the application.
Pay all applicable testing, promotion, certification, and backdated promotion fees (if applicable) through their instructor.
IMPORTANT NOTES
To be eligible for Black Belt Testing, students must:
All techniques must be performed with proper form, control, acceptable speed, power, intensity, and balance.
PMAA examiners reserve the right to require additional demonstrations or evaluations as needed.
Testing requirements may be updated periodically.
Submission of an application does not guarantee approval for testing or promotion.
Incomplete applications will not be processed.
Please Note:
Meeting the minimum training time requirement makes a student eligible to apply for testing but does not guarantee promotion. All applicants must successfully complete the required testing requirements and receive approval from PMAA examiners.
Black Belt Testing Requirements
1st Degree Black Belt Requirements:
Minimum Training Time – 3 Years
Any students eligible for Black Belt testing will need to perform:
- Single Stick A, B, C
- Double Stick A, B
- Knife A, B, C
- Mano-Mano Strikes 1-24
- Locking Techniques 1-8
2nd Degree Black Belt Requirements:
Minimum Training Time – 5 Years
Any students eligible for 2nd Degree Black Belt testing will need to perform the following requirements:
- Single Stick A, B, C
- Double Stick A, B
- Knife A, B, C
- Mano-Mano Strikes 1-24
- Locking Techniques 1-8
Plus
- Double Stick C
- Single Stick D
- Knife D (Empty Hand Interpretation of Knife B & C)
- Espada Y Daga 1-16
Drills
- Palitan Drill & Application of Techniques in Sections
- Sumbrada Drill with All Weapons and Empty Hand
3rd Degree Black Belt Requirements:
Minimum Training Time – 8 Years
Any students eligible for 3rd Degree Black Belt testing will need to perform the following requirements:
- Single Stick A, B, C
- Double Stick A, B
- Knife A, B, C
- Mano-Mano Strikes 1-24
- Locking Techniques 1-8
- Double Stick C
- Single Stick D
- Knife D (Empty Hand Interpretation of Knife B & C)
- Espada Y Daga 1-16
Plus
- Mano Mano Takedowns A B C
- Double Stick D
Drills
- Palitan Drill & Application of Techniques in Sections
- Sumbrada Drill with All Weapons and Empty
- Balintawak Drill – Defender’s Part
- Modern Arnis Freestyle (Tapi-Tapi) Defender’s Part
4th Degree Black Belt Requirements:
Minimum Training Time – 12 Years
Any students eligible for 4th Degree Black Belt testing will need to perform the following requirements:
- Single Stick A, B, C
- Double Stick A, B
- Knife A, B, C
- Mano-Mano Strikes 1-24
- Locking Techniques 1-8
- Double Stick C
- Single Stick D
- Knife D (Empty Hand Interpretation of Knife B & C)
- Espada Y Daga 1-16
- Mano Mano Takedowns A B C
- Double Stick D
Plus
- Balintawak Drill – Defender's Part
- Modern Arnis Freestyle (Tapi-Tapi) Defender's Part
Drills
- Palitan Drill & Application of Techniques in Sections
- Sumbrada Drill with All Weapons and Empty
- Balintawak Drill – Defender's Part
- Modern Arnis Freestyle (Tapi-Tapi) Defender's Part
5th Degree Black Belt Requirements:
Minimum Training Time – 17 Years
Any students eligible for 5th Degree Black Belt testing will need to perform the following requirements:
- Single Stick A, B, C
- Double Stick A, B
- Knife A, B, C
- Mano-Mano Strikes 1-24
- Locking Techniques 1-8
- Double Stick C
- Single Stick D
- Knife D (Empty Hand Interpretation of Knife B & C)
- Espada Y Daga 1-16
- Mano Mano Takedowns A B C
- Double Stick D
Plus
- Balintawak Drill – Driver’s Part
- Modern Arnis Freestyle (Tapi-Tapi) Driver’s Part
Drills
- Palitan Drill & Application of Techniques in Sections
- Sumbrada Drill with All Weapons and Empty
- Balintawak Drill – Driver's Part
- Modern Arnis Freestyle (Tapi-Tapi) Driver's Part
6th Degree Black Belt Requirements:
Black Belt Testing Fee - 6th Degree
Price: $1150.00
7th Degree Black Belt Requirements:
Black Belt Testing Fee - 7th Degree
Price: $1350.00
8th Degree Black Belt Requirements:
Black Belt Testing Fee - 8th Degree
Price: $1550.00
9th Degree Black Belt Requirements:
Black Belt Testing Fee - 9th Degree
Price: $1750.00
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does this it mean that I am now eligible to test for my new Black Belt rank?
ANSWER: It means that you can now test based on the black belt rank you are now eligible for. For example, if your last promotion was 5 years ago and you are still a 1st degree Black Belt, you can apply for the 3rd Degree Black Belt promotion instead of 2nd degree since you have met the 8 years required for that level.
Q: If I apply for a higher level Black Belt promotion I am eligible for, will I still get the Black Belt Certificate of the one/s in between?
Let's continue in the scenario above? If you apply for your 3rd degree and skipping the 2nd-degree testing, we will still issue you the 2nd-degree black belt certificate but backdate it to reflect the proper documentation of your promotion and certification process. This will straighten your black belt testing records following the organization's time requirement guidelines and prevent any record-keeping issues later with other members based on seniority and hierarchy.
Q: What is the fee for any backdated promotions?
We are charging a very minimal fee of only $100 to issue any backdated promotion certificate instead of a regular testing fee for that specific rank. Please note that the organization will be back to charging our original test fees on any promotions regardless if they are backdated or not effective January 01, 2022. To Request a Backdated Promotion Certificate Fee, CLICK HERE
Q: Can I skip the issuance of the backdated black belt certificate?
No. However, you can choose to apply for one Black Belt level down promotion. Meaning, you can apply for the 2nd-degree black belt level instead of applying for your 3rd degree based on time requirement met that you are eligible right now. Applying for your 3rd degree can then be done at a later time after you've received your 2nd degree promotion.
Q: I am tight with the budget this time. What should I do?
Call or message the PMAA HQ and speak with Ms. Faith Melegrito to make payment arrangements. A payment plan can easily be arranged if needed for this purpose.