Be ready before sending in a test and know your material inside out. In order to pass a ranking test you will be required to know all the material for that level plus the levels before that one and look sharp in all your actions. You will be supplied with a testing requirements sheet once you register as a DeCuerdas Eskrima Student by calling Sensei Becky Norton at 1-800-348-6822.

We know that this training works! It was developed over a 5 year time period by taking brand new students with no experience in the martial arts and training them to Black Belt level. Each level was filmed at the point in real time that the students got there. We need to be honest here - we are not looking for a massive amount of people to sign up to become certified instructors in this art. On the contrary- we are only looking for a few instructors of high quality willing to learn and pass this system on to others so the art stays alive.

Upon successfully passing a level by Grandmaster Van Donk you will receive a most beautiful Bushindo University Certification Diploma signed personally by Grandmaster Van Donk and a DeCuerdas Eskrima board member. Your certification will be dated and numbered. Your name will be entered as a certified student for the level achieved on the www.DeCuerdasEskrima.com website for the level you have obtained and the date you achieved it. You can see who is who in Dynamic Eskrima by going to Becoming an Instructor. Learn how to submit a test lower down on this page.

GrandMaster - Richard J. Van Donk
LEVEL 7	RED Belt with Gold tassels Richard Van Donk - GrandMaster Guro / Professor about 1991	Professor
LEVEL 6	Red Belt Linda Van Donk - Guro assistant Professor	Asst. Professor (Master)
LEVEL 5	Black and Red Belt Ken Balanon Guro 9-29-2001 Roman Marquez  3-02-08 Becky Norton  10-19-08	Guro (Instructor)
LEVEL 4	Black Belt KIT KUITTINEN      2-16-04 WES SHREVE          1-10-08 JAMIE DAIKEN      10-19-08 MAC FINNEY         10-19-08 RON ELGES            10-19-08 BRENT PATTERSON  10-19-08 MIKE PIAZZA        10-19-08 MICHAEL AALTO  10-19-08 LIISA AALTO 11-27-11	Junior Instructor
LEVEL 3	Brown Belt CHAITANYA FOUX     5-05 JUDY SHREVE          10-19-08 JAN MARTENSEN     10-19-08 JANINE QUELLER 4-7-11
LEVEL 2	Green Belt JEFF McQUEEN            9-29-01 Kevin "Troll" Murray  10-08-06 Michael Stelzer           10-26-06 Benjamin Hagen         10-19-08 Stephen Hipp              10-19-08 Theodore Schink        10-19-08 Harris Lowenthal 9-30-09 John Chamberlain 3-30-10 Lorie Chamberlain 3-30-10 Scott Broomfield 9-10-10 Jared Miklich 5-26-11 Charles E. Bertrand 11-23-11 James Cameron Rossi 11-23-11 Nate Almeida 11-23-11 Mike Goldwater 11-23-11
LEVEL 1	Yellow Belt AHLEA (MIA BABINEAU) 7-02-03 ASHLEY NORTON 8-13-03 WADE RUDIO 2-04 RAY KRIBEL 3-20-05 BOB NEAL 3-20-05 BILL STOUGHTON 3-20-05 LOREN SCHNEIDER 10-19-05 RAY JACKSON 10-30-05 JAMES BAILEY 10-30-05 JOHN BERRY 10-30-05 GARY PHILLIPS 10-30-05 STEVEN BLACK 10-30-05 JAMES CLUM 10-30-05 DAVID EDICK 11-05-05 TONI LEPRI 12-23-05 RICHARD PETTAY 3-25-06 THOMAS COWDEN 10-08-06 ANTONIO DE LA CRUZ 12-15-07 BRAIN SUMPTER 7-21-08 CHARLES BENHAM 10-19-08 SARA BENHAM 10-19-08 LEIGH DUMBELTON 10-19-08 DANIEL HAMMEL 10-19-08 JASON MAYFIELD 10-19-08 MATTHEW SHORT 10-19-08 BRADLEY ROBERTSON 10-19-08 TIMOTHY DAILEY 7-10-09 JARED MIKLICH 1-12-10 UKI OKAZAKI 1-12-10 SCOTT BROOMFIELD 2-10-10 CHARLES E. BERTRAND 8-6-10 BLAKE TAYLOR 9-16-10 JAMES CAMERON ROSSI 9-16-10 ZACHERY BERNARD 1-08-11 NATE ALMEIDA 3-07-11 ANTHONY FIELD 3-07-11 ANTHONY BACHMAN 5-26-11 MIKE GOLDWATER 5-26-11 MIROSLAV PTACEK 11-23-11 MATTHEW SCHOBER 11-23-11 JUSTIN H. WILLIAMS 11-23-11

Juan Eliab	A great Master Eskrimador that passed away while teaching Eskrima at a Hawaii Seminar. He was originally chosen to be the inheritor of the Tenio DeCuerdas system.
Richard Tenio	GrandMaster Tenios son and also an inheriting Grandmaster.
Dentoy Revilar	Master (GrandMaster of his own combination system LSD Eskrima which stands for Largo Mono, Serrada and DeCuerdas).
Arthur Gonzales	Master and Professorship awarded by Grandmaster Tenio. Grandmaster of his own system.
James Muro	Master at many arts including certification from Grandmaster Tenio. Started GM Tenio in teaching openly to the public in the late 1970's.

 

TESTING REQUIREMENTS

LEVEL ONE- Yellow Belt

Requirements: 3 months since the purchase of Level ONE Series.

1. Must know all Level ONE material by name and have the ability to demonstrate it without hesitation.

2. You must have purchased from Bushindo University at least Level ONE and Level TWO sets (Level 2 can be purchased at time of testing - We just want to know that you are committed to learning the next level before testing).

3. You must be a registered Dynamic DeCuerdas Eskrima student. This means that you have purchased the entire DeCuerdas Eskrima BlackBelt Course from Bushindo University and have filed the Student Registration form with us.

4. You must submit a testing application and the required testing fee.

5. You should be wearing your DeCuerdas shirt during the testing and no belt.

$50 in-person Testing and Certification Fee. $100 video testing, feedback and Certification fee.

LEVEL TWO- Green Belt

Requirements: 6 months since the Level ONE certification date.

1. Must know all Level ONE and TWO material by name and have the ability to demonstrate it without hesitation.

2. You must have purchased the BLACKBELT Course all 4 levels from Bushindo University.

3. You MUST be wearing the proper DeCuerdas Eskrima uniform with the patch on the back and the proper belt ranking.

3. You must be a registered Dynamic DeCuerdas Eskrima student and have certification for the previous level.

4. You must submit a testing application and the required testing fee prior to the test.

$50 in-person testing and Certification Fee. $100 video testing, feedback and Certification fee.

LEVEL THREE - Brown Belt

Requirements: 1 year since the Level Two certification date.

1. Level TWO certification and all previous requirements apply.

2. Must know all Level ONE, TWO and THREE material by name and have the ability to demonstrate it without hesitation.

4. You must submit a testing application and the required testing fee prior to the test.

$50 in-person testing and Certification Fee. $100 video testing, feedback and Certification fee.

LEVEL FOUR- Black Belt

Requirements: 1.5 years since the Level Three certification date.

1. Level THREE certification and all previous requirements apply.

2. Must know all LEVELS ONE - FOUR material by name and have the ability to demonstrate it without hesitation.

3. Must be able to teach Level ONE material.

4. You must submit a testing application and the required testing fee prior to the test.

$175 In-person Only testing and Certification fee.

LEVEL FIVE- Black and Red Belt

Requirements: 1.5 years since the Level Four certification date.

1. Level FOUR certification and all previous requirements apply.

2. Must know all LEVELS ONE-FOUR material by name and have the ability to demonstrate it without hesitation.

3. Must be able to teach Levels 1-4 material and have brought at least one student to Level Four and 2 students to Level Three.

4. You must attend a private 2 day session with Grandmaster Van Donk where he shares with you the deeper aspects of the DeCuerdas knowledge and you must agree that you will keep this information to yourself. The private session will include your certification WHEN it is issued. It may happen then or it may happen at a later date - whenever GrandMaster Van Donk thinks that you are ready. At the time of certification you will be allowed to test your students at least to Level Three. And you will be awarded the title of Guro.

The Private 2 Day Session and certification investment will be at the current private session rate of Grandmaster Van Donk.

 

Note: Everything posted above is approved by Grandmaster Richard Van Donk and is subject to his change or discretion at a moment's notice. He also holds the right to either test or not test anyone. Life lessons are also given for advancement in this system. Your certification will be earned and it be acknowledged anywhere including by several first class world martial arts organizations such as the World Head Of Family Grandmasters council of which Mr. Van Donk is a prestigious member. Study hard and enjoy your life!

Dynamic DeCuerdas Eskrima

DeCuerdas Level Testing -

All in-person testings must be prescheduled. Testing is available in person at our dojo in Middletown, CA, and at camps or seminars held by Master Van Donk.

Call 1-800-348-6822 to schedule an in person testing. It is recommended that you schedule a private session with Master Van Donk at the same time so that he can polish up your skills and give you the feedback to further your studies. Also remember that there are some teachings that are only handed down teacher to student privately. He will let you know when you are ready for these teachings.

Video testing is currently available for long distant students who meet the requirements above.

Here is a brief report on how to do your test.
We do not need you to teach us (unless asked). We only want you to demonstrate what you know. We are not looking for professional quality and you will not be judged on that. We do need to be able to see you well on the video though. Make sure that you are in view properly for whatever skill that you are showing. It helps us when you show the technique from more than one angle.

LEVEL ONE - Yellow Belt (3 mos)

This video testing can be done in 10 minutes if you know the material.

Be brief, concise and demonstrate that you know the material.

25 years of experience makes it easy for us to see where you are at in the studies and to give you some feedback necessary for you to continue on your Eskrimador Path.

Level 2 DVD

Certification level is Green Belt (9 mos)

Stick Use and Strikes

• 6-12 Serrada stick strikes
• Single stick strikes 1-12 long arch  (Serrada and Largomano)
• Arko- Twirling the stick use
• Single stick 1- 3 Abanico strikes
• Single stick vs. single stick inside / outside basics - Range 2
• Single stick 1-12 freestyle alternating strikes and blocking- Range 2

Hand Drills and Strikes

• Body Strikes – Punch straight and hook, Palm single and double, Elbow in out and up
• DeCuerdas Kicks – short to legs seldom used
• Empty hand vs. Empty hand sensitivity drills
• Covering -Tappon / Sacupo drill – 2 stick hold of partner DeCuerdas basic empty
• Knife Passing – close distance
• Stick hand passing
• Use of body defense levels #1-5
• Hand blocking and striking drills at Range #3
• DeCuerdas multi- hand flow drills/ strikes / grabs
• Empty hand vs single stick disarms angles 1-5 back and forth

Anything else requested by Master/Grandmaster Instructor