← Black Belt Testing
Preview & performance review
Preview
At the preview, black belt candidates perform before senior judges. The judges offer feedback on each candidate’s strengths and areas to improve, giving candidates and their sensei a clear focus for the training that follows.
Performance review
The review is an opportunity to demonstrate improvement after continued training and work on the judges’ feedback. A post-review may be used when additional preparation is needed or when a candidate cannot attend the performance review due to extenuating circumstances.
Provisional status
Following the review, candidates continue demonstrating the habits and commitment expected of the new rank during the provisional “Ho” period before graduation.
2027 testing dates
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2027 | Black Belt Testing Preview | Neil Stone’s Karate Academy Hollis, NH |
| April 3, 2027 | Black Belt Testing Review — Level One, Level Two, Shodan, and Nidan Candidates | Buzz Durkin’s Uechi Karate School Atkinson, NH |
| April 10, 2027 | Black Belt Testing Review — Level Three, Level Four, Sandan, Yondan, and Godan Candidates | Buzz Durkin’s Uechi Karate School Atkinson, NH |
| June 5, 2027 | Post-Review Black Belt Testing | Buzz Durkin’s Uechi Karate School Atkinson, NH |
| September 10, 2027 | Master’s Testing | At UechiCon |
| September 12, 2027 | Black Belt Graduation | At UechiCon |