Testing for levels in the Black Tigers

In the International Crew, there are three basic ranks for the Black Tigers.

• 1) ENTRY LEVEL- This is a student who has just started studying in a Black Tiger group, and has less than 6 months of experience.
• 2) BLACK CORD- This is given to students who have completed their first six months of worth of training. If you trained for 3 months, took a break for two months you would need to study another 3 months before you were given your Black Cord.
• 3) BLACK SCARF- This is given to students who have completed one full year of training by a scarfed Black Tiger of no less than three years fighting experience. Also, as a test the student must demonstrate knowledge of everything taught across the last year, from basic parries to melee tactics. Student must demonstrate skill through combat with single sword, sword/dagger, and case. Lastly, the student must show endurance by waging an intense, ten minute battle with the instructor without pause.

In addition, there are several levels to having a Black Scarf. Here is the breakdown:

• BLACK SCARF RANKS

1. First Rank:
   Denoted by the Japanese kanji for “1” marked in red upon the scarf. Fighter must claim victory in a tournament with no less than ten fighters, not including themselves.
2. Second Rank:
   Denoted by the Japanese kanji for “2” marked in red upon the scarf. Fighter must claim victory in a tournament with no less than twenty fighters, not including themselves.
3. Third Rank:
   Denoted by the Japanese kanji for “3” marked in red upon the scarf. Fighter must claim victory in a tournament with no less than thirty fighters, not including themselves.
4. Fourth Rank:
   1) Denoted by the Japanese kanji for “4”, marked in red upon the scarf. Fighter must claim victory in a tournament with no less than forty fighters, not including themselves.
   2) In a best two out of three battles, the fighter must defeat three opponents at once, to be chosen randomly from among those not of the Band.
5. Fifth Rank:
   1) Denoted by the Japanese kanji for “5”, marked in red upon the scarf. Fighter must claim victory in a tournament with no less than fifty fighters, not including themselves.
   2) In a best two out of three battles, the fighter must defeat five opponents at once, to be chosen randomly from among those not of the Band.
   

Note: no rank can be achieved without first achieving the rank before it. For example, a new black scarf may win a tournament that boasted twenty fighters but, nonetheless, the victory only garners the first rank. This ensures consistency of skill across the board, and the negation of the occasional “good day”.

GENERATION MARKS:

If you are a "scarfed" black tiger, you get to wear the Black Tiger Scarf. Depending on who was your trainer depends on the "Generation Mark" that is on your scarf. If you were trained by Tora or Blayde, then you are Generation 1. If you were trained by one of their students, your generation mark is the roman numeral 2. If you were trained by someone who was Generation 2, you would be Generation 3, and that would be on your scarf, and so on.

WHAT DOES THAT SCARF MEAN: Here is a breakdown of what scarf symbols mean if when you see them on a Black Tiger:
Black Tiger Scarf mark of Tora and Blayde
Black Tiger Scarf mark of Generation 1, Rank 0.
Black Tiger Scarf mark of Generation 1, Rank 1.
Black Tiger Scarf mark of Generation 1, Rank 2.
Black Tiger Scarf mark of Generation 1, Rank 3.
Black Tiger Scarf mark of Generation 1, Rank 4.
Black Tiger Scarf mark of Generation 2, Rank 0.
Black Tiger Scarf mark of Generation 2, Rank 1.
Black Tiger Scarf mark of Generation 2, Rank 2.
Black Tiger Scarf mark of Generation 2, Rank 3.
Black Tiger Scarf mark of Generation 2, Rank 4.
And so on, and so on.....

At the Tokyo Branch of the Black Tigers, I also break down students into further breakdown of skill levels below the Black Scarf. In addition to getting the Black Cord at 6 months, students can also test for "Tier" or "Claw" levels which are a reflection of Rapier Compentencies that they are working on. This helps the student focus more on new skills and allows for the instructor to know what they have mastered.

Note: You must be fully skilled in a lower level tier, and tested and passed before you can test for the next higher level tier!

LAST UPDATED APRIL 10, 2007 v1.4