No water during belt testing.
Hey everyone! My son started TKD about two years ago, and I joined him about a year ago. We both love it. It has been great for my physical and mental health, and it has also been awesome watching my son grow and challenge himself.
We train at a small, family-owned dojang, which is a big part of why we like it so much. It does not feel like a money-making business. It feels focused on the kids, their development, discipline, respect, and confidence.
Overall, I think their belt testing process is very professional. In the weeks leading up to testing, they pull students aside and run them through portions of the test to make sure their kicks, forms, knowledge, and overall readiness are where they need to be. If they are ready, they receive a testing form for the student, parent, and teacher to complete, covering things like courtesy, respect, behavior, and effort.
My only concern is with testing day itself. Once testing starts and students step onto the floor, there are no water breaks until testing is completely finished. I understand the importance of conditioning, discipline, and resilience, and I do not think it affects the kids as much. However, as an adult in my 30s and around 230 pounds, after two hours of testing I am definitely feeling dehydrated, no matter how much I hydrate the day before or that morning.
Is this common in TKD or martial arts testing? This is our only experience with the sport, so I am just trying to get some perspective.