Forge Stripes

What is the purpose?

At the Forge, we believe in a better martial artist as well as an individual all around. Challenging the students physically, mentally, and emotionally is our goal so that each student can work on becoming stronger in all areas of their lives. Each of these stripes aims to serve a different purpose. The more parent feedback we can get the better chances your student can earn more stripes; however, there are several opportunities to earn many of them in the dojo.

Get Started

Blue

BLUE – THE FOCUS/LISTENING

Can earn more than one. Little ninjas can earn by focusing and self-disciplining themselves to sit still and listen. Youth might be able to retain and recite what the coach was saying or instructing.
The first step to learning is listening and focusing your attention; therefore, we like to reward devoted attention or effort to listen to the instructors. It’s also a good way to start developing respect for others by looking in the eyes and not interrupting the instructor.

PURPLE- BELT TYING STRIPE

Little ninjas and youth must be able to tie their OWN belts, not the parents. This stripe is earned after the student can show they can tie their own belt correctly. The youth must do it in 15 seconds or less to earn their stripe.

Purple

Pink

PINK – WOW STRIPE

The pink stripe is a wow factor or maximum effort stripe. Often the students blow away the coaches with skill, effort, courage, stamina, or an array of other ways. This can also be earned if parents or teachers outside of the dojo experience an amazing wow moment; for example, if a student starts cleaning up his room at home without being asked and maybe never would without a fight would be a wow moment, or if a student in class gets hurt, calms themself and gets back in the fight vs sitting out could be a wow moment.

ORANGE – THE HELPER/TEACHER STRIPE

To earn the teaching/helping stripe the student must show assistance to other students without being asked by an instructor. For example, if a student helps another struggling student with a warm-up drill or maybe helps a new student feel a part of the class would earn an orange stripe.

Orange

Red

RED -THE CREED STRIPE

To earn the Creed Stripe the student must recite the entire creed in front of the class. Little ninjas will receive help from the coaches if they need it. The youth students will also be asked a question about one of the lines from the creed and its deeper meaning.

GREEN – HEALTHY CHOICES

Healthy choices can look like many things, so this stripe has a lot of opportunities to be earned. The Forge has two ways specifically to earn this stripe, which is to avoid sugars and processed foods for a week or avoid extra electronic use outside of school such as video games and tv. Healthy choice stripes have also been earned by making hard decisions that are overall beneficial for the student; for example, some little ninjas are nervous or scared to get on the mat and they do it anyway. For that bravery and good decision-making, they have earned the green stripe.

Green

Yellow

YELLOW- GOING THE EXTRA MILE

This stripe coaches are looking for a student to do more than what is asked. For example, a student might do an extra push-up than asked for extra practice before class, or maybe they go above and beyond to better themselves in or outside of the dojo. Parents can also use examples from home for students to earn this stripe.

BROWN- PARENTS CHOICE STRIPE *MOST IMPORTANT

This a stripe only parents can award or let coaches know they have earned. There are many habits parents would like to start at home (such as students saying “yes ma’am/sir” at home and them cleaning up after themselves). We hope this can be another way to encourage new and improved behaviors at home. Each child is different so each child can earn them in different ways.

Brown

Black

BLACK – THE BEST PARTNER (UKE) STRIPE

Part of winning in life is to help others win first. In class when a partner goes out of their way to help their partner succeed at a move, their partner gets better, which makes them better at their own skills. Creating a win-win in life is not easy; however, it is highly rewarding. This can be earned at home as well. Tithing is a good example of a win-win situation, or when someone helps the competition improve to have a better partner that challenges you. Giving without expecting in any way we believe will result in more benefits in the students’ life than not.

SILVER – SERVICE/COMMUNITY STRIPE

Service is a core part of society that helps those who may need it or is the best way to take care of our environment. Cleaning up trash around town is a service event the Forge tries to do at least once a year as a group to help the environment. Service could look like any type of volunteer work or service could even be a kindness or helping hand to someone that may not be your favorite person. This is for the most part earned outside of the dojo.