We welcome students transferring to California School of Martial Arts (CALSMA) from another Taekwondo school or dojang. Because curriculum, testing requirements, and belt standards may vary between schools, all transfer students must follow the CALSMA curriculum and transfer student policy.
COLOR BELT STUDENTS
Students transferring with a color belt will first be evaluated by Master Jun to determine their appropriate belt level at CALSMA. The belt currently held at another school does not automatically guarantee placement at the same belt level, or the belt they will be wearing during class.
Master Jun will evaluate the student’s knowledge, technique, skill level, and overall readiness. Based on this evaluation, Master Jun will determine the belt level that CALSMA will recognize for the student.
Once the student’s belt level has been determined, the student will be required to learn the CALSMA curriculum beginning with White Belt and progressing through each level up to their recognized belt level.
Example: If a student transfers as a Blue Belt and, after evaluation, Master Jun recognizes the student at the Blue Belt level, the student will still need to learn the CALSMA curriculum from White Belt through Blue Belt and complete the required belt tests along the way.
BELT TEST: The student must complete the required belt tests for EACH level, and the standard belt testing fee applies to EVERY belt level tested.
For example, if the student needs to test:
White → Yellow → Orange
that represents two belt tests, and therefore two separate belt testing fees.
Another example, if the student needs to test:
White → Yellow → Orange → Orange Stripe → Green → Green Stripe → Purple → Purple Stripe → Blue
that represents eight belt tests, and therefore eight separate belt testing fees is required.
The student does not need to test for multiple belts at a time. It is completely up to the student how many levels they want to test during the test day.
Once the student has completed all required CALSMA curriculum and testing through their recognized belt level, they will continue with the regular CALSMA belt progression.
BLACK BELT TRANSFER STUDENTS
Students transferring as Black Belts will follow one of the procedures below depending on whether they hold a valid Kukkiwon certification.
Black Belt WITHOUT Kukkiwon Certification
If the student does not have a verifiable Kukkiwon Dan/Poom Certificate or Kukkiwon ID, Master Jun will evaluate the student’s skills, knowledge, technique, and overall experience to determine the appropriate belt level CALSMA will recognize.
The student will be required to learn the CALSMA curriculum beginning with White Belt and progressing through each level up to their recognized belt level.
Belt Testing: The same testing policy for Color Belt transfer students applies. Each separate belt test requires the regular belt testing fee.
Black Belt WITH Kukkiwon Certification
If the student provides a valid Kukkiwon Dan/Poom Certificate or Kukkiwon ID and is successfully verified, CALSMA will immediately recognize the student’s official Kukkiwon Black Belt rank.
The student will still be evaluated by Master Jun to assess their skills, knowledge, techniques, and familiarity with the curriculum. This evaluation does not change their verified Kukkiwon rank but helps determine what curriculum and training the student needs to complete to meet CALSMA standards.
Belt Testing: A verified Kukkiwon Black Belt may complete the CALSMA curriculum and test from White Belt through Black Belt in one comprehensive belt test for one regular belt testing fee, if approved by Master Jun.
If Master Jun determines that the student is proficient in the CALSMA curriculum from White Belt through a certain belt level, the student may test through those levels in one comprehensive belt test for one regular belt testing fee. Any remaining belt levels that require additional learning or relearning must be tested separately, with one regular belt testing fee for each additional belt level tested.
BELT PLACEMENT & CALSMA STANDARDS
All transfer students are required to follow this policy. Final belt placement is determined by Master Jun based on CALSMA’s curriculum and standards, with the exception of verified Kukkiwon Black Belt ranks.
This process is not intended to disregard a student’s previous training or experience. It ensures that every student entering the CALSMA program has learned the techniques and requirements within our curriculum and has the proper foundation to continue progressing successfully at CALSMA.