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PURPLE BELT Theory

Purple Belt is the third level of the AKMA in which the student now works on training their mind actively as well as their body. The theory presented in this section of your manual will provide you with any and all relevant data necessary to the level. Students should always note that learning your theory earlier in the level greatly increases your knowledge and understanding of the inner workings of your level. Know this theory early on, and the speed at which you learn on Purple Belt will be greatly increased. 

PURPLE BELT DRILLS

PURPLE BELT KATA / TECHNIQUES

1. What is the name of the level you’re currently training on? 

  • The Mental Development Level. 

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2. What is the purpose of the level? 

  • To program the primary attitudes and incorporate them into ones overall viewpoint of self. 

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3. What steps must you take to develop the primary attitudes of a Martial Artist? 

  • First by laying the program into your mind that you can be that attitude, then by repeating it over and over again in your mind that you are the attitude. 

  • Secondly, by physically practicing and programming the relevant attitude through constant drilling. 

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4. What are the primary attitudes of a Martial Artist? 

  • Versatile Attitude – The attitude that you have an unlimited amount of weapons and movements for any situation. 

  • Flexible Attitude – The attitude that you can change from one thing to the next without getting thrown off. 

  • Mobile Attitude - The attitude that you are quick and agile, and can use that movement to your advantage on offense and defense. 

  • Spontaneous Attitude - The attitude that you can move physically without any conscious thought. 

  • Fluid Attitude - The attitude that you can move smooth and relaxed and gain power through your momentum and centrifugal force. 

  • Continuous Attitude – The attitude that you can overwhelm your opponent using constant and relentless attacks. 

  • Stable Attitude - The attitude that you are connected to the ground and thereby more powerful and in control. 

  • Precise Attitude – The attitude that your form is solid and in control, and your blows land directly on their targets.

  • Enduring Attitude – The attitude that you can keep going regardless of any physical, mental, or spiritual stress. 

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5. What is the primary emphasis of the level? 

  • The primary emphasis of the Purple Belt level is Mental. 

 

6. What are the physical goals of the level? 

  • To continue to physically develop your general combat abilities. 

  • To develop a body that is “in tune” with the mind. This is the beginning of control between mind and body. 

 

7. What is the amount of attention on self during training? 

  • 70% of your attention is on self to program the mental attitudes and continue to develop the body’s physical skills. 

  • 30% of your attention is on your opponent to project a willingness to fight on him. 

 

8. What are the mental goals of the level? 

  • To incorporate the primary attitudes into your mind. 

  • To start mentally understanding that you are capable in those abilities. 

  • To develop a strong, capable mind that can assist you instead of hinder you in a chaotic forceful situation. 

 

9. What is the role of speed and power on this level? 

  • The role of speed and power on this level is Negative. Practicing slowly allows proper attainment of physical form and proper programming of the primary mental abilities. 

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10. Traditional Name of Ranks (in Japanese) 

  • Hachikyu – 8th Degree White Belt (White) 

  • Shichikyu – 7th Degree White Belt (Orange) 

  • Rokkyu – 6th Degree White Belt (Purple) 

  • Gokyu- 5th Degree White Belt (Blue) 

 

11. Key to Success in Combat 

  • The key to success in combat is distance. Being able to attack effectively and be just out of range each time defensively gives the Martial Artist the advantage. The student should also note that if distance is correct your strike or you kick will make contact at . extension. 

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12. What is Control Distance? 

  • The distance that the strike stops prior to reaching the target. 

 

13. What are the Control Distances for the levels? 

  • All Orange Belts have a 2” control distance. 

  • All Purple Belts have a 1” control distance. 

  • All Blue Belts have a 1/2” control distance. 

  • All Upper Belts have a control distance of surface contact. 
    (Note: Learning to control your strike at the distance required will increase your ability to control your physical movements.) 

 

14. What are your fighting assumptions? 

  • Attack the target where it is expected to be, not where it is at the beginning of the attack. 

  • Anyone can avoid a single blow attack. 

  • A combination of hand strikes will only succeed on the 3rd or 4th blow with any experienced fighter. 

  • Kicking range is the best fighting range to attack or defend from successfully. 

 

15. How are the body and the mind linked together? 

  • As a person thinks, it becomes manifested in the body. 

 

16. What is the Aesthetic Visualization? 

  • A mental technique used to enhance one’s physical body. 

 

17. How does one utilize the Aesthetic Visualization? 

  • Visualize a mental image of something that has the desired physical qualities. 

  • Perceive the feeling of that particular image. 

  • Create that feeling in your body. 

 

18. How does one control multiple thoughts simultaneously? 

  • Divide your attention amongst all of your tasks, putting more attention on the difficult tasks first. 

  • Keep some attention on the previous task as you move on to the next one. 

  • Eventually you will be able to view all of your tasks as one. 

 

19. What levels in the Training Lineup are considered “Basic Training Levels?” 

  • White Belt and Orange Belt introduce Physical Development to the student. 

  • Purple Belt introduces Mental Development to the student. 

  • Blue Belt introduces Spiritual Development to the student. 

 

20. What is a student considered when they reach the Green and Advanced Green Levels? 

  • An apprentice of the AKMA. 

 

21. What is a student considered when they reach the Brown Belt Levels? 

  • A Warrior of the AKMA. 

22. What is the Basic Package for the Purple Belt Level? 

  • Stability Principles 

  • Ground Power 

  • Striking Principles 

  • Breathing 

  • Physical Fighting Potential 

  • Projection 

  • Willing to Fight Energy

 

23. Stability Principles 

  • Locate in the Center 

  • Project Downward and Create a Heavy Base 

  • Move with a Unified Body 

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24. Ground Power 

  • As the Stability Principles are created, the student allows the energy in the base to flow up and out through the striking limb and into the opponent's body. 

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25. Striking Principles 

  • Rooting: Practicing segmented strikes in which the body sets and connects to the floor at the same time contact occurs. 

  • Retraction: Practicing a pull back of ones strikes and kicks immediately after contact is made. The striking limb retracts before the rest of the body rotates into the next strike. 

  • Momentum: Practicing taking an initial step every now and then in a combination to add power from gravity and centrifugal force. 

  • Penetration: Practicing driving each blow deep into the opponent’s body many inches past surface contact. One should feel as if their energy continues on into and through the opponent’s body. 

  • Explosions: Practicing a peak of ones physical potentials and spiritual energies at the moment of impact. 

  • Compensation: Practicing positioning the center towards the force feedback experienced when making contact. 

 

26. Breathing 

  • There are four types of Breathing Techniques: Normal Breath, Geared Breath, Kiai, and Rejuvenating 

  • Normal Breathing – The breathing that is done at normal everyday energy levels. 

  • Geared Breath – Coordinating your breathing with the amount of physical energy being used. (If one moves slowly one breaths fully slowly and vice versa) 

  • Kiai – Coordinating a tightening of your breath at the exact moment that contact is made. This helps steel your body against damage, to surprise your opponent, to maximize your physical potentials for more power, and to coordinate the spirit and body to peak at that exact moment of impact. 

  • Rejuvenating – Taking three deep rejuvenating breaths, each held longer than the one before, then blowing out the air. After the three rejuvenating breaths, take 2-3 deep cleansing breaths. If done correctly you should feel close to even. 

 

27. Projection 

  • The spiritual ability to outflow ones attention towards the opponent to push them into introversion and into “at effect” state of being. 

 

28. Willing to Fight Energy 

  • The student must be able to create the energy of the willingness to fight. This means that the student is willing to physically strike and be struck by their opponent.

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29. Introversion / Extroversion 

  • Introversion – A spiritual state in which the persons attention is wholly on themselves. This state is generally associated with being at effect. 

  • Extroversion – A spiritual state in which the persons attention is out and away from themselves. This state is generally associated with being at cause. 

 

30. Seniority within the AKMA Ranks 

  • White Belts – Basic Students 

  • Orange Belts & Purple Belts – Intermediate Students 

  • Blue Belts and Up – Advanced Students 

 

31. Sparring Level Three Techniques 

  • Application of the Primary Attitudes 

  • Disengaging 

  • Proper trajectories in blocks and strikes 

  • Leading with hands (forward aggressive travel steps) 

  • Proper Penetration 

  • Breathing 

  • Traveling when in hands 

  • Realign when blocking 

 

32. What trap does an Intermediate student or early Advanced student fall into? 

  • The Ego Trap. 

 

33. How does a student avoid this trap? 

  • Understand that everyone has issues, and make the decision to work to overcome yours. 

MORE FIGHTING STRATEGIES (Not on Test)

 

INTERCEPTING 

  • Intercepting is an attack launched at the moment the opponent begins his attack. This is an advanced tactic that requires the ability to anticipate the opponent's move, and then immediately close in with an attack of your own before he can react. (Telegraphing) 

 

JAMMING 

  • An attack which is launched just prior to the opponent's, whose sole purpose is to smother the incoming blow. This technique also requires a good sense of timing. 

 

INJURING THE CORNERS 

  • This is known as limb destruction. As an opponent attacks the student strikes the vital areas of the opponent’s incoming weapon. In essence the student attacks the incoming weapons as they come into range. 

 

EVADE AND COUNTER 

  • This technique is better utilized with mobility. The student can move to just beyond the opponents attack. This is the point at which the opponent’s weapon is fully extended. At that point, the student follows the retraction of the opponent’s weapon in with an attack of their own. One strategy used to evade and counter is a parry and repositioning to a different angle followed by a strike to the opponent. 

 

DISTRACTION 

  • Distraction is dirty fighting, such as spitting prior to launching your attack. Do anything to the opponent that will take the opponents focus from your attack. 

 

FEINT AND STRIKE 

  • Feint and Strike is often used by boxers. These are the first two jabs that are thrown prior to the primary attack that has the more destructive potential. Feinting and striking is also a good way to check your opponent's speed and reaction. 

 

ATTACKING THE INTERVAL 

  • Everyone has a natural rhythm and timing. Attacking the interval is striking on the opponents half-beat. This can be better utilized during sparring situations when the opponent does not expect you to throw a strike. 

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