Ultimate Bo​ Testing Syllabus 

 
This is a printable guide which shows the rank requirements to advance to each specific 
rank in Ultimate Bo. Use this as a study guide, and also for when you are filming your rank 
exam videos. Note: Testing requirements are subject to change, always double-check the 
testing requirements on the “Testing” page when you click “Take the Test.”  
 
Yellow Chevron Rank Requirements 
 
Techniques 
 
● Grips/Holding the Bo 
● Stances (kata stances) 
● Long Front Stance 
● Front Stance 
● Horse Stance 
● Overhead Front Strike 
● 4 Point Combo (up-down, side-to-side) 
● Front Thrust 
● Reverse Thrust 
● Uppercut 
● Overhead Rib Strike 
● Overhead Knee Strike 
● Block 
 
Kata 
 
● Bo Kata 1 
 
Combat 
 
● Grips 
○ Normal Hold 
○ Overhand Hold  
○ Long Hold 
○ Reverse Hold 
● Stances and Positions 
○ Middle Guard 
○ High Guard 
○ Low Guard 
○ Switching Hands 
○ Footwork 
 

©2019 Global Martial Arts University and Hodgy LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Eligibility Requirements 
 
● Complete all Assignments in the Yellow Chevron level. 
● Minimum Training Hours Required Before Testing: 36 Hours 
 
Test Instructions 
 
Demonstrate all rank requirements (listed above), for Yellow Chevron. 
 
● The test is to be one continuous video from start to finish, without taking 
breaks. If you have to upload more than one video due to space restrictions 
this is okay, but it is one full exam. 
● Verbally state the name of each item before you demonstrate it. 
● Demonstrate each Traditional Technique 3 times on each side, full speed. 
● Demonstrate the kata full speed from a front angle. Then, full speed from a 
side angle. 
● Demonstrate each combat grip and position from a right dominant position, 
then left dominant position. 
● Upload your video(s) to youtube, as an "unlisted video", then add it to the 
GMAU test and submit. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

©2019 Global Martial Arts University and Hodgy LLC. All Rights Reserved.
 Green Chevron Rank Requirements 
 
Techniques 
 
● Sweep 
● Bo Back Fist 
● Down Thrust 
● Baseball Bat 
● Double Figure 8 
● Double-Double 
 
Kata 
 
● Bo Kata 2 
 
Combat 
 
● Striking Angles #1-8 
● High Block 
● Low Block 
● Side Block 
 
Eligibility Requirements 
 
● Complete all Assignments in the Green Chevron level. 
● Minimum Training Hours: 36 Hours 
 
Test Instructions 
 
Demonstrate all rank requirements (listed above), for Green Chevron. 
 
● The test is to be one continuous video from start to finish, without taking 
breaks. If you have to upload more than one video due to space restrictions 
this is okay, but it is one full exam. 
● Verbally state the name of each item before you demonstrate it. 
● Demonstrate each Traditional Technique 3 times on each side, full speed. 
● Demonstrate the Kata full speed from a front angle. Then, full speed from a 
side angle. 
● Demonstrate each Combat Technique 3 times from a right dominant 
position, then left dominant position. 
 
 
 

©2019 Global Martial Arts University and Hodgy LLC. All Rights Reserved.
 Blue Chevron Rank Requirements 
 
Techniques 
 
● Sweep Overhead Front Strike 
● Reverse Uppercut 
● Reverse Sweep Uppercut 
● 3 Point Combo 
● 6 Point Combo 
● Spinning Overhead Front Strike 
● Spinning Overhead Rib Strike 
 
Kata 
 
● Bo Kata 3 
 
Combat 
 
● Speed Strike 
● Body Targets 
● Horizontal Parry 
● Vertical Parry 
● Circular Parry 
 
 
Eligibility Requirements 
 
● Complete all Assignments in the Blue Chevron level. 
● Minimum Training Hours: 36 Hours 
 
Test Instructions 
 
Demonstrate all rank requirements (listed above), for Blue Chevron. 
 
● The test is to be one continuous video from start to finish, without taking 
breaks. If you have to upload more than one video due to space restrictions 
this is okay, but it is one full exam. 
● Verbally state the name of each item before you demonstrate it. 
● Demonstrate each Traditional Technique 3 times on each side, full speed. 
● Demonstrate the Kata full speed from a front angle. Then, full speed from a 
side angle. 
● Demonstrate each Combat Technique 3 times from a right dominant 
position, then left dominant position. 

©2019 Global Martial Arts University and Hodgy LLC. All Rights Reserved.
 Brown Chevron Rank Requirements 
 
Techniques 
 
● Sweep, Batting Stance 
● Reverse Poke 
 
Kata 
 
● Bo Kata 4 
 
Combat 
 
● Thrusts 
● Back Strikes 
● Shield Block 
 
 
Eligibility Requirements 
 
● Complete all Assignments in the Brown Chevron level. 
● Minimum Training Hours: 36 Hours 
 
Test Instructions 
 
Demonstrate all rank requirements (listed above), for Brown Chevron. 
 
● The test is to be one continuous video from start to finish, without taking 
breaks. If you have to upload more than one video due to space restrictions 
this is okay, but it is one full exam. 
● Verbally state the name of each item before you demonstrate it. 
● Demonstrate each Traditional Technique 3 times on each side, full speed. 
● Demonstrate the Kata full speed from a front angle. Then, full speed from a 
side angle. 
● Demonstrate each Combat Technique 3 times from a right dominant 
position, then left dominant position. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

©2019 Global Martial Arts University and Hodgy LLC. All Rights Reserved.
 Red Chevron Rank Requirements 
 
Techniques 
 
● One Arm Curl 
● Advancing Poke 
● Skip Overhead Front Strike 
 
Kata 
 
● Bo Kata 5 
 
Combat 
 
● Long Hold Strikes 
● Reverse Hold Strikes 
● Introduction to Bo Sparring 
● Controlled Sparring 
● Free Sparring 
● Point Sparring 
 
Eligibility Requirements 
 
● Complete all Assignments in the Red Chevron level. 
● Minimum Training Hours: 60 Hours 
 
Test Instructions 
 
Demonstrate all rank requirements (listed above), for Red Chevron. 
 
● The test is to be one continuous video from start to finish, without taking 
breaks. If you have to upload more than one video due to space restrictions 
this is okay, but it is one full exam. 
● Verbally state the name of each item before you demonstrate it. 
● Demonstrate each Traditional Technique 3 times on each side, full speed. 
● Demonstrate the Kata full speed from a front angle. Then, full speed from a 
side angle. 
● Demonstrate each Combat Technique 3 times from a right dominant 
position, then left dominant position. 
● Show a full combat point sparring match, with padded staffs, at normal 
speed and power. (Partner Required) 
 
 

©2019 Global Martial Arts University and Hodgy LLC. All Rights Reserved.
 Black Chevron Rank Requirements 
 
Techniques 
 
● Forearm Roll 
● Wushu Poke 
● One Handed Figure 8 Strike 
● 360 Overhead Around Back 
 
Kata 
 
● Bo Kata 6 
 
Combat 
 
● Sparring Concepts (Aspects of Distance, Time, Position)  
● Awareness 
 
Eligibility Requirements 
 
● Complete all Assignments in the Red Chevron level. 
● Minimum Training Hours: 72 Hours 
 
Test Instructions 
 
The black chevron exam encompasses the entire curriculum to this point, and is 
designed to show your mastery of the bo. This includes a video test and a written 
portion. 
 
Video Exam 
 
● Demonstrate Bo Kata 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. All in one successive video, without 
long breaks or waiting in between. 
● Free flow and show all Combat Bo strikes and blocks, while changing 
between all of the stances and positions. Not in any particular order, but 
rather showing a free flowing, shadow fighting demonstration of all combat 
bo that you now know.  
● Combat Point Sparring - Do two complete matches at normal speed and 
intensity. (Partner Required) 
 
 
Written Portion 
 

©2019 Global Martial Arts University and Hodgy LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Write a short piece about your bo training experience. In the essay, answer these 
questions: 
 
● Why did you originally want to learn the bo? 
● How has the Ultimate Bo training transformed you as a martial artist and 
individual? 
● What is the most important thing you have gained through this experience? 
● Why do you think weapons like the bo and sword are still trained with today? 
(in a modern/firearms society) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

©2019 Global Martial Arts University and Hodgy LLC. All Rights Reserved.
 2nd Black Chevron Rank Requirements 
 
Kata 
 
● Sakugawa No Kon 
● Bo Kata 7 
 
Bunkai 
 
● Sakugawa No Kon Bunkai #1 
● Sakugawa No Kon Bunkai #2 
● Sakugawa No Kon Bunkai #3 
 
Combat 
 
● Close Quarter Combat: Introduction 
● Close Quarter Combat: Pinning 
● Close Quarter Combat: Pushing 
● Close Quarter Combat: Slipping 
● Close Quarter Combat: Levering 
● Close Quarter Combat: Pulling 
 
Combat One Steps 
 
● Combat One Step #1 
● Combat One Step #2 
● Combat One Step #3 
● Combat One Step #4 
● Combat One Step #5 
● Combat One Step #6 
 
Eligibility Requirements 
 
● Complete all Assignments in the Red Chevron level. 
● Minimum Training Hours: 144 Hours & At Least 18 Months of Time Passed 
Since Black Chevron Earned. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

©2019 Global Martial Arts University and Hodgy LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Test Instructions 
 
Video Exam 
 
● Demonstrate Bo Kata 1, 3, 7, and Sakugawa No Kon. All in one successive 
video, without long breaks or waiting in between. 
● Create and demonstrate 4 traditional technique combinations that integrate 
a kick. Three times on each side. 
● Choose 2 bunkai applications from a kata. Explain and demonstrate these 
with a partner. (these cannot be duplicates of bunkai that you have 
demonstrated in previous assignments). (Partner Required) 
● Demonstrate Combat One Steps #1-6. Do each one step twice: once from 
front, once from side angle. (Partner Required) 
● Demonstrate all techniques from the "Real Bo Staff Self Defense" section, 
from "Extras." (Partner Required) 
● Combat Point Sparring: Do two complete matches at normal speed and 
intensity. (Partner Required) 
 
 
 
 
Ultimate Bo Instructor Certification 
 
Requirements 
 
● Enroll and complete the C ​ ertified Martial Arts Teacher​ course. (you must hold 
a minimum of black belt in some martial arts style to enter this course) 
● Hold a minimum rank of blue chevron in Ultimate Bo. 
● Complete the ​Ultimate Bo Instructor Course​. 

©2019 Global Martial Arts University and Hodgy LLC. All Rights Reserved.