Silver Knights

Silver Knights meets Saturday mornings from 9 am to 10:15 am. It is a free class available for third through eighth graders to learn the basics of Evach Lahak and fellowship.

Silver Knights is the children’s program for Evach Lahak, focusing on developing the basic skills of individual fighting and group tactics, preparing fighters to earn their yellow sash at completion. The curriculum is designed to incrementally teach third through eight graders important developmental concepts like the value of hard work, following direction, good communication, teamwork, practice, preparation, and decisiveness.

In the middle of the session, the group will partake in a short 30-minute class consisting of a big group bible lesson and a small group sword lesson. The small groups will be organized by ranks so the curriculum can be geared to what is needed to progress. The groups are designated by the lowest knot color in their sash. For example, yellows would be ranks 5, 6, and 7, and would typically learn the first sutra, close flanking, wide flanking, or one step line drills.

All fighting will take place with foam swords modeled to represent a size 36 shinai and no longer than 45 inches in length. Field leadership may acknowledge a Silver Knights that show great accuracy and control by permitting them to use a size 36 shinai, but this is handled on a case by case basis.

Advancement in the Silver Ranks denotes progress in conditioning, muscle memory, teamwork, tactics, leadership skills, and fighting ability. In order to progress, regular practice and participation is needed to learn and hone the needed skills. Ranks are not given out for time served, and people who achieve a new rank can take pride in knowing they accomplished something.

In total there are twenty-five ranks within the Silver Knights, though only rank twenty is required to meet yellow sash requirements upon graduation. Each rank builds on previous requirements thus incrementally working from the simplest building to complexity. Silver Knights will learn the first seven sutras, basic tactical concepts, up to two step line drills, the first form The Eight, basic blocks and strikes, the one-hundred drill, and will compete a fighting qualifying test. Testing will occur once a month and may be attempted by anyone who thinks they are ready. In order to advance to the next rank, testers must pass the appropriate curriculum. If a test is failed, the tester will be encouraged try again the next month. In the event that a test is failed, not all portions of the test need to be completed again on the second attempt. Specifically, the only parts that were completed successfully that need to be repeated are the Sutras, Line Drills, and The Eight. All other sections that were completed will not need to be completed again.