Grading attitude

[Dent]

Osu!

How do the esteemed Members feel about this idea?

Gradings till brown belt are scheduled every X months. After brown, Y sessions need to be completed to become eligible for the next grade, but that grading can be sprung at any time. (I do believe Dan tests should be at an event. Lots of potential partners, and a good group to celebrate the results. Or to learn from the mistakes of others...)

I think that this should promote a certain constancy to both the Dojo training, and our efforts outside of it. No cramming, but dedicated effort 365.

Osu!

[seienchin]

Originally Posted by Dent

Osu!

How do the esteemed Members feel about this idea?

Gradings till brown belt are scheduled every X months. After brown, Y sessions need to be completed to become eligible for the next grade, but that grading can be sprung at any time. (I do believe Dan tests should be at an event. Lots of potential partners, and a good group to celebrate the results. Or to learn from the mistakes of others...)

I think that this should promote a certain constancy to both the Dojo training, and our efforts outside of it. No cramming, but dedicated effort 365.

Osu!

Interesting idea, but I'd take a different slant on it.

As I was "raised", the senior kyu grades are 4th kyu and above. So the expectation was the greens and browns would behave like mature karate-ka, and take responsibility for their own training.

I'd suggest "springing" the grading at the LOWER grades, to get in early with the message and habit of regular training and no cramming. habits established early will influence later behaviours.

I think that the brown and black belt gradings need to be scheduled in advance for the reasons you have stated - witnesses, sparring partners, and a sense of occasion.

So interestingly, I am proposing the exact opposite, but for exactly the same reasons!

[ksan]

In our organisation IFK-Holland, all gradings upto and including brown belt are under your own sensei. Ikkyu (first kyu) and up must be done on the national summercamp (only 1x a year) in front of the grading commision.

The kyu grades can be done at anytime the sensei wants to give them, but they almost always announced up front so people can prepare.

Some organisations use grading officer`s, where a sensei or shihan (not being the normal instructor of that dojo) comes in and takes the grading.

[Dent]

Osu!

Originally Posted by seienchin

Interesting idea, but I'd take a different slant on it.

As I was "raised", the senior kyu grades are 4th kyu and above. So the expectation was the greens and browns would behave like mature karate-ka, and take responsibility for their own training.

I'd suggest "springing" the grading at the LOWER grades, to get in early with the message and habit of regular training and no cramming. habits established early will influence later behaviours.

I think that the brown and black belt gradings need to be scheduled in advance for the reasons you have stated - witnesses, sparring partners, and a sense of occasion.

So interestingly, I am proposing the exact opposite, but for exactly the same reasons!

I don't mind starting earlier, but I figured some leeway, particularly for younger members, and brown onward sounded fair. (It's just an idea anyway. We have lots of time to refine it. )

With the idea of an annual grading date for the BB's, I still like the dual concept that i) Every BB participates and ii) the candidates are only informed of their testing upon arrival. (That'll add an edge to the proceedings. )

Osu!

[Nix]

Originally Posted by Dent

With the idea of an annual grading date for the BB's, I still like the dual concept that i) Every BB participates and ii) the candidates are only informed of their testing upon arrival. (That'll add an edge to the proceedings.

If they are arrived upon arrival, how should they practice? And doesn't this also mean that talented, yet not very dedicated, 1st kyu's may suddenly grade for kuro obi, while very dedicated students are left out? You also mentioned in your earlier post that brown and black belts should be able to grade after a specific number of training sessions, rather than practining activelly in a set timeframe. I disagree with this, as I believe a great level of persistance and dedication is nescesarry to attain one of the higher ranks.

We have discussed this before, and I still don't agree that all black belts should participate in the grading, whether they are there to grade or no. It's a serious examination, and I think it would be much more comfortable for both the examiners and the examinees that there are no unnescesarry activity in the dojo. If a black belt wishes to observe, then by all means let him, but there is no reason to crowd the floor. Attention at those grading, and nothing else.

[ksan]

Originally Posted by Nix

We have discussed this before, and I still don't agree that all black belts should participate in the grading, whether they are there to grade or no. It's a serious examination, and I think it would be much more comfortable for both the examiners and the examinees that there are no unnescesarry activity in the dojo. If a black belt wishes to observe, then by all means let him, but there is no reason to crowd the floor. Attention at those grading, and nothing else.

Less people active, will give the person holding the grading (the instructor) more posibility to actually look at the students who are grading. Less chance for the students to get confused. Also less people to "cheat" off of.....

[Dent]

Osu!

Originally Posted by Nix

If they are arrived upon arrival, how should they practice? And doesn't this also mean that talented, yet not very dedicated, 1st kyu's may suddenly grade for kuro obi, while very dedicated students are left out? You also mentioned in your earlier post that brown and black belts should be able to grade after a specific number of training sessions, rather than practining activelly in a set timeframe. I disagree with this, as I believe a great level of persistance and dedication is nescesarry to attain one of the higher ranks.

We have discussed this before, and I still don't agree that all black belts should participate in the grading, whether they are there to grade or no. It's a serious examination, and I think it would be much more comfortable for both the examiners and the examinees that there are no unnescesarry activity in the dojo. If a black belt wishes to observe, then by all means let him, but there is no reason to crowd the floor. Attention at those grading, and nothing else.

I think I should clarify my position a little more.

i) Essentially, I would like members to practice all the time. If they are in practice, then the grading shouldn't be a problem.

ii) I don't see how talent will overcome dedication. If the members have done the training, then they should be prepared to take the grading. It isn't that only one or the other should pass.

iii) I think that there should be a minimum number within the timeframe. For example, if the grading is at the end of the year, and someone makes first Kyu in October, they won't have time to make the minimum number within the time available. They should be able to prepare adequately for the grading the following year, and plan their training accordingly.

iv) With the grading being held at a national event, I would think that at least the grading will take place in a large area. Having the candidates in the front rows and a gap between them and the others should make it easier to tell who's who in the grading.

Please do point out any other issues, as I feel that your ideas will help find a better kind of testing procedure.

Osu!

[mudanshatron]

In my Ju-Jitsu dojo there are no set grading days. Only rough guidelines regarding estimated times between grades, but generally students progress literally at their own pace.

When Shihan decides you're ready to progress he'll tell you early on in the lesson that he wants to run through the syllabus with you. It may or may not be your complete grading syllabus (every student has a copy for their own study) - usually it's just the few points that require further confirmation as he has already been closely monitoring your progress during regular classes. If everything goes well, it's announced to the class at bow out that you have progressed to the next grade (certificates and belts come later) - if not you keep training as per usual and are assessed again at a later date.

All the kyu gradings are done in this manner. However Dan gradings are a closed event open only to participants and selected Uke, as far as I know Dan grades are a 1 to 2 day event preformed in front of a panel of judges.

I like to think of it in a way that every time I train Ju-Jitsu I'm progressing (grading in some way shape or form) and as such I aim to perform at 110% of my potential all the time, just as you would if you were at a formal grading.

I try to carry this mindset over to my Kyokushin training, giving 110% always (including all training sessions no matter whether is kihon, kata or kumite) and attending gradings only when encouraged by my Senseis, or to help out wherever needed, perhaps as an extra body in kumite? or a uke to be thrown around and locked up in the self defence section

[Deaken]

I like all of the feedback to the question, thank you. I should clarify that although by rank I am technically permitted to grade someone to Shodan, as a policy (that I agree with and like), everyone in Eastern Canada (IKO1) is personally graded by Shihan Gilbert in Montreal either at his dojo or with Shihan Lamarre. This grading is twice a year at the same time every year. Nidan, Sandan and Yondan gradings are once a year held in October at Shihans dojo.

So this somewhat follows what was sugested above, that gradings below Shodan are not scheduled, but dan gradings are. Still lots to consider as I try and formalise the process somewhat more.