Insights
We can’t give you want you don’t really want!
How many times, as instructors, do we hear from students.. ‘Sensei, when can I take my next grade?’ I would say, on average, almost every week someone will approach and ask that same question - It has probably been the most well asked question since I started teaching in 1976. My reply to that student would be, ‘When you are ready.’ Additionally, I think that every instructor would be faced with the same.
We teach the student everything he needs to know for his next grading during the training session, then it is up to him to take that knowledge home and practise it thoroughly and get prepared. However, this is very often not the case. The following week all the knowledge has been forgotten, either from lack of home training or by only training once a week at the Dojo! I say to people that as a ‘rule of thumb’ you can ‘get away’ with once a week training for up to about 7th kyu/6th Kyu level. After that, a student would be needing to train AT LEAST twice week at a Dojo and almost every day at home - even if they spent 10 minutes a day, just going through the partner-work and Kata, on their own would be something - however, even this seems too much to ask. The higher up the grade ladder the student goes, the more he needs to know AND remember, as his past knowledge is just as important as the present as he may be required to demonstrate something he did previously.
"If a student wants it bad enough, he will train for it!"
If he has entered into Martial-arts as just a ‘once-a-week’ activity then he will be limiting himself and his options. In Martial-arts, you cannot ‘download’ the cheats off the internet to progress - it takes commitment. No-one I know has progressed beyond a greenbelt grade by just training one session a week without any extra training at home or at another Dojo session.
This following information is part of the Beginner’s Handout, and I feel fully explains the grade process adequately enough.
Your grading, especially the first grading, is probably one of your biggest steps in your Martial-arts career. For many, it’s probably the first one they remember the most. To make life a little easier for you we have compiled some information below that may help on your first step on the ‘grade ladder’.
Promotion.
Belts are achieved through dedicated practise and training. Once a student understands all that he requires for his next grade, and the ‘time-served’ for each level has been completed, then the student may be put forward for his grading to the next belt level.
For your 1st grading you will be allowed a certain amount of ‘flexibility’ with your test. For example: With the reciting of the Dojo-kun, you will not be expected to be ‘word perfect’ in the pronunciation and reciting. Your belt knot may not be retied 100%, or you may need a little assistance during your performance. Technically you may experience some ‘nerves’ and make a few errors. This is all quite normal. Your examiners are there to help you, and will give some ‘guidance’ and ‘pointers’ if things are getting a bit difficult.
To progress in Wado Karate.
Once a Green-belt has been achieved a student should be training and practising, under instruction at a Dojo, at least twice a week (at least three times a week for Brown and 1st to 3rd Dan Black-belts). All training should be along with the usual continual home-training. Knowledge is ongoing and intense the further the student progresses up the grade ladder. All previous grade aspects and knowledge of training should also be retained in order to pass this knowledge down to the lower graded students.
Only students, who show serious dedicated practise, and a good working knowledge of their next level, will be considered for promotion.
Remember; Instructors want you to pass not fail - If you want it, work for it!
Gary E Swift Kyoshi.