Requirements

[Kieran-Lilith]

Okay, another one of my odd and end topics here. Are there any requirements to become a higher rank that aren't told to the lower belts until necessary?

[Shorinryu Sensei]

My requirements are probably different than most others, in that all my students have for an actual "requirement" for a test are kata's.

 

Basically, my students are tested at each and every class they attend. They are tested on effort, retention, knowledge and attendence.

 

When they are ready for their next belt, they are promoted by me. I don't have "white belt level techniques/concepts", or "black belt level techniques/concepts"...I have techniques/concepts that they need to learn. Some are basic, some are harder. During any given class, all of my students..regardless if it is their first class or they have been with me for years, learn whatever technique/concept I am teaching that day.

 

It has been working well for me during the past 25+ years of teaching.

[isshinryu5toforever]

Most of the time what you need to know to advance in rank is told to you directly or indirectly. In my dojo we now pass out a pamphlet for beginners, when I began they did not. You were required to figure out everything on your own. We were given written tests as well as physical tests though. As far as that, treat it as you would any other test. Relax, rest a bit before, and since it's physical, don't consume anything that doesn't agree wth you before hand. Other than that, as far as I know, there aren't any big secrets that one needs to know prior to testing.

[Kicks]

All of our requirements are written on poster sized paper, framed, and hung on the walls of the dojang. There is also a binder at the front of the jojang that has a detailed (step by step) description of each technique. We also have handouts of the general requirements for those who want to bring one home. At any time, anybody can get a copy of the detailed document of their requirements from the owners. There's no reason anybody shouldn't know what they are required for the next rank. Also, most of our classes are designed around learning the required techniques and combinations and practicing them.

[ncole_91]

I have all of my requirements in a manual that I check all the time. They only give us the ones that are just above our belt. Like for a white belt, you will only get yellow belt requirements. If I need to have some help with a technique or something, then I just ask a higher rank, and they have always been helpful.

[AngelaG]

Up until shodan we know the exact requirements for our next grade.

 

For black belt we know the basic syllabus, but each test will be a little bit different depending on how our examiner is feeling, and which part of our karate he wishes to study in more detail.

[SabreToothMan]

All of the requirements for all belts below black are available generally for everyone. But we don't make it a habbit of sharing the rank requirement sheets until they are needed. It is felt that the student will work on 'funner' stuff rather than building a good foundation with the basics. We even share higher belt knowlege with the students to interest them. But for black belt requirements you need to be training at that level to see the requirement sheet. It is possible that this is done to add mystery to the black belt ranks, but what we do at those is dangerous without all the earlier techniques firmly learned.

[Grenadier]

All physical requirements, time requirements, as well as technical / knowledge requirements, are clearly spelled out in our system. This way, there are no surprises, and the students know what demands are placed upon them.

 

Having all of the above makes one eligible to test, but this does not necessarily mean that someone will test. If a student's attitude (regardless of age) is rotten, or if he is a younger child that is falling behind in his school work, or if the parents give us some unpleasant news about their child, then simply put, the student will not be testing at the regularly scheduled quarterly exam.

 

If a bad attitude student shows dramatic improvement, though, a private testing session might be given at a later time, maybe 2-4 weeks after the regular exam has been given. That makeup exam time is also available for those who were ill on testing day, or did poorly at the exam and want a chance to show their corrections.

[aefibird]

Up until shodan we know the exact requirements for our next grade.

 

For black belt we know the basic syllabus, but each test will be a little bit different depending on how our examiner is feeling, and which part of our karate he wishes to study in more detail.

 

That's basically the same as in my karate association.