Testing, a good thing or a bad thing?

[taiji fajin]

I'm in two different martial arts, one that has tests for belt ranks, and one that does not (there is no belt, but you do move to more and move advanced classes / material).

 

So, which of these do you guys feel is better, and why? Are your belt tests more just ceremonial, where whether or not you have "passed" is pretty much determined beforehand, or is it an actual pass or fail to get the next highest belt? Do you feel being pushed to exhaustion during the tests is a good thing, or a bad thing? Do your tests even do that? What are the effects on the testers psyche? The test might make them feel good ("Look at what I accomplished!") or bad ("people are judging me and looking for my faults"). What about health risks, being pushed too hard and having a heat stroke, or a heart problem? Having a technique done on you, or doing one when both practitioners are dead tired? Should a person be watched, and when they have gotten good enough where they are, be promoted to the next belt, or should they have to earn it through a test? What good things do tests accomplish / show the instructor that can't be gotten out of a normal class?

 

I'm sure there are more questions than these, these just came to me as I was typing. I ran a "midterm" test today, and immediately reverted to (close to) how my old instructor ran the tests. Some of it seemed very contradictory to how I feel now about teaching, and it made me think about the whole point of testing. I'm not saying I think it should be gotten away with, or changed, or whatever, just describing how this thread came about.

 

While I know it will be hard, it definitely is for me, please, please, PLEASE, think about your reasoning when you answer. Simply because you've been taking tests your whole martial arts career does not make them a good (or bad) thing. Think about what tests give the practitioner and instructor that can not be gotten out of normal classes, and what affect it has on both people.

[TangSooGuy]

I actually wrote a 100-page research paper for my 4th Dan requirements on testing and why I feel it is not only important, but necessary, when done correctly.

 

There are a lot of things I would go back and edit now, given the time, but the main focus remains the same.

 

If you are interested, I can email it to you at some point. Unfortunately, I am working at the moment, and don't have a copy on hand, nor much time to go into this subject.

 

Let's just say I think testing is extremely important, as long as it is actually a TEST, and not just a show....

[taiji fajin]

Wow, I would love that, thank you. If you get a break from working and find a copy, pm me and I'll give you an e-mail address to send it to.

 

I'm not saying that testing is a bad thing, only that it can be a bad thing. It would be great to see a paper written about the importance of it, though, and I'm sure it would help me in figuring out the best ways to test people.

[cathal]

I am also interested, TangSooGuy. I'm always interested in hearing about other's takes on things.

 

For me, personally, I feel it is a good thing to have testing. Whether or not the system gives you a new coloured belt/sash, etc. is mostly moot. But it does show that you're progressing and understanding of the techniques.

[A. Orstrom]

A man named Patrick Augé has written an article on AikiWeb.com about the purpose of examinations that is quite interesting.

 

http://www.aikiweb.com/testing/auge2.html

 

Personally I like the testing process.

 

I train in a dojo that almost never tests, and one that tests every 3 months. I really enjoy practicing the techniques I have to do for the test, and having a set goal you have to achieve by a certain date motivates me a great deal. I feel much more progress and that helps me to attend classes even I'm tired, in a bad mood etc.

 

I know that these are only my personal experiences, and that they perhaps aren't what you asked about, but I include them anyway.

 

Read the article, it is very well written.

[TangSooGuy]

Anyone who wants to read my take...just PM me an email address, and I'll get you a copy. It may not be tonight, but I'll get it to you by tomorrow night.

 

Sorry, but I'm busy til 5:00, and I teach classes tonight until 9:00.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

My students are tested from the moment they step into the dojo, until they leave the dojo...and they know it.

 

I promote students when they have shown me they know the material and have advanced in skill level and understanding to whgere I feel they need to be for their next belt.

 

I don't make a big deal out of promotions except black belt promotions. Even then, it's nowhere near what most other dojos do.

[cathal]

So you have belts in a duffle back and hand them out during class, when you feel someone has advanced in level?

[Shorinryu Sensei]

So you have belts in a duffle back and hand them out during class, when you feel someone has advanced in level?

 

Uh...not quite. I watch my students closely at every practice and when I think they've reached that point where I feel they are ready to advance up a belt level, I might ask them to show me some specific things, such as a kata that I know they have had problems with to make sure they have it where I want it, and when I'm satisfied with what they can do, the next class I will have a certificate ready to give them at the end of practice. They are responsible for getting their own belts. I either order them, or more often they go down to the local large commercial TKD dojo where they keep belts in stock and they buy their own.

 

Like I said, I don't make a big deal out of the promotion process. They know what I expect from them and those that show me they are willing to work hard, are rewarded. I don't believe in 2 day testings, being able to show me they can do 100 pushups, or make them write 100 page essays. That has nothing to do with the martial arts IMHO. I expect them to train hard and to take what I teach them seriously and show me a willingness to do what is expected of them. Those that do, advance. Those that don't...well, don't!

[cathal]

Ah, ok.

 

Our testing process is similar, but a master is necessary to fill out the certificate to make it all official. Our tests are very straightforward and quick. We will do some kihon, a kata, and then kumite. I haven't seen one go over 20 minutes.