Have you ever heard about a student failing a belt test?

[simpso1j]

Yes. I've seen several over the years. This usually happens when a sensei submits a student for promotion just to have someone from their dojo testing. I've seen tests where the person was up to a year away from actually being ready, based on their performance in the test.

[cathal]

My dojo is also affiliated with the ISKF.

[greyhound]

Hi,

I've only been taking shotokan karate for a month or so, and there was a belt test soon after I started. I wasn't at the test, but while all of the adults from our dojo passed their tests, a bunch of the kids going after higher belts failed. From what I heard, they were all technically proficient, but their poor attitudes and lack of respect forced the tester to fail them. There were some very unhappy kids after that. They'd apparently been warned to take it seriously, but I guess they didn't listen. Our instructor was out of town for the test, in Las Vegas for a tournament, and I wonder if that might be one reason the kids got a little too full of themselves.

Brenda

[Shorin Ryuu]

Within my organization, the ones that I have mainly heard about failing a belt test are usually those testing for high rank (4th, 5th, 6th dan) as the standards are quite high. They are usually asked to retest later though.

Recently, there was a rule established where in order to test for these ranks (at least 5th and 6th dan I think) you have to test in front of three Kyoshi level instructors (7th or above).

In the case of lower belt testings, there are not as many failures for several reasons. The first is that in the grand scheme of things, color belts don't mean too much, so there are a few people that kind of get by with time spent in grade, so to speak. This varies from dojo to dojo, of course, as some instructors allow less of this than others. Once they get higher, there is a tendency for brown belts and shodan to usually "deserve" their rank more than others. Again, I have seen some disappointments, both in my style and others.

To be totally honest, I think people should be mature enough not to test if they aren't ready. This is a bit harder at lower ranks, especially if they are younger. The rank system isn't the best thing in the world, but if it is going to be used, it might as well be used correctly. As a corollary, instructors shouldn't make their students test unless they are ready or are assured they will "step up to the plate".

I've tested for all of my rank, although my current instructor does not test for rank (he also only gives out white, brown and black belts), although he is in the same organization I've always trained in. For the granting of lower ranks, organization control is decentralized, so the individual instructor is given latitude to test people or award rank as they see fit. I kind of much prefer my instructor's way of doing it, as I think testing isn't really that important. But that's another topic...

[CrazyChild13]

My friend that takes karate with me actually failed his orange belt test ......I kinda feel bad its not because he failed the physical part but he did something wrong out side of the karate school and threfore he was penelized

[Shorin Ryuu]

My friend that takes karate with me actually failed his orange belt test ......I kinda feel bad its not because he failed the physical part but he did something wrong out side of the karate school and threfore he was penelized

If he was being penalized for doing something wrong, then why did they bother testing him at all?

[strangepair03]

I and my dojo mates have only been tested when we were really ready...so no, I have never seen someone fail a rank test.

[ladyj]

We never set a test date if I don't feel like the student can pass. However we have failed students before. For instance we had 4 students testing for BB and they all just knew they would pass just because... They arrived 10min late and they we not dressed properly so we sent them home and told them we would be back in touch to set up another test date. We called each student in separately and discussed what happened and that attitude was just as importance as performance and if they thought we were going to promote them just because they had the time in they were wrong, that a test shows how they will preform under pressure (testing in front of a panel). For our underbelts we will not set a test date if there is doubt about attitude. We will call them in and discuss the attitude issues then we will observe to see if they are trying before a test date is set.

[kenttiensankari]

Few guys failed their test last december, they were trying blue belt. And one guy did not even had a change to try since the sensei said he had not trained enough.

[pittbullJudoka]

I agree with those who said to be mature enough to let a test pass you by if you don't feel ready.I know child do not understand this.When I first started training in Shorin Ryu as a teenager I had so much pressure to promote quickly because my brother also trained there.I believe that had alot to do with me failing a promotion.The most recent time I began to train in Ryu Kyu Kenpo I had no interest in obtaining belts and still don't but my instructor insists that all student wear their current rank.Senei says one should be proud of their rank and that I am.I have learned in the eight years I took off training that I just want to learn.If I promote so be it and if I do not so be it but I will train harder than before to correct my faults.Belt just hold up you pants.

I just say to those of us that have failed a test and over come the disappointment and contiued to train.Congratulations we have learned from that and failure is part of all parts of life and we learned from it.