when is the right time

[shukokai2000]

at our club we grade when the student is ready for the next step on the path. We had a student leave and he took about 3 others with him, because he kept moaning when was he going for his grade. He was a novice and only been at my class a couple of months, it was'nt his time. So he left to go to another club teaching a completley different style. Although he only attends once per week they graded him after 2 yes 2 lessons, because of this ease he took a couple more of my students, so they could earn these easy grades.. Why do the lack of teaching ability and think they will gain repect or are the instructors of these dojo's want a fast money earner with to regular grading costing students with nothing to gain.

[Why_Worry]

I think that if someone really wants to learn, teach them as much as you can. If someone just cares about going up belt ranks, let them. Its their problem, although you could also take the opposite stance and dont let them get anywhere until they realize that the only way to get somewhere is by trying. Remember that if you want to get somewhere, unless you start moving there, you're never gonna ge tthere.

[gheinisch]

so they could earn these easy grades.. the

I don't think they really earned those grades. Not after two lessons! Do they really think they earned the rank? Our instructor say's he'll get us a black belt for five bucks in three days if we want. But does that make us a black belt. No!!! I worked for six years for my belt and truly feel like I have earned it. And continue to learn something new in ever class I go to. The belt you wear has nothing to do with you being a Martial Artist, the knowledge you acquire during your journey has everything to do with it. And I'm not only referring to the fighting skills obtained. The life skills are much more important to me.

[Jiffy]

The way we deal with it in our school is to try and hold the standard of the grading, regardless of who is whining. We never refuse people from grading, however if we feel they are not ready, we strongly advise they don't grade. If they insist and grade, they take their chances either way. So far, we have not had to fail anyone on their grading, but I did come close this month. I never worry about losing students. If they leave for the right reasons, then all good luck to them. If they leave for the wrong reasons, then they wouldn't have stayed anyway. Our school is now entering it's 9th year and it seems to have worked for us so far.

[Zorba]

Clubs that let people pass easily will also lose students.

I am starting to get right back in to my martial arts after an extended break, but before my leave of absense i was a black belt at a club that started promoting some dubious people.

when your serious and dedicated students start seeing people acheive grades with out the skill level and understanding required, they will begin to question their own ability, and move to a more diciplined club.

so you have a choice, keep the dedicated students that want to learn, or keep the students that are only interested in belt colour.

[patusai]

We never refuse people from grading, however if we feel they are not ready, we strongly advise they don't grade. If they insist and grade, they take their chances either way. .

That's a good policy. Some will still test, fail and complain about that. Never-the-less allowing them to test is still a good way to do it.

I will say that some instructors who are friends of mine expect too much and some too little. Both, in the end, lose students. Some students go from the overly high expectation instructor to the other and vise versa. Some find something in the middle.

[jaymac]

I was scrolling through different posts and came upon this one. People mostly (and unfortunately) care about ranking. In order to prevent people from feeling as though they arent achieving any type of rank, we give stripes on belts for learning requirements in that belt level. It is really just providing positive reinforcent and short term goals. You would think that it would only work on little kids, but it works for adults too.

[A. Orstrom]

In our dojo we allow people to try out for a new grade until the 5th kyu test. If he instructor doesn't feel you are up to it, he/she will tell you, but you get to try anyway. 5th kyu and above need the go ahead from their instructor in order to try.

This seems to work pretty well, people are satisfied, and everbody knows that failing is a very real possibility. This makes them try hard and consequently take their grades seriously afterwards.

Last time I graduated, it was the first time (out of my 4 graduations) that everybody passed. Usually one or two will fail.

[Fairfax_Uechi]

Although he only attends once per week they graded him after 2 yes 2 lessons, because of this ease he took a couple more of my students, so they could earn these easy grades.. Why do the lack of teaching ability and think they will gain repect or are the instructors of these dojo's want a fast money earner with to regular grading costing students with nothing to gain.

Well it's said. I see your from the UK. I'm both sad and happy to see that you have the same instant desire mentality that we have here in the U.S. Sad because it's a bad sign for the world. Happy because it's not just the U.S.

One thought that comes to mind, is that these students have now gone to a McDojo. There's not much you can do about it. But what bothers me is that the McDojos continue to grow and as we all know the more and more they do the less respect that the true martial artist gets. The perception is that we're all products of these places. I'm sure at some point, I'll just keep my training totally to myself and my very close friends which is both sad a blessing. Sad in that I'll get very selective in my teaching and who will get to learn what I've learned. A blessing in that I'll bring my art further internally, and the few students that I teach will be the ones that I think able to carry the principles and beliefs that I have about my art.

[Brandon Fisher]

It happens to often. Many just don't realize the value of the hard work. To many people these days want it the easy way. There is no easy way in true martial arts.