trainig with lower/higher ranking students

[jaymac]

We too train with mixed ranks in our classes. We do have classes set aside for higher ranks, but lately our instructor has not held them too much. However, I think he is trying to get everyone uniform in the techniques from white to black. We have had a large amount of new students all of a sudden and have noticed from some of the higher ranking students, that they are not always showing technique as it has been shown to them. So this may be why we havent had too many advanced classes lately.

[CheekyMusician]

I think its best to be able to train with all ranks. There's a lot to learn from those above and those below you. In fact, when sparring sometimes I find that the beginners can be more difficult to defend against than the experienced members of the class as the beginners tend to be all over the place and you've no idea of what is coming next!

Also, sometimes it can be the case (especially with adults) that they don't test or don't test very frequently, so even though they may be wearing a lower belt colour than you are, in reality their skills may far surpass that.

Its good to get a focus on specific ranks, though, too if time and space permit, especially for kata, but all ranks doing kata together can work well too. At one of the clubs I go to we often all do kata and start at the beginning and work through them. Sometimes we're told not to progress past the kata we need for our next rank or sometimes we're told to just try and keep up and work through all the kata. The instructor just simply focuses the majority of his attention on the group that needs it most. For example, by the time we're all trying to do 2nd dan kata he only occassionally stops to help the lower ranks, but he'll spend most of his time working with the 1st dans who are preparing to sit their second dan. I think that works pretty well as it gives the lower ranks a chance to try their hand at advanced kata and even though they might not be very successful, at least they can familiarize themselves with it, plus the upper ranks have more reason to try and keep themselves in check and perform the kata properly as they know they've got a whole bunch of lower ranks behind them all frantically trying to copy their movements!!

[hawkfish]

I feel that training with different ranks is a huge advantage. Not only can you see how the higher ranks perform, you can also see how you have improved against the lower ranks.

One of the senior Sensei's at our club once said, when you are training, try to get next to the people in your class that are better than you. If you train against them in your mind and start to do things the way that they do them, you will become better than those that just train with everyone else.

One of my good friends is a rank higher than me but when he goes to the tournaments he smoked everyone. I always try to train next to him in class and because of that, we always work harder and try to beat each other. If we are doing kihon, we will try to get in lower stances than each other. If we are sparring, we push each other even harder than if we were working with people of the same rank or lower. It has really helped me push myself more than if I was working with only people at the same level as myself.

On the other end, working with people at lower ranks gives you the experience of working with someone who is not as polished or experienced as you. Their punches might be sloppy or kicks too low but it gives you the ability to defend yourself against someone who is not as good as you. I also feel that it helps you if you might have forgotten some of the basic moves that you might not have done for a while.

[Zorbasan]

i think a mixture of both is good.

for senior belts, its good to train with senior belts cos they can push and push without the worry of the class being held up with the instruction that junior belts need.

junior belt classes are good for them as they are able to have a full class that concentrates of the things they need to learn.

but it is also good to mix it up a bit to gain diversity, seniors get to train with less experienced people which will help them work on control. juniors will lift when training with more senior players.

[EclecticFighter]

I think you must train both with your level and in mixed class.

For beginners, it is paramount they have their own class so they can learn rapidly and most importantly their basics and the instructor can focus on them. Good basics are necessary if they don't want to have problem later on. It's the foundation upon which you build your art.

Training in mixed classes is good for having partners of all ages, sizes, skills and so on. This helps you improve a lot. On the other hand, the instructor's attention is diluted a lot and the level of difficulty remains low for the advanced students.

Advanced students must have their own classes too, otherwise they will reach a plateau. You can't learn black belt stuff in mixed classes because the instructor can't teach it. If he does, he will spend too much time trying to help the less advanced students or they will be the ones left behind. As one of my previous sensei once told me: "You start doing karate at black belt". He was right. At that point you know your moves, but you are still barely aware of what's going on inside. Advanced katas are not difficult because of the fancy moves but because of the mastery of your inner self needed to perform them.

[bushido_man96]

I think you must train both with your level and in mixed class.

For beginners, it is paramount they have their own class so they can learn rapidly and most importantly their basics and the instructor can focus on them. Good basics are necessary if they don't want to have problem later on. It's the foundation upon which you build your art.

Training in mixed classes is good for having partners of all ages, sizes, skills and so on. This helps you improve a lot. On the other hand, the instructor's attention is diluted a lot and the level of difficulty remains low for the advanced students.

Advanced students must have their own classes too, otherwise they will reach a plateau. You can't learn black belt stuff in mixed classes because the instructor can't teach it. If he does, he will spend too much time trying to help the less advanced students or they will be the ones left behind. As one of my previous sensei once told me: "You start doing karate at black belt". He was right. At that point you know your moves, but you are still barely aware of what's going on inside. Advanced katas are not difficult because of the fancy moves but because of the mastery of your inner self needed to perform them.

That is a nice first post, EclecticFighter. Welcome to KarateForums!

[EclecticFighter]

Thank you!

I will do my best to be as interesting and open minded as the other members!

[bushido_man96]

You are welcome. We look forward to your input.

[PlasmaShock]

loving the posts guys. keep it comming.

[lordtariel]

It's always good to practice in mixed ranks, but at the same time, training with people at the same level is good as well. Try to balance the two, go to a beginner class from time to time and go to an advance class from time to time. It'll teach you prespective.