Student "busted" back to white belt

[lordtariel]

I've never seen this before- I don't know quite how I feel about it... I guess a certain level of maturity is expected with each rank, so it's reasonable. I just see a potential for abuse given the cost of testing being of benifit to the sensei.

Look at it this way, someone comes in to check out your dojo and they see a higher level belt goofing off and making problems. Do you want that to be the impression your dojo gives? When a student is permanently stripped of rank, it's true they have to retest, but they don't have to pay for retesting.

[longarm25]

I agree with the concept unless hes has to pay for all the tests over than its just a scam

[bushido_man96]

I agree with the concept unless hes has to pay for all the tests over than its just a scam

Well, it is only a scam if it becomes a habit. I think making them pay or not is up to the instructor. I imagine most would not force it, though.

[Muki]

Paying for the exams all over again doesn't sound right to me. There are other, more efficient ways to discipline a disobedient student anyway...

The disciplined student will only do one of 2 things…. He will either quit, or he will improve his behavior. Either way, sensei gets what he wants. (Read that last line again over and over, it’s very important.

I couldn't agree more.

We have a general rule in our club. When someone is not behaving properly or is missing classes for too long, he or she gets sent to the beginners group and has to start over. No need to pass the exams all over again tough. It seems to be working cause there is not a single person in my group who doesn't wan't to be there and train hard. No goofing around and stuff...

[Zanshin]

For me, the situation is clear.

I think if, after trying your best with disruptive students, he / she won't change their ways, you are well within your rights to ask them to leave the club.

Remember, as a teacher you have an obligation to your other students to deliver the best possible instruction to them.

I am fortunate that I do not "eat from karate" as it were, but I have to say that in the few cases that that I have come across this problem, the student in question has left of their own volition.

Personally, I wouldn't mess around. I would just show the student in question the door!

[ninjanurse]

If you use money as punishment then you are missing the point of "busting a student to white belt"...this is a lesson no amount of money can buy.

[Sensei Rick]

I don't think there is an instructor in the world that is doing this for money. That isn't the point, this is a behavioral thing not financial.

[marie curie]

I've never seen this before- I don't know quite how I feel about it... I guess a certain level of maturity is expected with each rank, so it's reasonable. I just see a potential for abuse given the cost of testing being of benefit to the sensei.

Look at it this way, someone comes in to check out your dojo and they see a higher level belt goofing off and making problems. Do you want that to be the impression your dojo gives? When a student is permanently stripped of rank, it's true they have to retest, but they don't have to pay for retesting.

In this case I think its a great idea.

I just thought that if they had to pay all over again, then it would half the punishment for kids with more money as it is for those who don't have as much, and I think a severe punishment like that should be something more even.

[Akaratechick]

it can definitely be tricky, when you think of all the time and effort put into testing a student. Our last test we had 17 students testing and two instructors, I was a brown belt so I helped with the testing but I could see requiring a fee for the problem student to test again. I do think it is negotiable and needs to be discussed with the parents carefully.

[HongKongFooey]

Some people believe that rank in Karate school actually means anything. The instructor can take the student's belt, but he can't take away what was learned.