Fight Ability Testing - How do you guys test?

[bushido_man96]

From 7th gup on up, our students spar in testings. Usually, it will be one match, for 1 or 2 minutes. Black belts will usually spar at least 2, if not 3 times, and usually with a partner a rank above them, if not 2 ranks; it just depends on who is available.

I have a new question for everyone here: as an instructor sitting on the testing panel, what do you look for from sparring? Would you ever not pass anyone due to their sparring?

The reason I ask is because every other part of the testing has is defined as to performance perameters: forms are done a certain way, with concern to stances, techniques, and targets. One-steps are the same way. Board breaking is easy to see if they get that or not. So, when I see a no-chage at a testing, it is typically because a student totally botched a form or the one-steps, or totally botched the breaking session. I don't think I've seen anyone no-change due to not sparring well, and I've wondered why sparring doesn't get looked at the same way?

[JusticeZero]

Lack of positional awareness, or adding in pointless flowery acrobatic movements with no thought to what their opponent was doing, or disregard to the format of the roda, would all be non-passes for me if it came to it.

[DWx]

I have a new question for everyone here: as an instructor sitting on the testing panel, what do you look for from sparring? Would you ever not pass anyone due to their sparring?

I sit on our testing panel but as a sort of junior member so I don't award any marks on the practical side of the testing although I'm allowed to express my opinion to the instructors. At lower grades we're just looking for spatial awarness and a basic understanding of what targets and what techniques go together. Mid level colour belts we'd mainly be looking for control over the techniques and starting to demonstrate counters and set ups. At advanced colour belt the contact gets upped and your expected to try to "win" your fights. I don't really know about blackbelt as I've never sat on the panel for a testing but I'd expect they'd be looking at more of the same stuff.