Bizarre grading requirements

[sensei8]

I'm for being physically fit at all, but, how does one being able to do 150 push-ups and/or the like equate with being able to do effective techniques? I've not done 1 push-up and/or the like during any testing in my past 45 years in the martial arts, nor have I ever required any of my students to do the same because if I can do the push-ups but I can't do any effective technque(s) effectively, then, I just might as well learn to run a marathon so that I can outrun my attacker.

[Ichi_Geki]

In kata such as saifa and gekisai which are both smashing kata, you have to have the strength to be able to smash your opponent.

Planks work the core which also work the balance, these training exercises work good for kata such as kururunfa

You may already be well conditioned enough to smash the opponents without doing the extra pushups...but I do not think I am. So thats why I incorporate them within my dan testing, because if I dont feel I am, how can I feel comfortable that my student it without the extra work?

[RichardZ]

What if a student cannot perform siad "extra" activity?

[Ichi_Geki]

What if a student cannot perform siad "extra" activity?

How so?...Do you mean like mentally disabled...?...Then there is an exception...Limbless person, exception...perfect health?...No exception.

[sensei8]

You may already be well conditioned enough to smash the opponents without doing the extra pushups...but I do not think I am.

Then don't do "smash" techniques, do something else that you can do! I'm sure that the "smashing" techniques are solid, but, like every style of the martial arts, there's many other optional techniques to use besides 'that one' particular technique.

[Ichi_Geki]

But shouldn't you be able to do all techniques by the time you get to shodan, efficiently?

[sensei8]

But shouldn't you be able to do all techniques by the time you get to shodan, efficiently?

...and effectively!

[Ichi_Geki]

Exactly so for shodan I test my students harder physically then I do for Nidan. Anything above Shodan I look for skill and not just strength.

[RichardZ]

What if a student cannot perform siad "extra" activity?

How so?...Do you mean like mentally disabled...?...Then there is an exception...Limbless person, exception...perfect health?...No exception.

Woah how I have observed and/or know about many who get their grade and cannot perform not more than 3-5 pushups.

[Ichi_Geki]

What if a student cannot perform siad "extra" activity?

How so?...Do you mean like mentally disabled...?...Then there is an exception...Limbless person, exception...perfect health?...No exception.

Woah how I have observed and/or know about many who get their grade and cannot perform not more than 3-5 pushups.

And I think that is a shame, how would the various Bushi feel if they were alive right now?