Time in grade

[Jay]

I would like to add that this is one of the reason that I dislike ranking.

Its a shame that a lot of students give up because they feel like they are not making progress. There have been many talented people that have left because they just get fed up of doing the same thing over and over again.

Its mainly the reason why I gave up, I was a 1st Kyu and didn't get time to train as much as I wanted because I worked hard at school. I only trained once a week. It took so long to learn the 4 different kata and one steps and everything that I just got fed up.

I decided just because someone can do a kata that I can't doesn't mean they can fight better than me or have better technique. I was also sick of 12year olds getting to black belt before me.

It took me a long time to realise that the real reason I was doing martial arts was to learn stuff. I wasn't learning things that would make me better like kata or one steps or line work, so I left.

[RichardZ]

I would like to add that this is one of the reason that I dislike ranking.

Its a shame that a lot of students give up because they feel like they are not making progress. There have been many talented people that have left because they just get fed up of doing the same thing over and over again.

Its mainly the reason why I gave up, I was a 1st Kyu and didn't get time to train as much as I wanted because I worked hard at school. I only trained once a week. It took so long to learn the 4 different kata and one steps and everything that I just got fed up.

I decided just because someone can do a kata that I can't doesn't mean they can fight better than me or have better technique. I was also sick of 12year olds getting to black belt before me.

It took me a long time to realise that the real reason I was doing martial arts was to learn stuff. I wasn't learning things that would make me better like kata or one steps or line work, so I left.

IMHO, this is a valid grievance to not succeed, thus lacking an attempt to further study something or somewhere else.

[Ichi_Geki]

I would like to add that this is one of the reason that I dislike ranking.

Its a shame that a lot of students give up because they feel like they are not making progress. There have been many talented people that have left because they just get fed up of doing the same thing over and over again.

Its mainly the reason why I gave up, I was a 1st Kyu and didn't get time to train as much as I wanted because I worked hard at school. I only trained once a week. It took so long to learn the 4 different kata and one steps and everything that I just got fed up.

I decided just because someone can do a kata that I can't doesn't mean they can fight better than me or have better technique. I was also sick of 12year olds getting to black belt before me.

It took me a long time to realise that the real reason I was doing martial arts was to learn stuff. I wasn't learning things that would make me better like kata or one steps or line work, so I left.

IMHO, this is a valid grievance to not succeed, thus lacking an attempt to further study something or somewhere else.

I agree with Richard.

The time in is about loyalty to your club. and your dedication to its members. Karate should last you your whole life. So whats to rush to shodan?

[RichardZ]

Society is a "want it now" type. Microwave ovens, self service fuel stations, instant foods, etc., seem to strangle the preserverance of patience, perfection, and quality.

[Toptomcat]

Yet to measure the time between gradings in days, months, or years is to deny the difference between someone who goes to a half-hour karate class once a week and someone undergoing a live-in apprenticeship at a dojo, studying his art six hours a day.

Why not make time between gradings dependent on active hours spent training rather than days between gradings?

[Ichi_Geki]

Or why does the teacher just choose when to rank his students?

[Jay]

I would like to add that this is one of the reason that I dislike ranking.

Its a shame that a lot of students give up because they feel like they are not making progress. There have been many talented people that have left because they just get fed up of doing the same thing over and over again.

Its mainly the reason why I gave up, I was a 1st Kyu and didn't get time to train as much as I wanted because I worked hard at school. I only trained once a week. It took so long to learn the 4 different kata and one steps and everything that I just got fed up.

I decided just because someone can do a kata that I can't doesn't mean they can fight better than me or have better technique. I was also sick of 12year olds getting to black belt before me.

It took me a long time to realise that the real reason I was doing martial arts was to learn stuff. I wasn't learning things that would make me better like kata or one steps or line work, so I left.

IMHO, this is a valid grievance to not succeed, thus lacking an attempt to further study something or somewhere else.

I agree with Richard.

The time in is about loyalty to your club. and your dedication to its members. Karate should last you your whole life. So whats to rush to shodan?

Because I felt I was not being rewarded for quality.

I also felt I was not learning anything, the path of the arts is different for every individual. Karate no longer worked for me, I read something called The Tao of JKD and it opened my eyes. I realized how limited I was and how weak in certain areas I was. They could not be corrected through karate alone, I felt I had learned all there was to learn. After a certain stage you just refine. Just as a sculptor starts by taking off big chunks, as he progresses he chisels smaller and smaller chunks.

[mudansha]

Or why does the teacher just choose when to rank his students?

That is what was suspicious about my dojo. Students are tested like clockwork. One can go 3 hours a day, 4 days a week, and test no sooner than the karateka that goes for 1 hour a week.

I would feel better about it if they determined it on skill rather than time served. As long as one pays his $70 per month, he is tested every 6 months (4th kyu and higher).

[still kicking]

mudansha wrote:

Students are tested like clockwork. One can go 3 hours a day, 4 days a week, and test no sooner than the karateka that goes for 1 hour a week...I would feel better about it if they determined it on skill rather than time served.

Does the fact that they tested at the same time mean that they would necessarily get promoted at the same time? Just because it's testing day and you've put the time in doesn't mean you should get promoted, in my opinion. Hopefully it is not just a matter of "knowing" the required kata and other required techniques, but showing improvement, committment, (as shown by training regularly, and working to improve weaknesses), spirit, and the like. IMHO.

[mudansha]

mudansha wrote:

Students are tested like clockwork. One can go 3 hours a day, 4 days a week, and test no sooner than the karateka that goes for 1 hour a week...I would feel better about it if they determined it on skill rather than time served.

Does the fact that they tested at the same time mean that they would necessarily get promoted at the same time? Just because it's testing day and you've put the time in doesn't mean you should get promoted, in my opinion. Hopefully it is not just a matter of "knowing" the required kata and other required techniques, but showing improvement, committment, (as shown by training regularly, and working to improve weaknesses), spirit, and the like. IMHO.

In over 3 years of training, I have never heard of anyone failing a test.