Gradings too easy?

[Slayer2004]

Hi everyone,

I was just reading another karate forum and one topic that came up was the fact that some people think that gradings for kyu grades are too easy and often given to people who do not deserve them.

Also it was said that the cost is too expensive and should cover the cost of the belt too.

I run my own club in the UK and grade each student acording to my grading syllabus which I devised to ensure that I cater for speed, power and technique on every section. Everything is marked on a grading sheet so that students are able to reflect on areas should they require further development (obviously they all do, but you get what I mean I hope).

None of my students will ever pass just because they paid the fee and I will fail anyone who is not upto the standard during their grading. I charge £10 for the grading and then £2.50 for their belt should they pass.

Does anyone else feel that students are passing when they have not achieved their grade?

I would love to hear everyones points on this issue.

Regards

Andy

[ninjanurse]

You are not doing your students or your system any favors by "passing" a student before they are ready. That being said-all students are not the same and you do have to take into account their strengths and weakness when evaluating them. Kyu ranks, while they are an indicator of technical progress, are where the student is "learning how to learn" not where they master a skill and I personally feel that a better indicator of an instructors "judgement" is what his/her black belts look like.

[RichardZ]

Grading is earned upon progress. Progress in terms of skill varies upon each individual.