Should there really be a time limit/requirement to test?

[Saie]

Hello! I'm just asking for opinions, should a belt exam really be based upon the time required on a certain rank, or more based upon whether you truly have the skills/requirements down to advance?

Personally, my problems with a "time requirement" are as follows;

- Scam to keep you staying more months in order to pay for their service,

- To keep control of other students and their progression to not let them feel left behind if students advance more quickly.

I believe that, if you're already up to speed on a rank and ready to move forward, you should be given that opportunity rather than simply being told to wait because of a minimum time requirement. Any thoughts?

[MasterPain]

- Scam to keep you staying more months in order to pay for their service,

You can order a black belt straight from Century for $5.

[evergrey]

I answered that my school doesn't have a time requirement... except it does for the dan ranks. That's pretty much Kyokushin systemwide though... you tend to be required to be at a dan rank for a certain amount of time before you test to advance for the next rank, and often there's time spent assisting in instruction requirements as well.

We tend to also have a year's warning before testing to Shodan, but that is because testing for Shodan is very hard and a LOT of training and work goes into preparing for it.

[Saie]

- Scam to keep you staying more months in order to pay for their service,

You can order a black belt straight from Century for $5.

I have a second dan black belt in Chinese Kenpo under Tom Kao, a first dan in Hung Gar under Sifu Rivera, I've been training for over ten years. Two first place awards in the New Mexico games for Kumite and sparring.

Where I could BUY a belt? Are you kidding me? That wasn't my question. My question was, if I can get a basic Kata down like Fukyugata Ni and Fukyugata Ichi, what's holding me back from getting two green tips and testing? I'm not arrogant enough to presume I'm anywhere near a black belt's level in the art of Karate or Shorin Ryu specifically. But I'm absolutely positive I can throw a front punch, front kick, elbows, basic blocks, and have my stances down. It took me over two hours to test and obtain the ranks I did for a first dan black belt in previous martial arts styles before taking Ueshiro Shorin Ryu.

I want to LEARN and make progress, I have my basics down already. Don't be smart, please. I asked a serious question. I'm asking whether or not I should be able to show my Sensei I'm above the basics already, and I'd like to really begin training in the art of Ueshiro Shorin Ryu.

[MasterPain]

Well, that's a horse of a different color. With no mention of previous experience, well, reread your post as though it was written by a new student.

Even if there is a strict rule on time in for rank, maybe you could be allowed in the advanced classes as well. The belt on your waist is of little consequence if the advanced training is available.

[Saie]

There are only three classes per week, and they're all for the same group. Moving recently, I live in an area where there is only Tae Kwon Do and Wushu, and I'm completely uninterested in it. I wish there were separate classes, but there are not. I'm somewhat afraid to anger/upset my teachers if I ask about testing early, I'm not sure why, but I might go for it.

I'm considering joining another school if I have to spend the next few months making no progress, but after hours of researching local martial arts school within half an hour's driving distance, I'm hardly making any success :/

I agree on your assessment if I were a beginner, sorry for replying so snarky. I might even join Wushu if this place is the only thing there is to offer advancing in a new art.

Should I talk to them about testing early, and explain why?

[MasterPain]

I see no problem with asking, though if the classes are all for the same group, I don't see what good the rank would do you. Maybe ask about private lessons.

[Saie]

I see no problem with asking, though if the classes are all for the same group, I don't see what good the rank would do you. Maybe ask about private lessons.

Well, most are little kids with little interest in actually learning, a couple adults, myself, and the teachers. I'm not so much concerned with rank, rather than being taught what I need to know to be great in this style. If I struggle later on, and it takes me years to get a black belt, I think that's great as long as I'm actually pushing myself to get good.

They don't teach anything above your rank requirements, and the rank requirements are something I've made proficient a while ago :/ that's my main concern with time requirements.

I just thought it should be more like, testing determines whether you're capable to move on, or if you've got to stay behind and strengthen your rank requirements, you know?

[DoctorQui]

Hello! I'm just asking for opinions, should a belt exam really be based upon the time required on a certain rank, or more based upon whether you truly have the skills/requirements down to advance?

Personally, my problems with a "time requirement" are as follows;

- Scam to keep you staying more months in order to pay for their service,

- To keep control of other students and their progression to not let them feel left behind if students advance more quickly.

I believe that, if you're already up to speed on a rank and ready to move forward, you should be given that opportunity rather than simply being told to wait because of a minimum time requirement. Any thoughts?

Interesting discussion and one I was having with my fellow Karateka at the weekend!

Before I started at the Dojo I am at now, I had had a break from Karate for about 2 years after reaching pre Dan at Wado Ryu. Unfortunately, I moved to another part of the country where Wado was not available after searching for about 18 months. So I switched to Shotokan considering their close relationship, I figured I would pick up quite quickly!

Anyway, I started with a local club that I found out afterwards was a franchise club and although I was advanced I was told I would have to start at white belt, fair enough I thought, its a new style after all and like my previous club I will no doubt be multi-graded. Unfortunately this was not the case and I was required to serve the clubs 'recognised' time for each of the belts. 6 months at White then 3 between each of the others up to Brown which then reverts back to 6months between the 3 kyus that make up brown. What I then started noticing was that some people were going for their gradings and being told that they didn't quite make it but here's a little white tag to put on your belt so say you almost made it and we'll try again in 3 months. These time limits were a minimum and it could be another 3-6months! Each grading was £40!

Anyway, I was training at beginners stage (white belt) and each Sensei I had would say, 'you're not really a white belt are you?' and I would sigh a 'no' at them. After three months of doing basic punches, kicks and blocks and repeating Kihon Kata over and over I got completely bored, and poorer as each lesson was £8 (and you must train at least three times a week to grade for this club) I decided to leave and found a new club who told told me to start at 4th kyu.

My belief is that, if you are clearly a Karateka and are considerably experienced or if you are a taking to Karate like a duck to water, then you should be encouraged to grade as quickly as possible and get you to a place more suited to your skills so you and your sensei can get the best out of you!

[Ueshirokarate]

I wouldn't worry about it, let your actions on the deck reflect your skill and knowledge. Focus on perfecting your katas. If you feel strongly about advancing quickly through the ranks, I would speak directly with your Shihan. You are training in a very old school system that was started by Okinawans who were born into karate traditions and really studied under some of the biggest names in Shuri-Te, so you are learning the real stuff that is pretty much undiluted in any way from what is taught on Okinawa.

We have several students that hold very high rank in other styles or systems in our dojo. This is actually a negative at times, as old habits are hard to change and there is always style creep when they are doing kata. I recently started also training in BJJ and I am a white belt with one stripe in the system. I am thrilled to be a white belt again, as there is so much breathing room and no pressure to be an example to anyone.

That said, I think rank should reflect your skill level (within THAT style). If you know the curriculum and have the skill to demonstrate it, then you should be that rank. For better or worse, that is not the case in most traditional Okinawan styles. So you either need to change where you are training, have a heart to heart with your Shihan about your desire to move up quicker, or humble yourself and deal with the way things are. This is advice I need to listen to sometimes myself.