1st Kyu Ho?

[Shotokannon]

Hi guys,

Basically I've taken my grading which I passed however, I've been given a grade of 1st kyu ho, instead of 1st kyu.

I'm looking at moving clubs for unrelated reasons, and the new club is saying because I haven't passed a 1st kyu grading, they can't let me train as a full 1st kyu, that I would be considered 2nd kyu and I would need to do another grading before being allowed to go forward for Shodan.

In contrast, my opinion is that because I have passed my 2nd kyu grading already, it would make little sense to do another 2nd kyu grading just to get a full 1st kyu, and to that effect I believe I should be considered a full 1st kyu on that basis.

What are your opinions on this? surely at any other club if you pass a 2nd kyu grading you end up as 1st kyu?

[sensei8]

Same styles doesn't mean same grading requirements and the like. Why? Different CI's!! It's the absolute right of the CI to run their dojo THEIR WAY, and not the same way of other dojo's within the same style, under the same governing body.

When in Rome, comes to my mind. So, if you want to attend a different dojo, you'll have to abide by the way that they do their testing cycles and everything else that embodies rank. Want to keep current rank, then stay at your current dojo. If you want to attend the other dojo, thank the CI, and wear the appropriate rank per THAT CI!!

Rank, even in the same styles, doesn't always transfer from dojo to dojo because, again, the CI at dojo 'A' might have a more stricter requirements and the like than the CI at dojo 'B' or vice versa.

Remember this, rank means nothing; it's the knowledge and experiences that are paramount. Train hard, and let rank happen whenever they happen, if they happen.

Good luck, train hard, and allow the testing cycles take care of themselves!!

[Bulltahr]

I'm with Sensai on this. New club, you have to prove yourself to them and the standards of the new club...

Sensai's words are such a truism of the committed Martial artist.:

"Remember this, rank means nothing; it's the knowledge and experiences that are paramount. Train hard, and let rank happen whenever they happen, if they happen."

Good luck in the new club and keep us posted!

[Shotokannon]

Same styles doesn't mean same grading requirements and the like. Why? Different CI's!! It's the absolute right of the CI to run their dojo THEIR WAY, and not the same way of other dojo's within the same style, under the same governing body.

When in Rome, comes to my mind. So, if you want to attend a different dojo, you'll have to abide by the way that they do their testing cycles and everything else that embodies rank. Want to keep current rank, then stay at your current dojo. If you want to attend the other dojo, thank the CI, and wear the appropriate rank per THAT CI!!

Rank, even in the same styles, doesn't always transfer from dojo to dojo because, again, the CI at dojo 'A' might have a more stricter requirements and the like than the CI at dojo 'B' or vice versa.

Remember this, rank means nothing; it's the knowledge and experiences that are paramount. Train hard, and let rank happen whenever they happen, if they happen.

Good luck, train hard, and allow the testing cycles take care of themselves!!

I do agree, but I have had a conversation with the CI and they've said that they will honor my current rank (not that it really matters!) But I'm thinking how can They if 1st kyu ho doesn't exist in their grading system?

[sensei8]

No, but Ikkyu DOES exist as one of their grading ranks, and the Ho part is not much to be concerned with because the CI's able to proceed as though it never existed.

[Nidan Melbourne]

Its up to each individual school to decide what you are graded at. We often get students at our dojo who have transferred as a Kyu-Ho, as such we will go with whatever was lower, as such we would have done what the other instructor has done.

Normally we only do that because of differences in curriculum and we will give you a grade that is equivelant to the curriculum you know.

[ineluki]

What are your opinions on this?

You are probably not going to like this, but In the end, you have not passed your exam for a "real/full" 1st kyu yet, IMHO it is fully justified to consider you a 2nd kyu.

FWIW I dislike* these "half grades" because I consider them to be a cowardly way to

- hide the real number of grades that need to be taken (if there are "ho" grades between all full numbers, you are actually in a 18 Kyu system)

- avoid telling students that they are not good enough to pass the exam

* at least for adults, as long as it isn't used to generate revenue, it can be a nice tool to give children a better sense of progress

[Shotokannon]

What are your opinions on this?

You are probably not going to like this, but In the end, you have not passed your exam for a "real/full" 1st kyu yet, IMHO it is fully justified to consider you a 2nd kyu.

FWIW I dislike* these "half grades" because I consider them to be a cowardly way to

- hide the real number of grades that need to be taken (if there are "ho" grades between all full numbers, you are actually in a 18 Kyu system)

- avoid telling students that they are not good enough to pass the exam

* at least for adults, as long as it isn't used to generate revenue, it can be a nice tool to give children a better sense of progress

I see your point and while it's true I've not passed a full 1st kyu grading, I HAVE passed a 2nd kyu grading, so IMHO it's a little unfair to make someone do the same grading twice, there are only ho grades from 3rd kyu and above

[Spartacus Maximus]

Other people's opinions about grades should not be of any concern. What matters is skills and nothing else. Switching from one instructor to another cannot be accomplished without first accepting and trusting the new instructor's evaluation of one's skill level.

[ineluki]

I see your point and while it's true I've not passed a full 1st kyu grading, I HAVE passed a 2nd kyu grading, so IMHO it's a little unfair to make someone do the same grading twice, there are only ho grades from 3rd kyu and above

Is everyone taking these ho grades?

Then your former dojo basically had a 13 Kyu system, and you are not doing the same grading, just one that (thanks to that numbering convention) has the same number attached.