Memories of first belt test

[KarateKen]

On 10/17/2024 at 10:26 AM, KorroddyDude said:

Or eight hours (and every student is active the entire time), as is the case in some Kobayashi Shorin-ryu orgnanizations in the US.

I'm fine with my 1.5 hour test, and it only being that long because each belt rank is called up one at a time for their kihon, kata, and kumite.  I think the total time each student spends on the floor during a test is between 10 and 15 minutes.

 

Eight hours is bonkers to me.  Even the TKD black belt tests in our school were maybe two hours or less.  My green belt test was in Karate was four hours, active the entire time, so I don't want to think about going twice as long.

[Nidan Melbourne]

I was rather nervous before my first grading. 

At my first club; I trained at one of the satellite dojos (Kew, Victoria) and all our gradings were held at our Hombu Dojo in Ashburton Victoria (20 minute drive/12 km apart). 

So on the day of the grading; I rocked up and heard one of the instructors (one I didn't know) said to everyone who was grading "Make sure you pull your card out". So I thought "Ok, that's easy enough and not realising that they were more meaning just the Ashburton Students to do it" 

So When I couldn't find my card, I burst into tears and wanted to cry. Which fortunately one of my instructors (Danielle, a wonderful instructor who I had for 3-4 years) saw me and comforted me and told me what was happening. 

Despite the confusion around pre-grading; once I got on the mats to bow in and got the grading underway everything ran smoothly.

Not sure about other clubs; but the ones I work with (or stemmed from my old club) our students wait till the following week to find out results. So Grading Sunday, majority of students find out on Monday afternoon.

[KarateKen]

On 10/20/2024 at 1:33 AM, Nidan Melbourne said:

I was rather nervous before my first grading. 

At my first club; I trained at one of the satellite dojos (Kew, Victoria) and all our gradings were held at our Hombu Dojo in Ashburton Victoria (20 minute drive/12 km apart). 

So on the day of the grading; I rocked up and heard one of the instructors (one I didn't know) said to everyone who was grading "Make sure you pull your card out". So I thought "Ok, that's easy enough and not realising that they were more meaning just the Ashburton Students to do it" 

So When I couldn't find my card, I burst into tears and wanted to cry. Which fortunately one of my instructors (Danielle, a wonderful instructor who I had for 3-4 years) saw me and comforted me and told me what was happening. 

Despite the confusion around pre-grading; once I got on the mats to bow in and got the grading underway everything ran smoothly.

Not sure about other clubs; but the ones I work with (or stemmed from my old club) our students wait till the following week to find out results. So Grading Sunday, majority of students find out on Monday afternoon.

Have you been nervous about tests other than your first one?  I get nervous every time, I am a mess the night before the test and the day of, but once the test starts, I settle in and it is not as bad. 

[Nidan Melbourne]

4 hours ago, KarateKen said:

Have you been nervous about tests other than your first one?  I get nervous every time, I am a mess the night before the test and the day of, but once the test starts, I settle in and it is not as bad. 

I don't remember my other gradings except for my White Belt Grading, and all my Dan Gradings. 

Otherwise its just nervous excitement.

[Montana]

I'm thinking my particular system doesn't put a big WHOOP on tests and belt advancement. The testing sensei asks the students to do certain kata, various learned skills or techniques that he\she wants to see (usually ones you've struggled with), decides you know it, or not...and move on. There's not a lot of emphasis or making a big deal out of testing.

The only time my original sensei really did anything special for a test was if somebody got their black belt. Then it was time to break out the Saki and TOASTS!