What is a Test or Exam

[Revario]

Hi to all, bizzare question here. How would you look or feel about a student wanting to offer a specific presentation of their skills based on what you taught them and their own interpretation of it. Student has very good understanding of Martial Arts and combat with over 20 years of experience in various arts. Not the curriculum stuff that is to be regurgitated for basically confirming one can copy paste what they were shown. 

 

Would you consider this offensive? Would you appreciate the initiative? Would you find it a waste of time? Would you make it count towards actual ranking? Would you find it insulting towards the other students that do follow curriculum by the book? 

As ultimately a test is to confirm that the student has understood the material. Now if we want them to teach exactly how we teach I would see that it is important they stick to curriculum. If the goal is to pass on knowledge for them to live with then their adaptation and understanding would be preffered. 

 

I post here as it relates to testing but it does relate to Karate as the situation is in a Karate context. 

 

Thank you 

[sensei8]

On 11/27/2025 at 8:08 AM, Revario said:

 

Hi to all, bizzare question here. How would you look or feel about a student wanting to offer a specific presentation of their skills based on what you taught them and their own interpretation of it. Student has very good understanding of Martial Arts and combat with over 20 years of experience in various arts. Not the curriculum stuff that is to be regurgitated for basically confirming one can copy paste what they were shown.

 

Why would a student want to do that in the first place?? Especially a student with 20 years MA experience?!?

On 11/27/2025 at 8:08 AM, Revario said:

Would you consider this offensive? Would you appreciate the initiative? Would you find it a waste of time? Would you make it count towards actual ranking? Would you find it insulting towards the other students that do follow curriculum by the book? 

Offensive?? No. Students initiative?? Depends. Waste of time?? Not exactly. Count for rank?? No. Insulting Student Body?? No.

Students, imho, should never assume a position that they don’t possess. Said student came to me for training; I didn’t come to that student.

The proof is on the floor. If a student has 20 years experience in the MA, that student won’t have to suggest anything to me because I’ll know it quite clearly. Proof is on the floor, and the floor reveals everything.

If warranted, I’d consider said rank that I believe would be most appropriate for that student. 

After that, I do not bargain any Testing Cycle because no student is greater than the floor and the floor is where the Testing Cycle starts and ends.

 

 

Edited 35 minutes ago by sensei8