Identifying talent

[Kyokushin]

Well I'm not going to repeat what everyone else said. Although I agree with it all so far. But one thing my instructor told me was that the difference between a great student and a mediocre one is in the details. i.e. deep stances, powerful punches (w/ that lovely snapping sound), etc. You can really tell the difference when it comes to sparring and especially kata. It's those little minor things that if a student gets you'll know that they can go really far. Maybe they won't get everything right away, but if their wise enough to know that that's what you need and work at it. And you can tell if they work at it b/c they'll improve. Then that's a student I'd say that has a lot of potential. Someone who could go farther than just black belt b/c they are dedicated enough to go farther than the surface of each technique and each form.