I was just wondering what is the range of time people take for gradings. We are hanging out for our orange tip after being yellow belts for 5 months. Is that normal? We go to class once a week :thumbwink:

That does seem excessive.
I'd be asking my instructor what I needed to improve. Its not appropriate to push for gradings, but it does seem in this case you have been forgotten.

I think it's usually around lesson 26 for orange tip (provided you are progessing of course)so at once a week after you've reached yellow belt it'd take approx 3½ months to earn your orange tip so maybe you have been missed by mistake m8.

Maybe not appropriate to push for gradings, but I find it is appropriate to ask about it. Otherwise how are you supposed to know whether you are on track or not?

You should be getting feedback from your instructor about what you need to work on but often a quick chat can be more productive than just hanging around waiting.

As a side note... in my other club you aren't assessed for grading unless you nominate yourself. They have a 3 step process - nominate that you want to grade, get assessed for grading then assuming you get the nod, you do a grading class.


Mick

well im a sensei myself (yes at such a young age) and all our orange tips have graded to their orange belts within at the maximum 4 months, most of which grade between 2 and 3 months after their orange tip

but too maximise your karate ability you should really be training twice a week (Where possible) or a minimum of 6 sessions a month, otherwise you are battling to keep up with your own grade level, let alone progress further.

i, at the moment, teach once a week, and train three times a week, as well as ding TEE, soccer and live a life... its quite easy to accomplish, as long as youre willing to make the effort :thumbwink:

Hmm I'm just wondering if I should let everyone in on something which apparently is kept secret and which can affect how long you spend at each grade level...


Mick

Well you've got me all curious now !! You can't say something like that and not spill the beans so do tell pleeeeeeeeease!

Training once a week sounds a little slow to me. I used to train like that and then I tried out going to four classes a week, and now I'd never go back to just one. Not only are you getting more for yourself by training a few days a week, but you're also going to be training under a few different senseis, who may see different aspects of your karate that you may need work on, if you do.

And you're going to learn the basics, and the advanced techniques, a lot quicker with a few classes a week.

But back on track, 5 months sounds like a long time. I graded to my orange tip about 2 months after my Yellow belt grading.

Oh yeah, Sionnagh, spill the 'beans'.

yep i agree do tell sionnagh i need all the help i can get lol

It's about training. The secret i

It's lucky I have an invisible font deciferer or I'd never have got that post! Wow that is really something, thanks Mick I'll apply thoses techniques tonight and I'll be a black belt in no time now! LOL

Bugger, I'll try again.

The secret about training is that wh

It's ok Mick, if you feel the need to keep all those dark, dirty secrets to yourself then we wont pressure you to spill the beans. We all have skeletons in our closets and if you dont want to tell us how you completely manipulated the system to get where you are today then that is your choice m8. LOL

(well if that don't work then nothing will!)

3rd time lucky?

The secret... the dojo is where you go to learn and receive corrections from your instructor, not where you go to train or practice.

Woohoo it worked this time


Mick

You see....I KNEW you manipulated the system to get to where you are today!

Good answer though ! :thumbwink:

I just had to post to put my 2 cents worth in ... .. I totally agree with Sionnagh ...

The proof of this : - I went to my first grading on Sunday (woohoo .. I'm a yellow belt now *lol*) and one of the guys who trains at my Dojo was going for his red belt.... When it came time to receive his grading, the regional Sensei actually skipped him past red belt and awarded him a brown belt.

This was because this particular student would train 4 times a week in a dojo, and train at least 1 hour a day after school at home before he did his homework.

The dedication he showed to his training advanced him through the grading process quicker because he built his skills up and this was duly recognised by the regional sensei as well as all the other senseis in the region.

The secret is always train train train ... even when you aren't at training

karateclown

I agree. train train train. I used to do one class a week untill i got to yellow belt. and then my instructor said to try doing an extra class a week so i did. After a while i started doing 3 and then 4. So i now train 4 times a week and have graded to red in just under 2 years. and every now and then a had a month or so break in ther aswell (not anymore). So just train train train.

Also i've been told never to actually say to your instuctor "when am I grading" or "I think I should have graded by now". You should always just say "What do I need to work onto help me acheive my next grade" or something like that. Your sensei will send you when he or she thinks you are ready.

Well different schools do things in different ways. One that I train with, if you don't nominate yourself to grade, you don't grade. When you do nominate for grading you get assessed and either told what you need to work on or get the OK to do it.


Mick

Is there anyone here that beleives we grade too fast in GKR(GUIDLINES)not the individual senseis opinion.IMHO i think we grade to fast on yellow, orange belts. I think this causes unrest in karate ka when they dont grade as fast later on.
I think i read somewhere that the majority of students leaving karate do so between orange and green belts,i dont know if this is true, but maybe it has something to do with grading to quick at early grades??????????
What do you guys and girls think?
Nigel
I know that we need to encourage people by rewarding them(grading) but maybe we encourage them to early? just my 10 quids worth.

IMO the problem is not the time for gradings, but the lack of direction. The only guide for grading criteria is number of classes, time and kata to be performed.

There is generally no feedback about specific techniques or what is expected at each level to give the students something definitive to focus on between gradings.

In both my jujitsu club and shitoryu karate there are specific items assessed at each grade. And some things picked randomly from previous gradings. So e.g. you need to learn a, b and c for one grade, then d, e, and f for the next but you could be assessed on any or all of the previous criteria in addition to the things being assessed for your next grade. Plus some things require ability with previously learnt techniques in the demonstration of the new techniques.


Mick

I think GKR grades too fast. First full kyu grading after only 6 classes? Last style I did was 3 months.
I can see why however, it keeps new students interested until hopefully they are hooked.

I realise now, that the emphasis is more on brown and black belt, where things have got serious. I don't see belt colour to ba any matter at all. It doesn't mean anything and it doesn't prove anything. I've seen lots of people with high belt colours, they do know techniques, they can teach others, but they don't show any seriousness with themselves.
And it's good to know finally that GKR is not black belt factory. :thumbwink: