Guest Columnists - Why do we Grade?
Why do we grade? We grade to learn. We grade to allow our technical standards to be judged and assessed by more knowledgeable, experienced, and higher graded individuals in order to advance in Karate.
A grading is an important way to get our deficiencies ironed
out and allow us to recognise these technical failings and practice to improve on them. A student who takes a grade
failing with this attitude, accepts his mistakes, and practises to improve all his karate will obviously advance in the correct
way.
It must also be remembered that when you pass a grade, then move on to prepare for the next grading, all that has been taught and learnt prior to this grade must be practised in the same way. Very often aspects of a previous grade may, and will, be used again.
We advance not just in grade, but also technically and mentally. We learn to practise regularly at home to remember all that we have been taught – it becomes reactionary. Remember; 'Repetition creates reaction!'
How can we learn Wado if we only remember what we need for a mere grade? Grades are an accessory of recognition to the advancement and evolvement of knowledge and technical maturity. When we walk up stairs we should never forget the steps that we have taken to get there. If you don't, a lower graded student who asks you a question about his own grade, and you are incapable in answering that question, would obviously put doubt on your own ability and knowledge! Not just to him, but to your own instructor. A green belt must know all his present and previous knowledge, a brown belt all his, and so on.
When we grade we are always judged as the level we 'should' be when attempting that grade – we should be a greenbelt in mind & body when attempting the grade of greenbelt, etc. A 6th Kyu, or above, should be training at least twice a week at Dojo, and regularly at home. If this rule is applied, we should never forget anything we are taught.
Students applying for Black belt grades must, and are expected to, know all the Wado
syllabus and terminology. In the British Wadokai syllabus there are 17 kata, 12 Sanbon-gumite, 8 Ohyo-gumite, 10 Kihon-gumite, and all should be practised everyday.
Itosu Yasutsune Sensei, who was the creator of the Pinan Kata &
motivator of the Japanese version of Ku-Shanku, once said that. 'Every student should remember all techniques taught
and never give up practising them.'
Students must understand all that is involved in what they do. It is not enough just to go through the 'motions' of what you need, you should have correct form, attitude, eye contact (Zanshin), etc. Techniques done incorrectly in one kata or block, may be asked to be repeated in another form or other – for example when demonstrating Ku-Shanku the examiner may detect an error. With similar techniques in the Pinan Kata the examiner may ask for the applicant to demonstrate that particular Pinan Kata. If we have not practised this sufficiently enough we will falter. The higher the grade we are attempting, the more our techniques should reflect that grade, but more importantly, so should our minds develop and mature to that grade.
Always remember that if we fail, it is because our techniques, or attitude, did not show the adequate standard required for that grade. Just accept the result of the examiner and practise the problem areas diligently until they are correct, then we can move on.
It is not the examiner that fails us, it is us alone – we are the ones who are grading, therefore
we are the ones who should prepare ourselves both mentally & technically.
When a student passes, he congratulates himself on his skill – when he fails, he often blames others! This is not the way – be responsible for yourself, and train correctly.
Gary E Swift, 7th Dan, Kyoshi
President of the Alliance of International Wado-ryu (AIWa). AIWa
Chief Instructor to the British Wadokai Karate-do. British Wadokai
General Secretary to the JKF-Wadokai England. Wadokai England
