Grading

[Ayla]

I have a grading coming up and I want to try for my blue belt as I can do the whole sylabus for blue without being told the english or being shown how to do it. However I'm only orange tab and I don't know how to tell my sensei without feeling like I'm showing off. =S. Also I don't know if its possible to miss out green and green tab and triple grade......Please help me someone, I'm kinda stuck!

[moogong]

I would suggest you test for the belt that is one grade ahead of you. The reason is because you miss valuable information when you are in a rush for rank. I have seen it countless times.
Also, any instructor worth his salt is going to grade you on the belt level you truely deserve rather than what you feel you deserve. I wouldnt mention it to him, grade for your next rank, and be happy in the fact you are advancing in your art.

[BGalehouse]

Unfortunatly, different dojo and instructors will handle this differently. Some will let you skip a rank if you ask and are ready. Some will, but won't hear of it ahead of time - they just ask for more on the test and see what you do.

But understand in any case that there can be more to the rank than knowing the syllabus. Other things which take time to build can be required without being written down. Compare yourself to those 1-3 ranks higher and ask yourself if there is anything (besides a belt, anybody can buy a belt) more that they tend to have. Learning to spot such things and work for them is an important part of developing as a martial artist. Learn to "steal with your eyes", and focus on what you have to learn, not on what you can already do.

[gary.williams]

when i took my purple belt in shotokan karate, about 7 years ago now, i was awarded a double grade because i performed well on the day and my instructor said good things about me. i was a 6th kyu one day and 4th kyu the next. I went from blue to the grade before brown and it was a little scary

what i would suggest is don't ask, that seems arrogant, maybe ask if you can train a bit with the higher grades to push yourself, if your instructor agrees then the belts will fly by, as your training improves.

i would also say that double grading or tripple in your case may seem fine because you probably can do the sylabus to the required standard, but come the next grading, or the one after, you'll find you haven't quite had time to work on a couple of things, and they'll catch up on you, especially when the examiner checks your grading record, sees a tripple grade and expects similar levels of improvement, which becomes almost impossible as the grades go on.

However, that is just my opinion, but i know if i was offered my 2nd Dan instead of 1st in december i'd probably decline, and focus on my training, going back to things you've missed out is always very tough and can make you question everything

good luck, i'm sure you'll pass and do well, maybe take a double grade and then grade next time for blue

good luck

gary

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