Who understands martial arts grading systems?
My son is part of a seemingly well run, organised and disciplined judo club, around 12 students a class, 3 classes a day for a Saturday.
2 classes every midweek evening in different locations across the region.
Registered and legitimate and coaches police checked yearly and all students fully licensed.
All very well organised and a very widely expanded organisation.
EXCEPT for grading systems, the club only grade ONCE a year, my son has now been learning for 3 years and if my maths is right, he's now 3 belts in out of a possible 10 belts. So it's going to take TEN YEARS to reach the elusive black belt that all students aspire and aim to reach.
Surely this isn't normal?
Or is it? |
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It depends on the club.
Some like to be all flash and accelerate kids to high level and say "look at all our black belts, aren't we good?"   
Others prefer a more steady approach and prefer kids to be experienced and take part in competitions, which is really a weight category anyway, rather than grading
I'd expect kids to do no more than two gradings a year, max.
Adults you'll find, could grade more frequently, but then again three gradings a year at the very most, as you have to get the experience "under your belt" |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I’ve done martial arts for 15 years and feel the grading system is not a reflection of your skill level. Going twice a week to a club should guarantee you a grade . Grading is based on, attendance, the right training, and skill level. If the accolade is just owning a black belt then the true meaning and philosophy of martial arts probably escapes you. Maybe I’m wrong! |
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By *an_LexaCouple
over a year ago
Sunderland |
Can’t say that judo in particular is anything I know about but I completely agree that what you’re gaining or at least should be by learning any kind of martial arts is much more than a need or desire to accelerate through a grading system. I believe as a parent that those other things are what you should be focusing your child on.
Grading systems can be a very politically focused thing and you your children should look and enjoy the real reasons you started maybe rather than a coloured piece of material.
It’s almost immaterial. |
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Yeah I see the point and the ethics to it, I want him to have understood why he earned his grading and respect and appreciate the work everyone put into it, a lot of parents seem to be getting impatient now and without wanting to be criticised, even though I will be, the monthly fees plus yearly grading cost plus "events" are starting to add up now for what seems to be very little progress.
Since I'm unskilled and unqualified to comment though I surmise this training method works but I just got to wondering if 1 grading a year was a suitable progression rate. |
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Is it part of a notional or international organisation? Perhaps look them up online.
I think gradings in some disciplines have lost their meaning and people move up the belts too quickly. They don't effectively exhibit the skill and mastery they should.
I think that instructors fear the wrath of the parents if little Jimmy gets told he wasn't good enough for his orange belt. |
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The Mon Grade system is aimed at 8 to 17 year olds and follows on from the Sho Awards.
With regular study and training, a judoka should be able to complete the Mon Grade syllabus by the age of 17. In some cases when the judoka is particularly dedicated they may complete it as early as 15 years of age. |
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"The Mon Grade system is aimed at 8 to 17 year olds and follows on from the Sho Awards.
With regular study and training, a judoka should be able to complete the Mon Grade syllabus by the age of 17. In some cases when the judoka is particularly dedicated they may complete it as early as 15 years of age."
From the British Judo Association website  |
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By *an_LexaCouple
over a year ago
Sunderland |
Hmm as I said, judo isn’t my discipline and I’m not sure if there are a number of different under arching organisations as members of the British Judo Association. Maybe there’s some information on the British Judo website that would reassure you about the organisation/club you’re part of and the approach and methods they take. |
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