Preparation for gradings

[Reiver]

I thought I would start a new thread as a spin-off of Bullet08's thread about flunking nidan, and Sparv's comment that concentrating on preparing to pass will get you through.

Having taken 17 shinsa in three arts over the past 12 years, and have started to sit on grading panels, I have thought about what I did to prepare for them, and I found there was a pattern of behaviour that helped.

Here are some of the things I did to prepare:-

I watched other people taking shinsa, and judging myself whether they pass or not, and comparing my results with the actual results.

I found out what was required, and what was fatal, and practiced accordingly.

I practiced with people of the grade I was going to challenge. This works well for kendo especially, but for iaido and jodo also. In the year before my 4th dan kendo, I was bounced off the walls by experienced 4th dans and 5th dans. I learned what it was to be 4th dan before the shinsa.

When I was BKA treasurer, I found myself administering many shinsa, and I learned some of what panel members look for in candidates.

As a result, I now try to go into a shinsa with the attitude that I am already the grade, and that the shinsa is a formal demonstration to the panel of the truth of that assertion. It gets away from the pass/fail trap, which can be destructive.

[Neil Gendzwill]

I practiced with people of the grade I was going to challenge. This works well for kendo especially, but for iaido and jodo also. In the year before my 4th dan kendo, I was bounced off the walls by experienced 4th dans and 5th dans. I learned what it was to be 4th dan before the shinsa.This is good advice, but tough for many of us. When I was preparing for yondan for example, the only other people my level were a plane ride away. I was fortunate to have my sensei - many people outside of Japan preparing for yondan may be the highest rank around. But as great a resource as my sensei is, he's older and playing much different kendo than what I faced on exam day. I'd love to head out for the exam a few days earlier and do some dojo touring just to recalibrate but that's tough to coordinate from a family and finances point of view.

[H.Sandsleth]

It is important to do a lot of preparation yourself, but it is even better if you in addition to that train in a dojo where the instructors "teach the test". (Through setting common goals, reviewing, feedback, and so on.)

[tango]

As a result, I now try to go into a shinsa with the attitude that I am already the grade, and that the shinsa is a formal demonstration to the panel of the truth of that assertion. It gets away from the pass/fail trap, which can be destructive.


interesting take!

[Reiver]

It's a better way than going into a shinza to 'see' if you are the grade. You have to be lucky, rather than relying on your skills and knowledge.

[Reiver]

Another aspect is who your opponents are (this is for kendo gradings). If you have incompetent opponents, or ones who are frozen by nerves, then there is always the danger of been dragged down by them. If you are prepared for this you can rise above it.

I think the ideal situation is to have opponents in gradings who are slightly above your own ability. This means that you have top pull out your best kendo, while you can give your apponent enough so that he has to pull out his best.

[shred_lord]

Another aspect is who your opponents are (this is for kendo gradings). If you have incompetent opponents, or ones who are frozen by nerves, then there is always the danger of been dragged down by them. If you are prepared for this you can rise above it.
I hear that, on my Nidan grading, my second opponent (who coincidentally has nice kendo, so must have suffered some form mental lock) blocked my first shomen of kirikaeshi and then didn't block the first three sayumen. If I'd missed any of those three men I think I'd have failed (and rightly so). However I didn't. But it goes to show, you need to be ready for the unexpected (and do kirikeashi properly :)). Even if you know your opponent and know he is worthy of passing, you should be prepared for them to either have a bad day, or be well above their normal form.

[H.Sandsleth]

It's a better way than going into a shinza to 'see' if you are the grade. You have to be lucky, rather than relying on your skills and knowledge. I am not so sure. "Luck" means that you take a chance, not knowing your own level, or knowing that your level is low, but you take the chance. You will take this chance because you know that the odds are good in your favor, most panels prefer to pass people. This is opportunistic, but I think it is better to take advantage of a weakness in the system than punishing yourself for the same weakness, by holding yourself back.

[Kagerou]

It's a better way than going into a shinza to 'see' if you are the grade. You have to be lucky, rather than relying on your skills and knowledge.

Agreed. Every test I've been in I said to myself that my sensei put me in this exam so he sees me as ready.

...I also heard an interesting take on rank from a visiting sensei. If you're a shodan it means you're a good ikkyu and if you're a yondan it means you're a good sandan.

[PhilMcLaughlin]

Hi Gavin, Its an intresting take but I think its dependent on resources

Of course when I wasnt injured this year Id go to Mumeishi on a sunday so no shortage of high grades there :-)

But as Neil says its not always so easy. I spent most of the last year teaching an entire group of beginners & had rare access to senior practise. Did my kendo no favours at all

When i went for the shinsa at the Sumi seminar I had no idea if id make it or not. I thought i wouldnt but im bloody glad I didnt bottle the challenge and not take it :-)

Sometimes you just have to take the test not knowing whether youre good enough - but just doing the very best you can

this might be a bit contentious & its not an accusation, but I think if someone DELAYS taking a test until theyre sure theyre good enough then theres something a bit wrong with that (just my opinion though)


I agree with all the points about understanding whats being examined - it certainly helped me - of course again you have to have access to that knowledge

at the end of the day non possession of a grade doesnt stop you enjoying kendo - it does however open up different levels of teaching

Having said that the next level for me is a bit daunting :-)

good luck to all testing at Cranford next week by the way

regards

Phil..

[The great I AM]

I spent most of the last year teaching an entire group of beginners & had rare access to senior practise. Did my kendo no favours at all.Sorry Phil but I can't agree with that! Although it won't make you stronger per se, it can certainly help you, it helped me at UCL when 3 years ago almost all of my practise was with rank beginners too. You can use any practise, including teaching suburi or uchikomi to beginners to sharpen your own technique, and I believe one should too, for the benefit of the people you are teaching.

[Kenshi]

Just to add in a what-happens-in-japan take on things: over here prior to gradings there are KOSHUKAI, or training seminars. People who are going to take an exam soon (or even not soon) can attend and take part in grade-specific training - kata, shinai-kendo, and (briefly) in the written-test.

In Hiroshima these were the week before a test. We did the above format and then sat a mock test. Afterwards we recieved a piece of paper with things with a circle (pass) or cross (fail) attached to them plus we would get a quick chat with either a sensei on the panel, or one of their league of stooges. By 'things' I mean like reiho, ashisabaki, kamae, datotsu, etc etc... very useful. I attended three of them before I sat my last test.

In Osaka I think they have the same shinsa-koshukai but I havent attended any yet.

[JSchmidt]

Sorry Phil but I can't agree with that! Although it won't make you stronger per se, it can certainly help you, it helped me at UCL when 3 years ago almost all of my practise was with rank beginners too. You can use any practise, including teaching suburi or uchikomi to beginners to sharpen your own technique, and I believe one should too, for the benefit of the people you are teaching.

Yeah, but you also practiced at LCC, Wakaba and had several 2-3dan+ visiting/helping at UCL. Different story from being in Portsmouth with *only* beginners to practice with.