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Post by Colin Wee on Nov 13, 2005 19:33:08 GMT 8
Outside a very formal dojo, not many people think about the responsibilities that come with attaining a certain grade within the martial arts organization. I in fact have seen no dojo with such responsibilities written down or used as a way to judge performance within the martial arts school. The following is a post I wrote for the karatetips forum.
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Post by Colin Wee on Nov 13, 2005 19:33:47 GMT 8
From Karatetips Forum May 25 2005
------- In Reply To This Quote ------- So my question is, from both cohei and sempei points of veiw, what are the responsibilities of the senior kyu grade at your dojo? ------- Response Below --------------
I think that senior kyu ranks are the technical guardians of the dojo.
You are at a place where you have been exposed to most techniques and you are fine tuning your abilities constantly. Your role in 'guarding techniques' is to ensure that specific techniques are used in 'transacting' with other students. You transact when:
1. You spar. 2. You do one steps. 3. You are asked a question such as why do you close your fists? Or when do we use foot strikes? Or how do I become better in sparring? 4. You are asked to respond to a self defence situation.
In such a role to 'guard techniques' you should introspect the progression of how you have learned those techniques, how those techniques have been placed in your syllabus and why, the relation basic techniques have to intermediate and advanced ones, etc. You must be a funnel for the specific delivery of your set style and be a living model of the collection of kata and bunkai.
My senior student also motivates his peers, which I previously have done in my former school. This is as opposed to my role which is to provide the vision, to inspire, to coach, and to guide.
Rgds,
Colin
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Post by Colin Wee on Nov 13, 2005 19:34:34 GMT 8
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Post by Colin Wee on Nov 13, 2005 19:34:49 GMT 8
I had a martial arts lesson last night with my senior student, and I was just reflecting on how far he has come. Reflecting on my own path, when I was first learning, my instructor spent much less time on me. In a way my first instructor also expected much less of me than what I now expect from my own student.
My senior student is a 2nd kyu, though I already have come to expect him to perform as well as most other black belts that I know. Perhaps that's a better indicator of his ability than that of the colour of his belt? Anyway, I have always thought that the difference between a brown belt and a black belt is nominal. Much more so for a good brown belt too!
Colin
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Post by sifuwhite on Nov 15, 2005 12:40:45 GMT 8
Colin, I am glad you brought this up. As a member of any organization they student or instructor represents something bigger than them. Every school member should represent themselves and school as model citizens at all times. Martial Artist are a different breed of person. They are disciplined, caring people. Therefore, each time you the student are promoted you have assume more of a leadership role in the school. Your peers, juniors and seniors will be looking at you all the time to see if you are upholding the standards of the school, and believe me Colin had high standards.
Sifu Tim
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Post by Colin Wee on Nov 15, 2005 13:27:36 GMT 8
Colin, I am glad you brought this up. As a member of any organization they student or instructor represents something bigger than them. Sifu Tim I agree wholeheartedly. Now the challenge is to ensure that it is more than the culture of the school that helps influence the student. Activities, training, indoctrination, evaluation, and testing should support the ideals of the organisation. I myself have not had the ability to roll such a system out, but am hopeful that one day I might be able to tie solid values and good training together. Colin
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Post by wmioch on Nov 15, 2005 16:04:37 GMT 8
I've often wondered..what responsibilities change for a senior kyu grade when they achieve their black belt? Do they suddenly become less responsible as technical guardians?
I do think that an increasing amount of responsibility and leadership should be an integral part of a student. It should be written down and used as a way to judge performance. Unfortunately, I think many bad experiences have caused instructors to shy away from that. If it is too subjective, it can be easily abused by some. If it is too quantified (for example, cleaning the floor X times per week, X hours assisting in instructing) I think it tends to trivialise it.
Just some thoughts,
Bill
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Post by sifuwhite on Nov 15, 2005 18:33:21 GMT 8
Bill,
I don't think that Black Belts become less responsible. I think that their leadership skills should be kicking in by now. Setting the example, helping other students etc. Remember this, once you put on the Black Belt for the first time your life changes more than if you were a Kyu rank. There is more expected of you than anyone else in the dojo. But you only get out of the Martial Arts that which you put into it.
Sifu Tim
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Post by wmioch on Nov 15, 2005 19:54:45 GMT 8
In that paragraph, I had in mind some Dojo's where the role of senior (usually 1st) Kyu ranks seems to be overemphasised, and yet once they become black belts, all that pressure is removed. I don't think that "pressure-cooking" responsibility like that is a good idea. It should be (in an ideal world ) more integrated, so you don't have to use mega-pressure and more even, so that it's a gradual and continuing aspect, rather than one which is suddenly indoctrinated and then left alone. I know this isn't a universal set of rules, but I have seen this mindset often in some Karate schools. It's almost semi-politics, kind of like an initiation. "Well, you survived everything we could throw at you, welcome to the club, we won't do it again." So it's not that I actually think there is less responsibility, just that in my experience, the 1st Kyu ranks tend to get the hardest badgering in regards to this. Maybe they need it the most? I don't know everything after all. Bill
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Post by Colin Wee on Nov 16, 2005 9:51:34 GMT 8
I've often wondered..what responsibilities change for a senior kyu grade when they achieve their black belt? Do they suddenly become less responsible as technical guardians? I do think that responsibilities will change and will involve the new BB assuming more of a leadership role in his own training plus the guidance of younger practitioners. But one doesn't ever relinquish previous responsibilities. The way I described it above was never presented to me as I was growing up and studying the arts. In fact many instructors gloss over these issues. BUt for the system in which I am in, and using my museum curator analogy, there is a precious system of knowledge we are keeping. This system is preserved somewhat by the effort and awareness of all who go through the school. It would be a shame if it was lost through negligence. In an ideal world a martial arts school should be run like a well managed gym or in fact like a military program. When I went through basic military training, it wasn't just an indoctrination process, everyone was really preparing for their tests: shooting, obstacle course, water bourne exercises, tactical movement, etc. If you don't pass these tests, you have to do the BMT again! Can you believe that? Anyway, martial arts schools don't really need that sort of granularity and you'll find you may be able to get away with more of an awarness. Meaning you use reading material, some announcements, integrate some with your class, and some reward mechanism ... and this helps guide your student body and group casually, in complement with your training syllabus. Colin
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Post by sifuwhite on Nov 16, 2005 13:03:45 GMT 8
Colin,
Again great minds think alike, I was just thinking the same thing as I was just clicking on thsi thread
Tim
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Post by Colin Wee on Nov 16, 2005 19:18:56 GMT 8
I know this isn't a universal set of rules, but I have seen this mindset often in some Karate schools. It's almost semi-politics, kind of like an initiation. "Well, you survived everything we could throw at you, welcome to the club, we won't do it again." Martial arts schools have strong boy's club type cultures don't they? Yes, I've noticed this before. When I was in my previous school in the states, there was an idea that BBs could step up the pressure on brown belts. It was expected that all the BBs grill all the brown belts more so when they first get their BB and when it gets closer to their tests. But the pressure on them doesn't change when they become BB. BB are open season all the time! Not on your guard, and you get grilled. No charity for friends. Aside from that, then there is 'speciality training' meaning you are expected to attend a different school/system and write a report, not to mention churn out your essays. So while the pressure increases for brown belts, it increases because all other belts below brown are somewhat 'protected' and hand held until they get closer to shodan level. It would be a shame if there were politicking in regard to this - esp given the amount of stress that a brown belt has to go through anyway. Colin
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Post by supergroup7 on Nov 16, 2005 19:34:32 GMT 8
Yes, Colin, I've read this blog before. I have to admit that the writer has an interesting perception of the whole thing, but I tend to disagree with the perceptions, and expectations expressed within the words. This "1st kyu syndrome" that the author has named will only happen when the main goal of the karate-ka (both Sempai, and Kohai) becomes askew regardless of the belt level. If you have a higher belt nattering on a lower belt's efforts to improve with derision, and lack of positive feedback linked to corrections, you will receive the "sulkiness, sudden selective deafness, and backtalk". These defensive reactions are a sign that the message is being sent in a corrosive manner, and that the Sempai needs to find a way to bring forwards that which was built positively within the lower belt, and use it as a scaffolding to improve those other things that need to be focused upon. Therefore the message to the lower belt is that "Good.. you have gotten this far.. now you can add this!" Instead of "NAH.. you got it all wrong! You'll never get it right if you don't fix this and that.."
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Post by supergroup7 on Nov 16, 2005 19:41:19 GMT 8
The whole idea of the responsibility of the higher kyu grades is extremely important to me.
I feel that the higher belts of a dojo (whether brown or black belt) create the training atmosphere. If they are open, willing to help, kind, supportive, well-learned, humble, energetic, and obedient to the commands of Sensei, you will see that kind of attitude permeate the lower belts. However, if your high belts are prideful, violent, self-centered, lazy, mean-spirited.. then the lower belts will not respond, and in fact, may even be turned off of the whole aspect of martial arts.. feeling that they are only walking punching bags for the higher belts boosted ego.
In my opinion, the high belts are representative of the Sensei's heart, expectations, and attitudes. They reveal to the lower belts by their words, and actions what the main goal of the dojo is, and how to get there.
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Post by Colin Wee on Nov 16, 2005 20:12:33 GMT 8
If you have a higher belt nattering on a lower belt's efforts to improve with derision, and lack of positive feedback linked to corrections, you will receive the "sulkiness, sudden selective deafness, and backtalk". These defensive reactions are a sign that the message is being sent in a corrosive manner, Mir - this is a great example of why I like you so much. You've got wisdom. Colin
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