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Post by jimlukelkc on Apr 18, 2015 11:46:11 GMT
I was called today by my chief instructor who told me that "in recognition of my support of the organisation and the consistent standard and quality of my students " they would like to offer me promotion to 6th dan. I have not accepted yet as I have never attached much importance to grades at any stage in my training and not sure if it is really of any value now. However I have spoken to my other instructors from my club and they all seem to think it would be churlish to refuse the honour and would be good for our club. What do you folks think? Anyone been in this position before? Should I just accept it in the spirit it is given or are all grades above 3rd dan redundant anyway?
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Post by garage on Apr 18, 2015 14:53:00 GMT
Weather it means anything to you or not it means something to the members of your club and status wise helps the standing of your club which I sure you have worked hard to keep going. It holds other dans back as they may feel it is disrespectful to out grade you.
I had a conversation with someone from tae kwon do who said they grade up to 7th dan and their grades cost lots. So on the other hand I am impressed that you have afforded to keep grading.
Anyway you asked for an opinion, you have contributed to a lot of peoples training so it is a way of recognising this. As a reflection of you karate skill it probably doesn't mean much as age catches us up, Sensei someone who has walked the path before which you clearly have. If you were that modest you work train at night in the dark and not tell anyone.
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Post by Bob Davis on Apr 19, 2015 12:55:02 GMT
Hi Jim,
Even speaking as someone who has given up on the idea of (personally) grading any further I can't really see that there's anything to lose by accepting this. Although it may not really mean anything much to you (although it's nice that someone outside recognises the standard of student you are producing) it does you no harm and it obviously means something to those around you.
Cheers
Bob D.
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Post by jimlukelkc on Apr 19, 2015 19:05:54 GMT
Thanks for prompt replies gentlemen. Your opinions pretty much mirror the seniors in my club too. I guess I will accept this in the spirit it was offered. I will send my letter of acceptance later this week. I had not considered some of the points made and I can see it would have benefits both for my club and yhe senior dan grades in it.
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Post by kensei on Apr 20, 2015 11:21:36 GMT
Hey Jim,
Im not going to just say go for it. For me I would say I would turn it down or offer to grade. Rank is not and should not be about what you do for the organization, its a personal thing. For me I would ask to grade, I don't put much water in grades to begin with and Im not so crazed that I think your Rokudan will make you better than your Godan does, I just think that being handed a rank makes it look bad for those of your students GRADING for Shodan and up. I mean if they do a lot for your Dojo are you going to award them their rank? Its a slippery slope when you start accepting ranks with out doing the grading. Look at Yahara Sensei, he is the bloody head instructor of the Karate no Michi group and he GRADED for his 8th Dan a few years back, he could look at the council and say "Give me my 9th" and who would say no? I know of a bunch of instructors who got together after leaving the JKA and said "lets promote each other" and they did...I don't think anyone would say they should not be held back...but at what point is it just silly?
Jim, if I were in your spot I would ask for a testing! That's just me however and I never intend on going to Rokudan, Hell I thought anything past Shodan was just showing off!....Okay, So Im a show off but really whats the point. You are a great teacher, you have great students, that should be enough.
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Post by malk103 on Apr 21, 2015 17:48:07 GMT
My personal view is 5th dan is probably the last technical based grading, after that it should be based on your years of service and what you put into karate. It's only when ego and power is the reason to jump up the ranks then I take a dim view. If you've put in the time and effort then accept, although I like the idea of going through a grading process.
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Post by Bob Davis on Apr 21, 2015 18:22:14 GMT
Although, is there any point in this if it just for the sake of show? Unless it's a genuine test of advancement in skill/knowledge with the possibility of failure then you are just going through the motions for no real reason (other than to make everybody happy that it's a "real" grade) you may have guessed this is one of the reasons I've given up on the grading system
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Post by jimlukelkc on Apr 22, 2015 6:15:07 GMT
I was of the same view as Mal and was happy to take a technical grading for godan and leave it there. It has been offered as a purely honorary thing and I would not dream of insisting on grading or testing for it. It is a take it or leave it situation and on reflection I feel it would be disrespectful and ungrateful to refuse; both to my instructor and to my students. I feel like they have a stake in this due to their hard work too. believe me I have wrestled with this as at some inexplicable level I find it embarrassing, , however my mind is now made up. I thank you all for your views , all of which I respect and have given me pause but I think I must accept.
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Post by malk103 on Apr 22, 2015 10:15:47 GMT
I like to say to students "you only get out what you put in" and "those that think they don't deserve it, often do" You are obviously well in credit so accept it, many congratulations!
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Post by jimlukelkc on Apr 22, 2015 15:34:40 GMT
Thanks Mal.
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Post by jimlukelkc on Apr 22, 2015 15:36:04 GMT
Thanks Mal.
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