Test?

G95champ · Black Belt

This is something I have always done on my tests. I do not know how many other schools do something like this but I want to see how you all take to it.

At the end of the test I give a Oral Q+A session with each student testing. I do this becasue their body is tired and I want to see if their mind is still working. I ask some really simple question like "Who is the founder of Shotokan Karate?" The I ask a lot of open ended questions like "Tell me 3 self defense situations you coudl use a rising block for?" Then I will ask a few questions on stuff they may not understand such as "explain the purpose of the last 3 moves in your kata?" I do not grade them on right or wrong but on their ability to answer.

I think for one to be good at Martial Arts they got to alwasy be thinking. If the mind stops then the body does. I have had a few student who done really well on the physical part of the test but blew this part. In each case I failed the student. I have also had students who were boarderline on passing until they got to this part and made up. I hold this mental part of my test higher than the physical.

I do this on every test from White to Black.

I just wanted to know if a Q+A was a common practice in a lot os schools.

I guesss being a HS teacher makes me enjoy the testing part a bit more. LOL.....

[ This Message was edited by: G95champ on 2002-04-06 23:49 ]

SaiFightsMS · KF VIP

Interesting concept G95. No I am sorry to say we had nothing like this in our testing process. We had a written black belt test that takes most several days to complete. It is a very comprehensive one. And would be way to long for a sit down in a group test.

G95champ · Black Belt

I never cared for the written test myself. However I have saw many schools use them. The Dan tests we do are the only ones that take more than one class. Becasue we must teach several classes first to show we have the ability to do so. Otherwsie our tests are done in 30mins to 2 Hours.

chris luckcuck · White Belt

Good idea,
Some of it, i think is pure reflex but the rest is definatley down to quick thinking.
In our club the higher grades (purple +) get questioned in training and in the gradings, mainly about the names of techniques and parts of the body, we also have to explain certain techniques without moving arms, legs etc.. to see if we really know the stuff. The open ended questions and stuff about the Kata i think is an excellent idea, makes people think about what their doing. I never remembered the names of techniques until i realised we got asked about them.

Joecooke007 · Brown Belt

At our school we do the exact same thing.

_________________
Boards don't hit back.
-Bruce Lee

G95champ · Black Belt

Im glad to hear others do it. I think that gives my students who are not as advanced physically an edge and keeps the more advanced students more humble.

tigerstyle18 · Orange Belt

I think if you're gonna ask questions at the ned of a test they should be more relevant to the student's life. They should instinctively know what situations you block in. I've been asked questions like "what are my strong and weak points?, where do I see myself 6 months down the road?, and what are my personal goals in and out of the dojo?"
questions like that. I do however like the idea of an oral exercise.

ramymensa · Black Belt

Excelent idea ... Unfortunatelly in our dojo it's done only for 1st kyu. The others won't have the opportunity of showing how smart they are. And I know so many things

well back to the idea. I think it's great because everybody should have a minimum of knowledge regarding the stuff they practice and they should be able to "reason" even after a "killing" physical test.
Maybe I'll convince sensei to do this

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World Shotokan Karate

LeaF · Black Belt

we do oral tests simular too this, as rank increases the difficulty of the questions do too. We also have to do written tests

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Goju Ryu Karate-do and Okinawan Kobudo, 17 Years Old 1st kyu Brown Belt in in Goju Ryu Karate-do, & Shodan in Okinawan Kobudo
Given enough time, any man may master the physical. With enough knowledge, any man may become wise. It is the true warrior who can master both....and surpass the result.
I AM CANADIAN

Karateka · Red Belt

Our Club does the exact thing. We ask them questions right after Katas and Kumite. It really helps in the conditioning.
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"Never hit a man while he's down; kick him, its easier"

Sensei Ron Bagley (My Sensei)

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