Ade
30th May 2009, 14:47
Dear All
Gassho
After the thread about unsuitable kenshi here's the interesting conundrum.
When should you apply the brakes to an unsuitable student?
I was once told that to wear a black belt in Shorinji you should be mentally correct, of good character and technically adept.
Otherwise you couldn't represent Shorinji.
Now whilst I accept that some students make up for weakness in one area by excelling in another I am frequently faced with the same problem.
Sometimes students think they're ready when they're not - or sometimes the student's just not the right stuff.
In all my career I only regret grading one kenshi to black belt who went on to let me down, (all the warning signs were there, but I didn't pick up on them - and and rotten seeds breed rotten fruit.)
So what does black belt in Shorinji mean? should gradings be a given? should gakka be the main emphasis? should half for yourselves be robustly applied?
Because of recent events within the BSKF my intention is to make gradings (locally) harder but I know that the easy way for some to appear successful will be to pass all.
So my question is: - What's the point of grading?
And when should you say no - you're not grading, you're not suitable?
Gassho
After the thread about unsuitable kenshi here's the interesting conundrum.
When should you apply the brakes to an unsuitable student?
I was once told that to wear a black belt in Shorinji you should be mentally correct, of good character and technically adept.
Otherwise you couldn't represent Shorinji.
Now whilst I accept that some students make up for weakness in one area by excelling in another I am frequently faced with the same problem.
Sometimes students think they're ready when they're not - or sometimes the student's just not the right stuff.
In all my career I only regret grading one kenshi to black belt who went on to let me down, (all the warning signs were there, but I didn't pick up on them - and and rotten seeds breed rotten fruit.)
So what does black belt in Shorinji mean? should gradings be a given? should gakka be the main emphasis? should half for yourselves be robustly applied?
Because of recent events within the BSKF my intention is to make gradings (locally) harder but I know that the easy way for some to appear successful will be to pass all.
So my question is: - What's the point of grading?
And when should you say no - you're not grading, you're not suitable?