How to prepare for a grading

You’ve been coming to Kempo for a couple of months. You’ve been working hard and having lots of fun. Maybe you even feel like you’ve learnt something.

… and then Sensei says “there’s a grading coming up, and I think you should attend”.

What is a grading exam?

Like most martial arts, in Shorinji Kempo we like to keep track of how much people have learned. The grading exam is one way of doing this.

You’ll be asked to perform some basics, and some techniques from your syllabus. You’ll be doing this with other people at the same level as you. Depending on what level you’re at, there may be sparring and pre-prepared embu, too.

You’ll be watched by at least one examiner, who will give you scores based on how well you do the techniques (and yes, that includes remembering the names – if you do the wrong technique it’s a bad sign!).

Shorinji Kempo gradings also have a philosophy component. Sounds scary, but don’t worry – for the first grading the biggest topic is “how to behave in the dojo”, and your examiner can tell just by watching you whether you know that one, so there shouldn’t be too much in the way of complex questions to answer!

Why attend a grading exam?

If that all sounds pretty scary, then you’re right. That’s kind of on purpose. While no amount of “pretend” stress can really prepare you for using your skills in a real self defence situation, it’s good to practice what we can.

There are other reasons too.

It can sometimes feel, especially at the start, that there is so much to learn and we will never make any progress. A grading exam is one way to prove to yourself that you have learned things. No amount of your teacher telling you can compare to a high-grade, unfamiliar examiner saying that you have met the required standard.

Grading exams gather many dojos together, and if you’re in a relatively small dojo it is useful to know that you’re not alone – there are other people at the same level as you. Plus making new friends is cool.

I know it’s vain, but… you get a new pretty coloured belt?

Lastly, you need to prove to us, the teachers, that you have learned the first few things well enough that we can teach you the next thing. So many of the techniques are related and build on each other. If you get the beginning right, the next step will be easier.

How should you prepare for a grading exam?

There’s a lot you can do – some in class, and some outside of class – to make yourself more prepared.

Do you have a copy of the syllabus? Make sure you know what’s on it. Make sure you know the names of the basic movements and techniques. If the examiner asks you to demonstrate “uchi uke zuki” and you have to stop and think for 5 minutes before you can do it, then you need to spend more time memorising.

While you’re doing that, make note of any questions you have – and then ask them at your next class. Even better, if class sizes are small or there are a lot of you preparing for the same grade, let your teacher have them before class so they can plan a lesson around what you need to learn.

Practice. A lot.

If you have a grading partner and some spare time, arrange to meet up with them and help each other revise. If you’re lucky enough to have more than one dojo within easy travelling distance, get in some extra classes.

Also practice.

Don’t stress out too much. It can be tempting to think that failing a grading exam will end your martial arts career, but that’s simply not true. Even if you do fail all that will happen is that you’ll get some really good feedback on what needs to improve, and then you’ll take the exam again in the future.

Did I mention the practicing?

What will happen afterwards?

The examiner will usually give you some high level feedback immediately. Don’t freak out if it feels like they’re telling you a lot was wrong, especially if they’re picking on small things. The more picky they are with the small stuff, the fewer problems they found with the fundamentals.

They’ll give some feedback to your teacher, too, and let them know your grading result. Your own teacher will be the one who tells you the result – usually at your next class.

My first teachers used to pull people up to the front of the class and ask us how we thought we did. It’s a tradition that I have continued now that I am the teacher, but I’m going to let you in on a (not very well kept) secret.

No teacher is mean enough to tell you that you failed in front of all the other students. That kind of feedback would be done in private. If they’ve called you up to the front then it means you passed.

But you can’t say that of course. The correct answer to “how do you think you did” is always:

There’s room for improvement, Sensei.

Have you got any good tips for first-time graders? What can they do to prepare? Share your best ideas in the comments.