Grades

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   Why do we attach so much importance to grades? 
Most course fliers will state the instructors grade normally in an attempt to attract the maximum number of students, but as there is no universal Dan grade standard so how is this an indication of the instructors skill at teaching?
Although impractical it would be nice for the students to rate an instructor, a bit like the feedback on Ebay
It would also be nice to hear which instructors you like best and why

Edited by cactus - 15 Mar 2009 at 8:45am

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cactus Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote cactus Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Grades Posted: 15 Mar 2009 at 8:41am
	Why do we attach so much importance to grades? Most course fliers will state the instructors grade normally in an attempt to attract the maximum number of students, but as there is no universal Dan grade standard so how is this an indication of the instructors skill at teaching? Although impractical it would be nice for the students to rate an instructor, a bit like the feedback on Ebay It would also be nice to hear which instructors you like best and why Edited by cactus - 15 Mar 2009 at 8:45am

SteveBillett Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Status: Offline Points: 6668	Post Options Post Reply Quote SteveBillett Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 16 Mar 2009 at 9:32am
	I totally agree with your statement, Also being a 5th,6th,7th Dan does not actaully mean you can teach well! It should mean you can perform the techniques well yourself! So, Maybe on the Flyers we should say coach Level 1,2,3 But again how much does that say. I have been teaching Martial Arts since is was 18 (nearly 36 years), but time does not mean I am a good teacher, But class size I think shows you a lot. Currently, I am fighting with my dan grades to make them grade. I have a group that all need to grade but they really don't care. So what do I do with the people below them. I am losing the fight as well because I have not been graded myself for 10 years and they say I should be graded. I think I am too old and not as good as I was (not being 20 any more). But to answer your question, My orginal Instructor was Don Bishop, He was one of the best Aikidoka I have ever seen and I am still looking but as a coach he was fine but not as good as his aikido. I have also trained with Shaun Hoddy, he is brilliant! his Aikido is great and his method of coaching is very very clear. ( when he teachs a course he also has lots of people so he must be good) Edited by SteveBillett - 16 Mar 2009 at 9:35am
	Steve Billett 6th Dan Tomiki Chairman Aikido Development Society

SteveBillett Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Status: Offline Points: 6668	Post Options Post Reply Quote SteveBillett Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 16 Mar 2009 at 9:37am
	Sorry, Don If you read the above it makes sound like you were a bad coach, You were and are not a bad coach, Its just your Aiki was better.
	Steve Billett 6th Dan Tomiki Chairman Aikido Development Society

cactus Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote cactus Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 16 Mar 2009 at 10:32am
	I said it was a difficult subject as it can lead so many ways One subject you have touched on is the head/principal grade My association uses grades as a guide to the structure Our principal is the highest grade The senior instructors are one grade below All other instructors are one or more grades below the senior instructors I am a senior instructor but have not graded since 1998 but this still complies with our structure

Shaun Hoddy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 19	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shaun Hoddy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Mar 2009 at 9:22pm
	Although grades are not the be all, if they have been earned in the correct time frame they should reflect the experience of the Aikidoka. I am affraid that unless you have a strong grounding in Aikido all the coach training in the world does not make you a good Aikido coach. There are some who teach poor Aikido very well. Although I am a firm believer in coach education I also believe that a good technical base is the most important part of the puzzel. I agree with Steve Billett that without people moving up through the ranks those below are also stuck. I am not saying that we promote people without the technical ability. I am affraid the only way forward for Dojo or Association leaders who find themselves in this position is get out and practice with a senior instructor who has the technical knowlege to get you to the next grade. I was in this situation myself, I made the decision to study under two senior grades. The grades and experience of these coaches played a big part in this decision as I was traveling a 100 mile return journey to train. Idid this for over twenty years. Edited by Webmaster - 18 Mar 2009 at 10:43am

DANTWO Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 28 Nov 2008 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote DANTWO Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04 Apr 2009 at 10:25am
	I have not long left a club that for me on a personal note started to hand out grades just for turning up, i myself took nearly 5 yrs to get my brown belt which to me was not a problem , i went on to achieve my 2nd Dan, what made me leave was when a student was handed his brown belt after 13 months and then his Sensei wants him to teach other students ! can anyone explain how much knowledge one would have after 13 months and should that pressure be put upon a student ?

cactus Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote cactus Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 05 Apr 2009 at 9:52am
	There is the other senario where a student will move associations to achieve a higher grade.

Shaun Hoddy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 19	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shaun Hoddy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 05 Apr 2009 at 10:02pm
	Thirteen months of Aikido at once or twice a week is not enough experience to go out and teach students. Through my original instructor giving up Aikido I was forced into running a club at 1st Kyu and only 17 years of age. Although the club is still going 30+ years later it was not the ideal situation to be in. My advise to the 1st kyu is seek an association thst does not put pressure on him to teach. My view is that whatever grade you are you should continue with your own personal development.

kohai Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 Jan 2009 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote kohai Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 Apr 2009 at 2:33pm
	Yes we also find it frustrating that the BAB uses minimum grade to restrict who can attend the Coach courses. Our association awards 1st Kyu after approximately 4 years of training a minimum of 2 sessions a week. Other associations award 1st Kyu in 6 months. So how can this be used to limit attendance of Coach Courses? It is difficult as there is no single standard across Aikido associations for the award of grades!
	~True Victory is Self Victory~

DANTWO Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 28 Nov 2008 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote DANTWO Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 Apr 2009 at 3:31pm
	You must find it the same at other clubs that if you are a natural the sensei`s seem to grade them a lot quicker, they can learn the technique fine but understanding the principals of the technique is not so easy to grasp, this surley comes with experiance