Grades

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   It is a shame that there is not a standard across the board for Grades. I have certainly come across some "instructors" claiming various grades who's ability to perform techniques appears to be lacking. I have recently taken my Ikkyu grade and have to admit it was hard work. I wasn't entirely convinced I had actually done enough to be worth the grade but I guess that is often the case.
I dont know if I could coach effectively, I am regularly asked to demonstrate techniques in class and generally feel pretty uncomfortable when doing so.
I think there are natural coaches and those who will never be particularly comfortable with or good at coaching. Certainly length of time practising and grade should be a good indicator of an instructors ability. However I have seen aikidoka jumping from association to association and style to style in order to raise their grade particularly when they appear to be stuck at a certain level within a club, including moving to a position where they can effectively buy their senior grades.
How a standard could be managed/ policed is a difficult subject; perhaps individual associations would have to submit to BAB inspections and/ or representation at grading panels to ensure the standard? Not sure that would ever be agreed to - associations value their independance so much - but it is an interesting thought! 

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Jamieg Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 11 Aug 2008 Location: Northampton Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jamieg Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Grades Posted: 01 May 2009 at 12:35pm
	It is a shame that there is not a standard across the board for Grades. I have certainly come across some "instructors" claiming various grades who's ability to perform techniques appears to be lacking. I have recently taken my Ikkyu grade and have to admit it was hard work. I wasn't entirely convinced I had actually done enough to be worth the grade but I guess that is often the case. I dont know if I could coach effectively, I am regularly asked to demonstrate techniques in class and generally feel pretty uncomfortable when doing so. I think there are natural coaches and those who will never be particularly comfortable with or good at coaching. Certainly length of time practising and grade should be a good indicator of an instructors ability. However I have seen aikidoka jumping from association to association and style to style in order to raise their grade particularly when they appear to be stuck at a certain level within a club, including moving to a position where they can effectively buy their senior grades. How a standard could be managed/ policed is a difficult subject; perhaps individual associations would have to submit to BAB inspections and/ or representation at grading panels to ensure the standard? Not sure that would ever be agreed to - associations value their independance so much - but it is an interesting thought!
	I love to fly!

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: 17 Apr 2009 at 3:09pm
	Hi Graham Although I think it should be the coaching team that replies, My view is that the BAB has set a minimum grade of 1st Kyu, This is to ensure that a BAB Coach has enough Aikido experince to teach, The BAB course does not check your ability in Aikido only your ability to put across what you know and that you teach in a safe and controlled manor. If their were no grade levels then it would be possible to pass someone on a coaching course who has little of no aikido training. for example a teacher who is only a yellow belt. I agree that sometimes the grade level requirement is not correct. In my group we had a orange belt who was brilliant at teaching, Also a University Lecturer who was only a blue belt both of which were at least as good as me or better at teaching/coaching. They have both now passed the BAB Coach Level after they reached 1st Kyu.
	Steve Billett 6th Dan Tomiki Chairman Aikido Development Society

Graham Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote Graham Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2009 at 1:34pm
	Does anybody know why there is the minimum grade for attending the coaching courses? As said previously, there is a distinction between Aikido ability and coaching ability, and the coaching courses (rightly) focus on teaching ability. Isn't it up to associations who they deem it appropriate to send on the courses?

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

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~

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.

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.

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 ?

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

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