Well aside from that you said that at your dojo a student has to be told before they can test for promotion. So are tests scheduled at regular intervals or is a student just told to test when the instructor sees they're ready? Are students truly "tested" or are they just promoted and the so called test just serves the purpose of showing off what they've learned? Another words, when the instructor sees the student is ready the student puts on a "demonstration" and is automatically promoted. Im asking since there's been other people on this forum whose dojos use such a system.
We may have had this discussion before, or maybe I had it with someone else here; I don't remember...
I'm currently a 3rd kyu at my school, therefore I can't say firsthand what happens at black belt testing. At any rank, testing is by invitation only. If you have to ask, the answer is no.
Tests are on the calendar for every other month or so. Sometimes there's a couple people who'll test (adults and/or kids), sometimes no one's promoting. Scheduling them, even if no one's testing keeps my CI organized and keeps him from forgetting. Adults and kids test separately.
I haven't seen anyone fail, but I've heard about it happening at our school in the past. I guess you could say it's your chance to fail more than it's your chance to pass, in a way. People have failed for freezing and not being able to be "brought back" mentally. People have failed by giving up, not taking it seriously, and/or other disrespectful acts. In my CI's almost 30 years running a dojo, he's had a handful of people fail kyu tests. Testing isn't some elaborate thing; it's basically a regular class, only the intensity is much higher and the people testing (other students not testing are there too, as it's during regular class time) are put a step in front of everyone else, and they're always paired up with black belts who'll push them harder than the norm. Much harder. Kyu testing is usually done before black belts class, so as the student advances, they stay for black belts class to spar with them too. The higher the kyu student gets, the longer they stay in that class.
I guess you can say it's more of a demonstration that an actual test, but it's a demonstration where you're pushed pretty hard and pushed outside your comfort zone. Give it all you've got, don't panic and don't do anything disrespectful, and you're good.
Black belt testing is done by our founder in NYC. Our CI can promote to some black belt ranks, but he'd rather his teacher do it. Black belt testing is a multi day thing. Students routinely fail. I've been told out of 40 or so testing, 5-10 won't pass. They won't be called out publicly, but at the end of a session they'll be pulled aside and told to try again at another time.
My CI has never had anyone fail a black belt test. He only sends people he knows are fully ready. When a CI's students regularly fail black belt tests, it's more of a reflection on the CI than the students. CI's are held accountable for their students. There has been "Why are you sending unprepared students to test?" type questions asked of CIs. Nakamura won't promote people to black belt ranks unless he genuinely feels they're worthy of it. It's an actual test, not a demonstration. I guess if the student is well prepared, one could consider it a demonstration.
At the end of the day, kyu testing is more of a formality and preparation for black belt testing, whereas black belt testing is all truly testing.
My former organization worked the same way, except kyu testing was more formal, or better yet there was more sizzle, but honestly there was less steak. My 1st dan test was very intense and was a true test. If you weren't up to the standards, you didn't pass.
I'd rather have to be invited rather than everyone is tested. There's no sense in setting up people to fail when the CI knows they're not going to pass.
I've never failed an MA test. I've honestly always been well prepared. If I didn't feel like I deserved to test, I'd tell the CI. Hasn't happened yet, but it's not impossible.
