Belt tests: Are they really necessary?

[Shu2jack]

Shaolin Monk, do you by any chance study Songham TKD under the ATA? Seems very similar to it.

Anyways, as an instructor, I don't test students unless I know they can pass. The purpose of the test is to see how they perform under pressure. You have 40 students testing. On average each person has 2 people watching them and usually at least 3 judges watching them. Now throughout the testing you know the judges could ask you to perform anything you have been taught throughout your martial art training at that school. The idea is to try to get the student nervous and see how they handle it. If they know their material well enough, performing their techinques (correctly) are natural for them, and they have gained confidence then it won't be a problem.

Another benifit to this is that once a student learns to handle pressure, being judged on everything you do, and cope with not knowing exactly everything you are going to be required to do, doing stuff like giving presentations for work/school or leading group activities become easy. (Easier at least.)

 

[InvisibleFist]

Belts are extremely helpful to beginning students. When you are starting out, it helps to know who is where in the training: Who you should listen to, and who is just blowing smoke.

 

[Black Bear]

IF, that's an interesting point--no, wait, you're just a YELLOW BELT!

 

[loki09789]

IF, that's an interesting point--no, wait, you're just a YELLOW BELT!

Be good BB! I don't think the real purpose of assessment and evaluation are the prime goals of Martial Arts belt testing anymore according to the posts I see here.

The general perception is that Belt tests are just ceremonial or formality.

 

[Hot Lunch]

My current opinion is that tests are unnecessary. Promotions should be the reward for skills and behaviors demonstrated every day, not on a one-time performance.

If there are scheduled days throughout the year (for example, the first day of class every third month) in which any promotions are announced, I'd be fine with that.

This serves two purposes:

1. It forces the instructor to look at the name of every student on the roster and mark yay or nay accordingly (rather than only promoting the ones who get his or her attention).

2. Students can focus on their training in between the scheduled announcements. If the promotions are unscheduled and student can be promoted on any day, you now have the problem of students coming into every class thinking that today is going to be their day, and going home pissed off when it's not. I think that such students are only going to stay for so long.

 

[Gyakuto]

Continuous assessment has been tried in the education sector over the years and been found to be no better (or worse) than a definitive examination (although exams favour boys and continuous assessment, girls). However, continuous assessment becomes continual assessment and students feel watched and judged all the time putting them continually under pressure, inhibiting them from experimenting lest they failure and it’s deemed a negative. Most find it unpleasantly stressful.

A discrete examination puts people under intense stress which can spoil performance on the day. They fill people with dread and conjure negative feelings from school days.

The solution? A bit of both. An assessment day/evening/weekend seminar.

 

[Buka]

Continuous assessment has been tried in the education sector over the years and been found to be no better (or worse) than a definitive examination (although exams favour boys and continuous assessment, girls). However, continuous assessment becomes continual assessment and students feel watched and judged all the time putting them continually under pressure, inhibiting them from experimenting lest they failure and it’s deemed a negative. Most find it unpleasantly stressful.

A discrete examination puts people under intense stress which can spoil performance on the day. They fill people with dread and conjure negative feelings from school days.

The solution? A bit of both. An assessment day/evening/weekend seminar.

IMO it depends on how you structure and conduct testing. We had open testing. Everybody, even those not testing, were strongly encouraged to attend.

They were the most crowded nights in the dojo. The most popular, as well. Or as the black belts used to describe them to students - a lot of fun and completely nuts.

 

[Balrog]

Belt tests: are they necessary?

Are belt tests necessary to determine proficiency?
Should a belt test push a student to their physical limits?
Should a belt test be an opportunity for a student to perform a demonstration?
Or, are they unnecessary.

We tested. And it was a test, not a "graduation". We expected our students to do their best at all times. Gee, just like the real world does.