With the introduction of the Mon grading system for junior students (5-12yrs) this year, I thought it be apt to elaborate a little more on what each Mon grade (tag) means and what the students should be doing from one Mon grade to the next.
This is not a definitive list of what the students should be practicing at home, just what we as instructors recommend they do for a few minutes (5-10 mins) each day.
All of the gradings drills can be found in your syllabus handbook. For more advice, please speak with your instructor in class.
From 10th kyu (White Belts/Beginners)
Lessons 1-2
Head, Middle, Low Punch
First four movements of kata Taikyoku Jodan
Lessons 3-4
Head Block, Middle Block, Downwards Block
Up to first kiai of Taikyoku Jodan (8 moves)
Lessons 5-6
Front Kick, Round Kick
Up to second kiai of Taikyoku Jodan (16 moves)
Lessons 7-8
Forward Stance, Hourglass Stance, Sumo Stance
Full kata (20 moves)
From 9th kyu (White Belt + Yellow Tip)
2-3 lessons
All basic punches, back fists and elbow strikes
Grading Combination for 8th kyu (Yellow belt)
First four movements of kata Taikyoku Chudan
3-5 lessons
Blocks
Grading Line Drill for 8th kyu (Yellow belt)
Up to first kiai of Taikyoku Chudan (8 moves)
5-8 lessons
Kicks
Grading Kumite Drill for 8th kyu (Yellow belt)
Up to second kiai of Taikyoku Chudan (16 moves)
9 lessons-grading date
All techniques, combinations, line drills, kumite drills and Full kata (20 moves)
.
From 8th kyu to 7th kyu to 6th kyu to 5th kyu to 4th kyu
Taikyoku Gedan (10 moves = 2 moves after first kiai)
Gekisai Ichi/Ni (10 moves = up to first kiai)
Saifa (10 moves = up to the step back double punch, circle down and hammer fist)
Whether it be taking your driving test, a school exam or in this case, attempting your black belt, taking any kind of test can often be a nerve-racking experience.
Remember the phrase “The 6 Ps?” Proper Persistent Practice Prevents Poor Performance. Never has a truer word been said when it comes to getting ready for your black belt.
Preparation is the key.
And that first P is so important; it must be proper practice for it to have any worthwhile effect. Just turning up to the dojo and running through the motions of the class isn’t enough. One must be actively seeking to improve the skills we have learned in training, not just practising what we already know.
The second P has a lot to do with mindset.
The mindset that a student has makes a great amount of difference to how they apply themselves at this time too. Not taking their training seriously enough means that the student doesn’t prepare themselves properly and therefore never becomes truly ready to take the test. This is something we see a lot of when students reach brown belt.
At this point it’s very easy for students to become complacent and comfortable where they are, and to take that extra step to break through that glass ceiling can be too daunting for some. I believe that this may be why so many 2nd and 1st kyus quit before they get to black belt, they don’t have the mental toughness to push themselves to that level.
Last year, up to 45% of university and other higher education students dropped out before completing their degrees. There are close similarities in numbers between this and the dropout rate of brown belts. In the last 15 years, I’ve seen countless numbers of students with all the potential to reach black belt quit. In the vast majority of these cases, it boils down to whether or not that student is strong enough to do what it takes. Throughout the brown belt levels, a student gets tested mentally and emotionally, going through many highs and lows. It’s the ability to persevere, to push through the low times, especially when they reach the point of wanting to quit, that makes the student mentally stronger when they get to the other side.
The third P, Practice, is essential.
Without putting the time in on the dojo floor, one can never hope to be ready. The amount and regularity of training make a huge difference to both a student’s progress and their motivation in the lead-up too. On average, in our club, it takes about 100 hours/classes and a year of training as a 1st kyu to reach the technical standard required for a black belt. In order to fit this into the time frame, a student should be training 2 – 3 times a week. Repetition is the mother of skill, but it’s not just the hours you put in, but what you put into the hours that count too. 10 hours/classes of running through the motions are only worth about 1 or 2 hours/classes of intense, focused and diligent training, and that’s being generous. Yes, it’s easier to take breaks and plod along comfortably, but nothing worthwhile is ever meant to be easy is it?
So by training properly, regularly and often, a student should be improving at a steady pace, therefore keeping motivated along their journey. I rarely see a brown belt quit who is training like this, although there are rare exceptions, the vast majority who drop out are only training once a week and I’ve yet to see one of them reach black belt level.
In any good quality club or association, achieving a black belt should be a challenge. One that takes the student out of their comfort zone and makes them a better karateka, therefore giving value to the black belt. I don’t agree with black belts being awarded just because someone has done their time or because the examiners don’t want to upset the student. At the end of the day if you’re not up to standard you shouldn’t be given one.
So if you’re serious about wanting to be a black belt, do the right training, develop the right attitude and apply yourself, you’ll get there, provided you have what it takes.
Shihan Paul Coleman
7th Dan JKF Goju Kai & Goju Ryu Karatedo Seiwakai
Head Instructor of Oxford Karate Academy
Shihan Paul Coleman 7th Dan JKF Goju Kai & Goju Ryu Karatedo Seiwakai Head Instructor of Oxford Karate Academy
RHH: Hi Shihan, please can you tell our readers who you are and what you do?
PC: I am a Goju practitioner having began martial arts training in the 60s, with my start in Goju being 1974. I teach karate as a professional.
RHH: What is your current grade and title(s)?
PC: I have a 7th Dan in All Japan Karate-Do Seiwakai, I also have a 7th Dan In the Japan Karate Federation Goju Kai and a Kyoshi certification.
RHH: When did you start training, where and who with?
PC: I started Judo, boxing and karate in the 60s and took up Goju in October 1974 under James Rousseau, who was a 5th Dan representing the group under Morio Higaonna.
RHH: What got you started in the martial arts?
PC: Not sure really. I remember seeing Enter The Dragon and thought “WOW! I want to do some of that”
As a kid I had no big brothers and was bullied. I went to the boxing gym where the bullies trained and there was my chance to spar one on one without four of them ganging up on me.
RHH: Do/did you ever compete?
PC: Many times!
RHH: Any particular highlights during your competitive career?
PC: I have competed and officiated in various competitions including:-
• 1975 BKCC All styles, Belle Vue, Manchester Official
• 1980 Leopoldsburg Belgium Silver Team WUKO kumite
• 1981 IOGKF World Championships Okinawa Japan Silver Team WUKO kumite
• 1981 EKF Championships at Aston Villa Silver Team Kata
• 1982 Italia Coppa Internazionale Miyagi Chojun Italy Silver Team WUKO kumite
• 1982 All Styles Open Tournament Gold individual Kata
• 1982 B.K.K. Knockdown Crystal Palace Competitors medal (I got disqualified!)
• 1983 Campionato Europeo Karate Goju-Ryu Italy Bronze Team WUKO kumite
• 1984 Coupe Miyagi France Gold Team WUKO kumite
• 1984 All Styles Open Tournament Gold individual Kata
• 1989 Miyagi Chojun Festival San Diego California USA Gold individual Iri-Kumi
• 1990 Miyagi Chojun Festival San Diego California USA Gold individual Iri-Kumi
• 1990 Miyagi Chojun Festival San Diego California USA Silver Team Iri-Kumi
• 1991 Mid-West Karate Tournament Bronze Team Kata
• 1991 Mid-West Karate Tournament Gold Team WUKO kumite
• 1991 IOGKF World Championships Okinawa Japan Gold individual Iri-Kumi
• 1992 IOGKF, European Championships France. Silver Team Iri-Kumi
• 1992 IOGKF, European Championships France. Bronze individual Iri-Kumi
• 1997 EKGB National Children’s Championships Kata judge
• 1998 EKGB National Senior Championships Kata judge
• 1998 EKGB National Junior Championships Kata judge
• 1999 EKGB National Senior Championships Kata judge
I have entered numerous other events, too many to mention.
RHH: That’s an impressive record, what are your favourite techniques?
PC: Front leg left mawashi geri, as you may well know <laughs> and left jodan uri uchi.
(NB: On the first occasion that Shihan Paul and I got to spar, he knocked me out with his front mawashi geri)
RHH: Favourite kata?
PC: It fluctuates between Sepai and Kururunfa. Currently Kururunfa, but working mainly on Suparinpei, Sanchin and Tensho.
RHH: Would you say that you are a kata person or a kumite person?
PC: I am a karate person!
RHH: Who was your hero growing up?
PC: As a kid nobody, then Bruce Lee, Mohammed Ali and I liked Mike Tyson for his ferocity. My all time favourite boxer was “Marvellous” Marvin Hagler.
RHH: What’s the best thing about being a karate teacher?
PC: Seeing others develop. Kids that grow in confidence and adults too. Seeing people with a higher self-esteem.
RHH: And the worst?
PC: Seeing a student with SO much latent talent walk away from something they could be great in.
RHH: What’s your greatest achievement to date?
PC: I guess 7th Dan was a high, winning gold in California in 1989. But like you, being a daddy and seeing my children come into this world.
RHH: Who has influenced you the most in your karate?
PC: Many have influenced me. In the past I had James Rousseau, who made simple things interesting and difficult things seem easy, he was a good teacher. Then my time was divided between Len Sim and George Andrews. Len helped a lot with my kata and George made me a stronger, more determined character and developed my fighting instinct. Morio Higaonna was inspirational for his sheer tenacity and passion. Leo Lipinski has changed a lot of basics and given a new depth to them, by making them more applicable, thanks to his teachers Shuji Tasaki and Seiichi Fujiwara, who have given me enormous guidance this past 2 decades. I was fortunate enough to have technical help in kata by Akira Shiomi Hanshi, who is a genius at kata.
RHH: What are your plans for the future?
PC: To help others grow and develop and hope that I can still achieve a deeper understanding as a human being, a father and a karate teacher. Oh! And husband, or I get into trouble! <laughs>
RHH: Finally, any words of wisdom for our readers?
PC: Treat others as you would like to be treated. Be a person that you like from within and shine some light on others that you may be fortunate to share time with.
RHH: Thank you for your time Shihan. Domo arigato gozaimashita.
