Adult Grading Results
Great grading last night! 17 promotions to all coloured belt ranks, including 9 new green belts. 45 people at the dojo, including 15 instructors, and 24 women. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms who worked hard on Friday!
Upcoming Youth Grading
Parents and club members, the spring youth grading is just over a week away! Attached below is information about the event.
1. Grading – The BKA annual Spring Youth Grading will be held Saturday, April 20th at Mother Margaret Mary School. We are going to maintain the format from the last grading, and have everyone begin the grading at the same time: 9:00AM. As the day progresses we will do three separate grading ceremonies, and upon completion of you son or daughter’s grading, they are free to go. You are also welcome to stay and watch the higher ranks continue their gradings!
a. If your son or daughter is currently a white, white-stripe, yellow, they will begin their grading at 9:00AM, and finish by 10:30AM.
b. If your son or daughter is currently a yellow stripe, orange, or orange stripe, they will begin their grading at 9:00AM and finish by 11:45AM.
c. If your son or daughter is currently a green, green stripe, blue, or blue stripe, they will begin their grading at 9:00AM and finish by 12:45PM.
2. Promotion – Progress in rank in karate comes primarily through a combination of three things:
a. Time – time is required to master techniques, improve timing, and build gross and fine motor skills. For the lower ranks, we outline the general minimum times where students can expect to remain at a given rank in the attached sheets. We do keep attendance, and look at this as we consider which students are likely ready for promotion.
b. Skill – results from practice, which results from time spent on the floor. In general, we look at three aspects to karate training. The first is basic technique, in isolation, or in combinations. These need to be performed at a level of proficiency appropriate for the age and rank sought. The second is kata. Kata is good because it shows individual commitment to learning and mastering a specific routine. It is something your son or daughter could practice at home to improve. The last element is sparring, either with pads, the instructors, or against other students, according to their rank. This shows an ability to integrate basic technique into combinations in a random situation.
c. Attitude – the general approach the student brings to class, and their supportiveness for other students as a training partner and in some cases, mentor.
d. It is not uncommon for students at the yellow-stripe and higher ranks to need one year of training in order to advance. Where instructors have decided that a student would benefit from another term at their present rank, they are still encouraged to come and participate in the grading experience, but we try to let parents know in advance (by e-mail) so that you can best decided how to prepare your son or daughter. In some cases, decisions are made on the day, based on the opinion of other instructors present. Please realize that it does not do any favours to the student to advance them too fast, as they can become frustrated with the new material and overwhelmed with the experience if they are not ready. We explain it to the kids as being like skipping a grade at school.
Northern Alberta Black Belt Pre-Grading
Brown and Black Belt Members,
The Northern Alberta Black Belt Pre-Grading is coming up in March. Please check out the upcoming events tab of the website for more information. All BKA Adult Members ranked blue and up are welcome to attend. Black Belt Grading candidates are required to attend.
Fall Youth Grading
Parents and club members, the fall youth grading is only a couple weeks away!
1. Grading – The BKA annual Fall Youth Grading will be held Saturday, December 8th at Mother Margaret Mary School. We are going to maintain the format from the last grading, and have everyone begin the grading at the same time: 9:00AM. As the day progresses we will do three separate grading ceremonies, and upon completion of you son or daughter’s grading, they are free to go. You are also welcome to stay and watch the higher ranks continue their gradings!
- a. If your son or daughter is currently a white, white-stripe, yellow, they will begin their grading at 9:00AM, and finish by 10:30AM.
- b. If your son or daughter is currently a yellow stripe, orange, or orange stripe, they will begin their grading at 9:00AM and finish by 11:45AM.
- c. If your son or daughter is currently a green, green stripe, blue, or blue stripe, they will begin their grading at 9:00AM and finish by 12:45PM.
2. Promotion – Progress in rank in karate comes primarily through a combination of three things:
- a. Time – time is required to master techniques, improve timing, and build gross and fine motor skills. For the lower ranks, we outline the general minimum times where students can expect to remain at a given rank in the attached sheets. We do keep attendance, and look at this as we consider which students are likely ready for promotion.
- b. Skill – results from practice, which results from time spent on the floor. In general, we look at three aspects to karate training. The first is basic technique, in isolation, or in combinations. These need to be performed at a level of proficiency appropriate for the age and rank sought. The second is kata. Kata is good because it shows individual commitment to learning and mastering a specific routine. It is something your son or daughter could practice at home to improve. The last element is sparring, either with pads, the instructors, or against other students, according to their rank. This shows an ability to integrate basic technique into combinations in a random situation.
- c. Attitude – the general approach the student brings to class, and their supportiveness for other students as a training partner and in some cases, mentor.
- d. It is not uncommon for students at the yellow-stripe and higher ranks to need one year of training in order to advance. Where instructors have decided that a student would benefit from another term at their present rank, they are still encouraged to come and participate in the grading experience, but we try to let parents know in advance (by e-mail) so that you can best decided how to prepare your son or daughter. In some cases, decisions are made on the day, based on the opinion of other instructors present. Please realize that it does not do any favours to the student to advance them too fast, as they can become frustrated with the new material and overwhelmed with the experience if they are not ready. We explain it to the kids as being like skipping a grade at school.
3. Where can I view kata videos? If your son or daughter is still learning their kata, and needs a refresher, have a look here:
- a. Go to www.edmonton-karate.com
- b. Open the menu system with the red menu button, and click “Members Only”. From here, you can menu down to Videos, and a library of selections appears. Click on one of the headings.
- c. From here, you are prompted to enter an ID and Password.
- d. For White belt members, “Power Kata” may be found under “SWKKF Secondary Katas”
- e. For White Stripes, “Taikyoku Shodan” may be found under “Historical Secondary Katas”
Adult Grading Results
Great grading last night! Congratulations to the 18 adult club members who achieved new ranks ranging from yellow to brown. We had a beautiful night in Edmonton, and were able to move parts of the grading outside to add to the memorable experience. Thank you as well to the 17 yodansha from the BKA who participated in the Joseke Board, and to the other 11 club members who helped make the event special.
Black Belt Grading Results
Awesome grading day yesterday at the Annual AB Black Belt Grading in Edmonton. Congratulations to four successful candidates from the BKA: Sensei Gene Klenke (to Shodan), Sensei Pedro Garcia Guerra (to Shodan), Sensei Sidney Taylor (to Nidan), Sensei Michael Chmay (to Nidan).
Sensei Freeman was surprised and honoured to be granted his 6th Dan and appreciates the confidence the Senate has shown in him in making this grant!
It was an awesome day, and a time to reflect on the lineage of the karate we train, and thank Sensei Shintani and those who have both transmitted his values and also those who shaped his understanding of martial arts.