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I hate gradings. No matter how many I do, I never feel any better going into them (Im shodan at the moment too). But the feelign afterwards is always good 3nodding

I've screwed up so many times its not funny. One amusing one that I remember didnt happen to me, but someone I train with made the mistake of confusing the word for punch for the word for kick (nerves I guess, since they were doing 2nd Kyu or something so obviously knew the difference). The grader was like "jun zuki!" *kicks* " eek ...uh, jun...geri?" *punches*

They passed though mrgreen

I've done 11 gradings so far (3rd kyu senior) and they're become more and more nerve racking.

I enjoy them because I get to show off, but I feel worse afterwards as I progress up the ranks. Because I'm pretty much the only female, as I'm not up to the same strength and fitness as the guys are, I feel like I'm not measuring up to them. But really, in comparison to all the other females at the club (which is only about 3 or 4 compared to 20 males), I'm the highest in everything karate and fitness wise.

I've stuffed up a lot, in my second last grading, I stuffed up on kata 4 times before I got it right. I then had to repeat it again to show that I just stuffed up and that I do actually know it (and it was a kata that I've known for about 7 years!).

Next year, I may have to assist in running (or take) the warm up session and I can't even remember it all off by heart after 10 years of doing karate! That's what I'm more nervous about now.

But my next grading is going to be the hardest one. Even though it's only to second kyu, I'll be the only female in the clubs' history to have ever made it that far, so I really want to make an impression and proove that I'm as strong and as fit as the guys are (even though I've been told I'm graded on technique and knowledge rather then fitness). So lately, I don't ever feel ready for a grading. My next one is in about 10 or 11 months, so I've got a lot of time to prepare, but I rekon if I train every single day, I will still not feel ready.

Maybe I should elaborate on that.

In a grading situation, the higher kyu ranks are assessed on taking the formal warmup (I've instructed full classes before, but I find this is more difficult). The warm up is about 20 to 30 minutes long and is composed of all the techniques that are taught in the style... every single one excluding weaponry which is only included on special occasions.

The entire thing is spoken in Japanese, no English is allowed. If it was all in English, it would be fine. But if I was instructing them to do a maegeri and I start showing and discussing a gendan barai, it won't look to good too the dan ranks. I know it all when someone is running through it and speaking Japanese, but I haven't memorised the exact order and still say some techniques incorrectly when I do it.

It's not the warm up or the techniques, it's the Japanese.

Like I recently started at a new dojo a few months back, two weeks in I was taking their warm ups for the senior and junior kyu ranks and the junior dan ranks, and I hadn't even graded yet at that time. But that was just simple strength, flexibility and fitness exercises, not a set structure spoken in Japanese.

For 3rd brown in jujutsu it is 3 sessions of 2 hour tests. Doesn't cost barily anything and the % for passing must be 95%. But luckily you only have to make up the stuff you sucked at if you failed and everyone does first few times through. And the tests are solo with an audience.

Its insane. What if you are really bad at something like learning languages but very good at learning physical things like martial arts? IMO you should be judged on your technique and knowledge of that technique, not your japanese skills

I understand and agree that you need to know basic terms and the names of techniques rolleyes its having to explain how to do the technique in Japanese that I disagree with

Gradings are fun. Like proper ya know? No messin, no bullshit. Do it and do it right. The way it should be