TKD grading coming up!

memphis

My next Tae Kwon-do grading is coming up, on November 28th.

Has anyone else got their grading coming up soon? I'm going for my green tag, anyone have any tips for me, my pattern needs a little improvement, but apart from that it should be ok. I just need to get the correct stances off and then I'll be fine.

Anything else I should focus on at that level? Will I have to free spar? If so that should be a laugh! I skipped my yellow belt grading last time as I double graded and jumped straight up to yellow. Will I still have to do Chon Ji (which is easy enough).

And finally, out of curiousity how often a year should I actually be grading, my seniors where saying we should be grading far more frequently, but how frequent is frequent enough?

dudara

Our instructor grades us twice a year, strictly no more, or no double grading. I think that's about right, especially at the more senior grades. You really need that time to hone and perfect details.

For green tag, the pattern is Dan-Gun as you well know, but you could also be asked Chong-Ji or indeed Sagijirugi or Sagimaki. Anything you've done before is eligible. Board breaking might come up. For my green-tag it was a side-kick of my choice. Sparring is also a possibility, it depends on the grader. Make sure to have all your gear with you on the day.

Best of luck, I should have graded in December for red tag, but due to work, it will be February now before I grade.

memphis

dudara wrote:

Board breaking might come up. .

Nah, thats impossible, considering that we have never done it in class yet! But if I had to do it, I'd sure as hell give it a blast.... once it was with my fist!

Sorry to hear ya gotta postpone your grading mate, thats such a shame!

Thanks for the advice!

dudara

We didn't do it in class either

just be prepared, and give everything a go

memphis

Jaysus, that's a little unfair, but I guess what your saying is expect the unexpected!

I'll give anything a blast, anything to get a black belt (my long term goal)!

rainbow kirby

How often you grade depends on the person really. In our club we have gradings 4 times a year, but you don't necessarily go at all of them. I've gone at all 4 gradings a year for the last 2 years (I'm a red belt now).
For green tag, expect to be asked pretty much everything you've done so far, with particular emphasis on Dan-Gun and Chon-Ji. And know how to do all the moves from pattern as in-line techniques, particularly knife-hand guarding block in L-stance and twin forearm block in L-stance. Make sure you get your sine wave right in your punching techniques too. Sparring-wise, probably just 3-step for green tag but bring your sparring gear anyway. Breaking? If you've done nothing before, then either front snap kick or side kick with leg of choice.
Best of luck!

memphis

rainbow kirby wrote:

How often you grade depends on the person really. In our club we have gradings 4 times a year, but you don't necessarily go at all of them. I've gone at all 4 gradings a year for the last 2 years (I'm a red belt now).
For green tag, expect to be asked pretty much everything you've done so far, with particular emphasis on Dan-Gun and Chon-Ji. And know how to do all the moves from pattern as in-line techniques, particularly knife-hand guarding block in L-stance and twin forearm block in L-stance. Make sure you get your sine wave right in your punching techniques too. Sparring-wise, probably just 3-step for green tag but bring your sparring gear anyway. Breaking? If you've done nothing before, then either front snap kick or side kick with leg of choice.
Best of luck!

Thanks for the advice! A red belt in 2 years eh? OMG, but you've certainly moved up fast. I'm starting to think that as treasurer of my club, I should see that the committee request that we grade more frequently! I'm doing TKD about 9 months and I'm only going for my green tag, something wrong there now, don't ya think?

rainbow kirby

It took me about 7 months after starting TKD to get green tag. My club grades really quickly. Not sure if this is common to all college clubs. Not everyone in my club is as much of a grading monkey as me, in fact there's only 1 other person who's done pretty much the same thing, and she double graded the first one. It also depends on how ready you are yourself to do each grading. Due to many years of kenpo before ever starting TKD, I've had plenty of sparring experience and been used to learning complicated patterns.

NeoSlicerZ

memphis wrote:

Thanks for the advice! A red belt in 2 years eh? OMG, but you've certainly moved up fast. I'm starting to think that as treasurer of my club, I should see that the committee request that we grade more frequently! I'm doing TKD about 9 months and I'm only going for my green tag, something wrong there now, don't ya think?

That's roughly correct, one grading every 3 months is the usual here, though due to people starting near to the grading date etc can lead to shorter times or double gradings. Personally i got my Black belt in 2 and a half years.

dudara

A lot of college clubs grade people quickly and often double grade. This makes sense when you realise people won't be around for the summer.

Our set of INTA clubs here in Cork would grade people no more than twice a year though. I've been at it for just over three years now and aiming for red tag. But I'm very happy with that pace. When we go to other clubs or tournaments or seminars or anything of the like, I can see that we're fairly advanced and solid in our knowledge. As a result I'm more than happy to accept my instructors decisions on this. The INTA recommend six months between gradings for the more senior grades.

As long as you're happy with the pace and feel that you're fitting everything in and that your knowledge is solid and your technique is good, then it really doesn't matter how often you grade

memphis

This is only my 2nd grading in the whole 8-9 month period that I have been doing TKD, the first time i graded I double graded up to yellow belt.

I would really love if we could grade more frequently, like you say not everyone has to go for it, but I think the possibility should be there for those that are ready to go forward for grading!

memphis

Well the gradings on tomorrow, and my instructor has said that board breaking is a definately No for my level.

Will let all know tomorrow how I get on!

blondie83

Good luck Memphis, you'll do great!

Musashi

For the board breaks a lot of clubs no longer do them in Gradings for Liability issues. Break a hand your out of work at least six weeks, and may be able to sue your Club/Instructor as a result! To avoid this the breaking is being dropped or replaced with a "token" break of a very light board.
I used to enjoy the destruction in gradings and tournaments, though have heard some horror stories too!
My first instructor was told "no break,no pass" on his Second Dan grading by Master Rhee. Fair enough but he was after coming from the hospital after getting his chemo treatment ,bald as an egg and with tubes still in his veins.
Of course he broke, the man was a walking sledge hammer even though he is over six feet tall and about eight stone weight

Enjoy the gradings and do your best,the Examiners on the panel WANT to pass you! I've been on a grading panel for colour belts and you want them to do well!
The only way I won't pass a member is if they are so bad it would drag down TKD and make a sham of their friends gradings.If you are good enough you will pass,but if you are very good you get O+ and exceptional to get an A grading.

Have fun with it and show the examiners you like what you are doing,Smile, but don't grin like an idiot
Be prepared for questions like "How many stances do you know? Really,show me" and "Why do you want to learn TKD?"
Not yet seen anyone fess up to wanting to learn to fight but it's what we train for every time we attend class

rainbow kirby

Best of luck Memphis!
I found out about a week ago that I'm grading for black tag on the 6th of December!
Uh-oh spaghetti-ohs...

Colm_OReilly

Does it not make you think when you start wondering how often you grade and wanting to grade faster?

Why?

Moss

Colm_OReilly wrote:

Does it not make you think when you start wondering how often you grade and wanting to grade faster?

Why?

Do you mean we're just concentrating on getting flashy new belts and not on our skill as fighters? It's nice to get some recognition for all the training we do, also give a sense of progress. Encourages you to stick at it. Competition is another good way to achieve these ends and we do some of that too! Important not to focus too much on grade though, I do see where your coming from.

dudara

I'll be honest and say that I grinned like an idiot when I got my blue belt. To me it was the first serious colour. By that, it meant I was getting serious in my TKD work and I was really proud of it. I had also realised around the same time that I had made real progress in technique, balance and style and I felt that at long last I was getting good.

I work hard at tkd as I don't consider myself to be naturally athletic, so I'm always delighted to get my new grade. Having said all this however, I know the actual colour doesn't matter at all. I see yellow belt kids who have more natural talent than I do, and I also see red and black belts who I know that I am better than. What makes me pleased is when I execute a lovely turning kick or reverse side kick. That's how I choose to measure my progress.

On a side note, I twisted my knee Monday night in training, landing from a flying side kick ( and it was a good one too!!). After a trip to A&E, I'm on crutches, and the physio reckons I've got a little cartilage damage as well as a strained medial ligament. Looks like I'm out of action until after Christmas at least. Has anyone any hints or tips for this injury

BTW, best of luck Memphis, we look forward to the results.

Moss

Ask your physio about taking Glucosamine. It's excellent stuff for repairing damaged cartilage in particular but helps repair ligaments too. You can get it in any pharmacy. No harm to take it anyway cause its good for all your joints. TKD can be quite hard on your body in that regard. Glucosamine takes at least 6 weeks to kick in though and your probably looking for something sooner. Physio's the best bet. Moss.

dudara

Cheers Moss for that advice, but I already take Glucosamine as I've always had slightly "clicky" kneecaps. Might up the dosage now though

rainbow kirby

Might start taking a bit of that myself. After 9 years of virtually injury-free training, my legs have decided they hate me. Knees get sore when doing a lot of moves with sine wave, calves cramp up in the warmup and if I'm doing a lot of jumping techniques.
/me thinks a visit to the physio is in order!

memphis

I recommend tiger balm (only about €6) for reducing muscle pain, after that I can't help. Sorry to hear about your trip to A&E dubara, hope you recover fast.

Anyway, the grading went well, was alot harder than my first grading, but that was expected. All went as expected, except for the question part. First I was asked how long I have been training, that was fine, until he asked me what was the importance of breathing out after each movement of my pattern. I kinda paused to think about it and then said "more power". The examiner ended up answering the question, and asking me to breath in while executing a punch (impossible).

Overall, it was a fair grading and the examiner was excellent and also very patiant. I learnt an important lesson too about breathing!

memphis

Colm_OReilly wrote:

Does it not make you think when you start wondering how often you grade and wanting to grade faster?

Why?

Was just reading back through the posts and I spotted your question

Interesting one Colm. I see where your coming from, it shouldn't be about trying to get to the top of the rank ASAP, what I meant by wanting to grade more is that, sometimes people maybe ready to grade, and having gradings more frequently means that those ready to grade can go forward for it. It'd mean that there'd be smaller numbers grading, allowing the examiner to give more focus to the individuals etc!

Personally, after about 9 months of training I feel I should be a higher grade, maybe thats me being cocky, but I feel strongly about my TKD progression!

rainbow kirby

Starting to get to that pre-grading nervy stage now...
Got freaked out reading over my theory on the bus Friday morning and I didn't get through all of it going from Firhouse to town:(
Have a feeling this is going to be a really hard grading. I could do with not working in the morning and just doing patterns all day to practise. Also just hoping my knee doesn't crap out on me.
If all goes well, black tag in 38 hours...

GuanYin

One of the big problems with college clubs is that they are over competitive. Students should have no say whatsoever in when they grade, that should be entirely up to the instructor to decide if the student is up to the standard.

As such, regular gradings that you see nowadays produce poorer students at the higher levels.

On an aside, I came away from my 1st dan grading with a broken arm, and there was a concussion and a fractured rib from the same grading session. We weren't allowed speak any english either.....

memphis

Best of luck with your grading Kirby!

And Syke, firstly I wanna point out that yes i am a student, but not training with a college, I train with the club in my home town.

Anyway, that grading for your 1st Dan sounds a bit harsh, can't believe you'd get so bashed up. What was involved.... or maybe you shouldn't tell me for fear of putting me off TKD for life!

Added....... oh I forgot to say, I got the result of my grading today in class, Am now a green tag!

GuanYin

It was the multiple opponent sparring that did most of the damage. I got my (padded) arm in the way of a hammer kick which is what did me in (I was on so much adreniline at the time that I finished the grading and only noticed later that day).

Again, our Dan gradings were closed shop affairs, kup gradings were open to the public but keeping the black-belts behind closed doors kept a level of dignity and respect while ensuring not to put off the students.

Congratulations by the way memphis

dudara

my instructor broke his toe during a 3rd dan grading but finished it out. Had to do flying side kicks and so on with the injury. You just have to take the knocks. I fractured a rib during the summer sparring a black belt. I just misjudged and walked into a side kick.

I agree whole-heartedly with Syke. I trained with the UCC club one summer while my club was closed, and while I know that they have some good instructors, I felt that they graded too often and some of the higher belts didn't really deserve their grade.

rainbow kirby

syke wrote:

On an aside, I came away from my 1st dan grading with a broken arm, and there was a concussion and a fractured rib from the same grading session. We weren't allowed speak any english either.....

meep... Sounds tough. Was that in Korea or something?

And Memphis... Congratulations! Enjoy these last few months of points sparring in competitions.

EDIT: black tag get! Quite a hard grading, lots of sparring. Fun in a weird sort of way.

memphis

Well done Kirby with regard to your balck tag grading. Your nearly there, how far away before you grade for your black belt, I'm sure the gap is wider at that level that is it at say my level.

memphis

rainbow kirby

It's actually not that far away! April or May. (exam time too...:eek:) Couldn't resist the urge to post a video of Choong-Moo in my LiveJournal this morning...
BTW in case you were wondering, it's actually not usual in my club for people to grade as quickly as I have. A lot of the people I started with are in and around blue belt at the moment. There's me and 1 other girl who's a red belt, then the rest blue tag/blue belt/red tag. What with it being a college club a lot of people miss the summers, but thanks to living in Dublin, I don't miss summer training. I might be taking it a bit easier next summer though!

blondie83

Well done on the black tag grading, only one more step to a dan now!

memphis

Probably a stupid question, but when ya get to a black belt, are you regarded as a master of TKD? I mean can I call myself Master Memphis when I get my balck belt? LOL. If ya follow. Or are ya not a master until you complete all 9 dan's?

GuanYin

memphis wrote:

Probably a stupid question, but when ya get to a black belt, are you regarded as a master of TKD? I mean can I call myself Master Memphis when I get my balck belt? LOL. If ya follow. Or are ya not a master until you complete all 9 dan's?

Depending on style and school, 5th dan up is a Master.

dudara

The dans are split into three sections in the INTA. 1st - 3rd are junior, 4th-6th and then 7th-9th, who are regarded as the masters. The INTA has only two 6th dans and one 7th dan (Master O'Toole). To us, there is only one master, Master O'Toole. He is called this due to being the most senior grade in our organisation as well as being the head of the INTA.

Basically, when you get to 1st dan, you're regarded as only just really starting to learn TKD.

memphis

dudara wrote:

Basically, when you get to 1st dan, you're regarded as only just really starting to learn TKD.

I'm assuming that you mena starting to have a sound knowledge of the art, rather starting to really learn it! But yeah, I kinda see what your saying!

So basically from your gathering of it the highest in your organisation is a Master. Interesting!