Shotokan Grading Examiner

Eternal Shotokan Student

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone on here knows of a good "freelance" Shotokan grading examiner who may be available in 2015 either here or in the UK. Just from online research it is hard to find an examiner who isn't tied into some association or another. Granted there is nothing wrong with that at all, it is difficult to know what is best considering the politics that can be involved in some organisations, some care very little for Karate and more are simply money making machines. It's just hard to find the genuine organisations. We are a genuine club based in the west of Ireland just looking to progress.
Any advice would be great. Thanks in advance

CIARAN_BOYLE

Eternal Shotokan Student wrote: »

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone on here knows of a good "freelance" Shotokan grading examiner who may be available in 2015 either here or in the UK. Just from online research it is hard to find an examiner who isn't tied into some association or another. Granted there is nothing wrong with that at all, it is difficult to know what is best considering the politics that can be involved in some organisations, some care very little for Karate and more are simply money making machines. It's just hard to find the genuine organisations. We are a genuine club based in the west of Ireland just looking to progress.
Any advice would be great. Thanks in advance

What type of level are you looking for someone to grade you or your club to.

Eternal Shotokan Student

We are looking for someone who will do Dan grades ideally a 4th/5th Dan minimum. We are looking for someone who is very technically aware especially of the Katas. We just feel a little stagnant at the moment and want to move forward in the right direction.

CIARAN_BOYLE

I know a godan in Galway that is not associated with any major organisation. He does our clubs dan (and occasionally brown helt gradings) gradings and our sensei (based in dublin) does his students dan and (occasionally brown belt) gradings.

Not 100% on his policy on doing other dan gradings.

Eternal Shotokan Student

That sounds promising thanks, would he mind if I contacted him I wonder?

Eternal Shotokan Student

Also on side note to that has anyone any recommendations as to what Shotokan organisation are good?

SVJKarate

Eternal Shotokan Student wrote: »

Also on side note to that has anyone any recommendations as to what Shotokan organisation are good?

Most of the big ones are good, but it very much depends on what your definition of 'good' is. The big organisations like JKA, SKI and JKS all have excellent teaching approaches, as do many others.

I'm not sure how bringing in an non-affiliated grading examiner will help you to move forward. There is a high risk that it will have the exact opposite effect. For all their flaws, organisations like JKA, SKI, JKS, WSKF, USKFI, WTKO, ISKF and ASKI (and many others) do have established standards for awarding grades, and that's a positive thing.

I think you might be better served to bring in independent instructors for courses, or simply to encourage your members to attend some of the many courses being run throughout the year by other organisations. Perhaps you could find other clubs in the county where the instructor might agree to swap with your club instructor on a regular basis in order to emphasize particular aspects of karate?

Obviously I can't list all of the visiting instructors that come to Ireland, but we regularly see instructors such Kanazawa, Kawasoe, Ohta, Kasuya and other Japanese masters as well as excellent kata specialists such as Marc Stevens, Jonathan Mottram, Dave Hazard, Andy Sherry & Frank Brennan come to Ireland. I would speculate that if your members could attend some of those courses it might give another insight into your kata practice.

(I emphasise kata because you mention it, but there are plenty of kumite specialists giving courses here too).

Don't overlook the excellent Irish karate instructors like Dermot O'Keeffe, Jacqui O'Shea, Scott Langley, Kieran Mullen, Noel Casey, Joe Sweetman, Mick Sherlock, Tim Harte, Dave Royle, Ray Payne etc. The list is much bigger than this, and I'm sure that you could contact any of them and see if they could either do a special course for you or invite you to an open course they have scheduled near to your club.

TL;DR? - Gradings do not move your club karate forward, training does. Be open to getting courses from other instructors and then maybe consider the best option for doing gradings.

thedooner

Hello OP, I also train in Mayo. You have Jarlath Cunningham in Castlebar, 6th Dan, and Jimmy O Gorman Galway, 5th Dan. I have trained with both of these men and if it's any use to you I can give you contact details?