Exam time! What happens at a grading?

What is

What are the Kyu and Sen grades?

What are the Dan grades?

What does

When and how often are gradings, and where are they held?

When can I grade?

What do I need to bring to a grading?

What's the format of the grading?

What are these tests?

What if I mess up?

What do I do when I'm not doing a test?

When do I get told if I've passed?

What is

Grading is the formal Jin Sei Kai process which assesses how each student is progressing in his or her Karate training and, in consequence of which a Kyu, Sen or Dan grade may be conferred on that individual. Back to top

What are the Kyu and Sen grades?

There are ten Kyu grades in Jin Sei Kai, denoted by the following belt colours:

10th Kyu - White
9th Kyu - Red
8th Kyu - Orange
7th Kyu - Yellow
6th Kyu - Green
5th Kyu - Puple
4th Kyu - Purple with one White stripe
3rd Kyu - Brown
2nd Kyu - Brown with one White stripe
1st Kyu - Brown with two White stripes

Jin Sei Kai also awards Sen (intermediate) grades to children between 7th Kyu and 1st Kyu, and a Sen grade is denoted by a White tab on the student's belt.

Beginners joining Jin Sei Kai will typically be accorded 10th Kyu (White belt) status by their local Club Instructor after a few lessons, provided they make good progress in learning the basics. So, for those students, their first formal grading will actually be at the 9th Kyu (Red belt) stage. Back to top

What are the Dan grades?

The Dan grades are all denoted by a Black belt:

1st Dan - Shodan
2nd Dan - Nidan
3rd Dan - Sandan
4th Dan - Yondan
5th Dan - Godan
6th Dan - Rokudan
7th Dan - Shichidan (or Nanadan)
8th Dan - Hachidan
9th Dan - Kudan
10th Dan - Judan

The first five Dan grades are all awarded by examination. The very highest grades, 6th to 10th Dan, are awarded to individuals recognised and acknowledged for their exceptional ability in and contribution to Karate. Back to top

What does

Gradings are conducted with formality and discipline, as befits an important examination. Accordingly, students should pay particular respect to all those present. In particular, they must remain quiet throughout and only speak if asked to, and sit (or stand) still at all times. Students should remain alert at all times and listen very carefully to commands from any instructor. Back to top

When and how often are gradings, and where are they held?

The dates for, and locations of, Jin Sei Kai gradings are given in the 'Diary Dates!' section. Gradings are held every three months - typically in March, June, September and December.

Sensei Perry travels the country, on a quarterly basis, to undertake these gradings either at your own local Dojo, or one near you. Back to top

When can I grade?

You may attend a grading examination whenever (and only when) your Club Instructor or Sensei Perry tells you that it is appropriate.

There are no expected or pre-determined dates for a given student. Everything depends on your own ability and progress, and the grading process is not competitive. If you are making good progress in your training and attending class regularly, you might hope to grade every three months - up to 3rd Kyu. Between 3rd Kyu and 1st Kyu, if you are making good progress and attending class regularly, you may be able to grade every six months. To progress from 1st Kyu to Shodan (your first Black belt) will take at least twelve months.

For Black belts, gradings take place much less frequently. There is typically a gap in years (between belts) equivalent to the number of the next Dan grade to be awarded. Thus, between Shodan and Nidan there is typically a gap of two years; between Nidan and Sandan a gap of three years, and so on. Back to top

What do I need to bring to a grading?

Item number 1.

As a beginner, you are issued with your JSK passport at your first grading. This contains your annual insurance certification and personal grade details. So, you don't have to worry about the passport for your first grading! Students who have graded previously must, of course, remember to bring their JSK passports with them. Indeed, all students holding passports should ensure they have them at any Jin Sei Kai training session.

Item number 2.

You will also need to bring the appropriate grading fee. This typically includes the cost of the new belt or tab you may be awarded. Your Club Instructor will advise you how much the fee is.

Item number 3.

And, don't forget to come with a clean and well-ironed Karate Gi! Back to top

What's the format of the grading?

Students who are grading must be in the Dojo in good time, and certainly before Sensei Perry arrives.

First, give your grading fee and JSK passport (if you have one) to the designated JSK official in the Dojo.

Then make sure you stand in a line, by grade order, and remain alert to Sensei Perry's impending arrival. It is perfectly acceptable to use this free time to do gentle warm up exercises or just to contemplate, but avoid talking in case you distract other students who may be trying to concentrate.

When Sensei Perry and fellow Jin Sei Kai officials arrive the most senior Karateka present will shout 'Sensei Ni Rei', which is your cue to offer a very respectful and spiritful standing Rei and Oss!

Sensei Perry and other officials will typically sit at a table and control and monitor proceedings throughout, with one or more officials staying on the floor area to show students where to stand.

Relatives, friends and students not grading are usually allowed to watch gradings (up to and including Shodan), and they are asked to stand or sit on the sidelines of the Dojo.

Gradings will usually commence with a warm up routine. This is typically led by one of the most senior students grading that day. Sensei will then typically ask all students to sit down - and you must, of course, do this quickly, properly and remain in grade order.

Sensei will then ask individual students (usually in groups - all White belts, or all Red belts, for example) to stand up and undertake certain tests during the grading. When you are asked to stand (either by name, or as part of a group), it is most important that you do that quickly and that you bow and shout 'Oss, Sensei!'. Also, if you are asked to move to a position on the floor of the Dojo, move quickly and stand to attention until you are told otherwise. Back to top

What are these tests?

Sensei will ask you to complete various tests.

For example, you will be asked to do some Kihon, and then some Kumite. After that, you will be asked to do the Kata applicable to your desired grade. So, those grading to 9th Kyu (Red belt) will be asked to do Taikyoku Shodan; those moving to 8th Kyu (Orange belt) will do Haian Shodan, and so on.

To get a better idea of exactly what tests you'll be doing at your next grading, look at the Jin Sei Kai Syllabus which is contained in the 'Library' section. Back to top

What if I mess up?

All the best students make mistakes! And, because nerves may get you on the day, you may think you are going to freeze at some point, forgetting what you were asked to do, or forgetting how to do a Kata maybe.

Don't worry if this happens. Just collect your thoughts and have another go. Do not, however, throw your hands in the air and give up. Always continue and keep trying your very best, unless Sensei asks you to pause or try something else. Gradings are not about catching people out, and everyone watching will be rooting for you. Back to top

What do I do when I'm not doing a test?

It's really important that you do not talk or fidget whilst you're waiting. Talking or fidgeting shows disrespect to Sensei and can only distract those who are up and doing their tests. Sit cross-legged or in Seiza at all times. Clearly, it's acceptable to shift your sitting positions so as to avoid cramp, but do so quietly and infrequently. Back to top

When do I get told if I've passed?

After everyone has done their tests, sensei may confer with other JSK officials for a while. Once this is complete, Sensei will ask everyone to come forward and to form one or more lines, in a seated position, in front of his table.

Individual students will then hear their name called. When you hear your name, jump to you feet, bow, shout "Oss, Sensei!" and stand in front of Sensei at attention. He will then tell you what grade you have been awarded and offer you your grading certificate and passport. Bow again and Oss before you accept these. Then sit down in line again.

After all grades have been awarded, you will be asked to stand and to acknowledge Sensei. Jump to your feet again, and (with the rest of the students) bow and shout "Oss!" It is courteous also to say thank you to sensei at this point.

You will then be "dismissed", and will be able finally to relax and breathe a sigh of relief to mark the end of the exam! Now you will be able to collect your brand new belt or tab from one of the JSK officials present.

If your own Club instructor is present in the Dojo, it is courteous also to go up to them and to bow, to "Oss!" and to give them a thank you.

And remember to follow good Dojo etiqutte as you leave the Dojo. Back to top

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