http://sarahalexsmile.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/hello/ Body, Mind, Spirit - Ki Energy Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:01:25 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 http://sarahalexsmile.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/hello/#comment-16 pedicuresandblackeyes Tue, 27 May 2008 01:25:51 +0000 http://sarahalexsmile.wordpress.com/?p=4#comment-16 I know exactly what you mean about the disillusionment of the ranking system. My school is similar. If you don't know your required material or can't break a board during a test, they put you on probation until you know your knowledge/ can do the skill you couldn't earlier. No additional testing required, you just have to prove that you know it. There's a couple of black belts who are about 14 years old, and although they are probably more confident than most other 14 year olds, and perhaps a *touch* more maturity, they still are not held to the same standards as an adult black belt is. How frustrating this is to me, who is just starting out. However, with all this in mind, I will never let up and I've set my own standards that I will not break. If I ever slack off and don't test well but my instructor gives me the belt anyway, I will refuse it, and test the next time. Hopefully though, I will never have to face that situation. I know exactly what you mean about the disillusionment of the ranking system. My school is similar. If you don’t know your required material or can’t break a board during a test, they put you on probation until you know your knowledge/ can do the skill you couldn’t earlier. No additional testing required, you just have to prove that you know it. There’s a couple of black belts who are about 14 years old, and although they are probably more confident than most other 14 year olds, and perhaps a *touch* more maturity, they still are not held to the same standards as an adult black belt is. How frustrating this is to me, who is just starting out. However, with all this in mind, I will never let up and I’ve set my own standards that I will not break. If I ever slack off and don’t test well but my instructor gives me the belt anyway, I will refuse it, and test the next time. Hopefully though, I will never have to face that situation.

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