testing time

There are always great triumphs and hard decisions at this time of the semester.

Some hard choices are how great a triumph to make, and if their mental state matches their dedication this semester.

Others are whether to pass or hold back. The pass decision weighs heavily on making a choice to give the student the benefit of a doubt that in the next semester they will surpass what they have shown in this semester.

Then there's the, well they learned quite a bit this semester, do I pass two stripes, or give them a buffer in case next semester isn't up to this one's par, and they can then still move up a rank the next go around.

Green Belts usually get:
1-2 missing the first turn
1-4 missing the second
1-8 missing the third
1-12 forgetting to go back down the same way
or all 1-20 of Taikyoku Sho Dan

and the general rule is 1-8 equals Black Stripe
less than that equals White Stripe
over 8 but less than 20 Blue Stripe
and 20 Blue Belt

however, what if a student has shown improvement in many areas, but their kata is the same level or less than the previous semester.

In fact I have a Green Belt Blue Stripe that went from 1-16 last semester to 1-2 this semester, with multiple chances, and time in the same class to practice and retest.

Also those who were unable to attain the amount were given a second chance this week at some locations, but failed to practice at home. Does this then make it okay to keep them the same belt... Hard decisions.... definitely.

I will say that no one got a demotion, although I contemplated it for one student who has been the same rank for over one year, due to his inaction of practice.

Multitude of medals for sure.....

However, I think I might soon have time to work on my to do list within the next few days.