As an instructor, I feel that I am really the one being tested whenever we hold a grading. If my students do not know something, it is either because I failed to teach them about it, or I failed to give them the amount of attention they required to become proficient at it. Somewhat separate from those two reasons: it could be that I was just incorrect in deciding that they were ready to grade.
Needless to say, it is for this reason that I feel like somewhat of a failure when any of my students do not meet the requirements of their grading. Fortunately, all of may students met theirs yesterday! I can honestly say that I am very proud of my students and how hard they all practiced for their grading.
Now for my advice to students (even if your next grading isn’t for a number of years, and you’ll be testing for 6th dan). It is very common to see students study/practice/train very hard in the weeks leading up to a grading, the goal is to study/practice/train that way ALL THE TIME!
I am hereby challenging myself and all others to study/practice/train this way for at least one month! Cheers!
Thank you. I needed to read this.