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Original poster

Taekwando Grading - Has anyone's LO's done it?

28 replies

cjt110 · 28/11/2018 10:59

A few months back DS started our local taekwando class. It's great and he loves it. He goes on a Sunday morning and is in a class aged 3-6.

His first set of grading has come up and we've been invited to put him forward. We've also been offered 3 free extra training sessions for extra practice before grading. I've taken them up on the offer of the extra sessions and will 99% be putting him forward to grade.

I can only assume as we've been invited, that he is ready? It's £30 to grade and we are not allowed to observe.

Can anyone tell me about your own grading experiences?

OP posts:

randomnumber44 · 28/11/2018 11:02

Do you know what style of taekwondo your son is doing? There are a few different ones that would probably have different grading methods.

Original poster

cjt110 · 28/11/2018 11:04

The messages say "KUP grading"

OP posts:

CosySnuggles · 28/11/2018 11:09

A bit different perhaps, but my son has just done his first grading for Judo- everyone who was invited passed and it was a very positive experience for him. I'd assume a similar set up but if you're worried have a chat with the teacher.

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Original poster

cjt110 · 28/11/2018 11:12

CosySnuggles Thanks for your reply.

I can definitely tell his technique has improved since he started - and his confidence. I will double check before submitting his application that they think he is ready.

OP posts:

vodkaanddietcokeplease · 28/11/2018 11:16

My DSD recently done her first TKD and we were allowed to watch.

The teachers were sat at a table at the front and student a lined up in front of them. They were all told just to try their best and not to worry, but that they couldn't ask questions or approach the table.

They went through their patterns, and the various manoeuvres (punches/kicks etc) that they'd all been learning.

At the end all but one child had graded (that child chose to leave the hall). The other children were called forward and received their certificate and new belt, and a round of applause from everyone.

My DSD was very worried but she enjoyed it overall

vodkaanddietcokeplease · 28/11/2018 11:16

*students

Sorry

AlexanderHamilton · 28/11/2018 11:17

There are two main Taekwondo organisations, WTF (the Olympic affiliated one) and ITF. Each have their own grading system. The KUP grades (the colour belts) are assessed and awarded by the usual instructor so usually everyone passes as the instructor knows if the student is ready. The Dan grades which are the various levels of black belt you usually have to have an independent assessor.

randomnumber44 · 28/11/2018 11:18

Kup means it is a colour belt grading but could be one of a couple of styles. I will say that it is unlikely that his instructor will have put him forward if he wasn't ready. Apart from anything else it looks bad on the instructor if their students aren't very good!

Fortheloveofscience · 28/11/2018 11:19

Not Taekwondo, but my dojo won’t put anyone (kids or adults) forward for a grading if they’re not pretty certain they’ll pass.

Original poster

cjt110 · 28/11/2018 11:21

Fantastic replies. Thanks all.

They have been learning the 10 basic moves, as well as the kicking styles (axe, headshot etc). Good to know it's likely with their usual instructor too as DS can be a bit shy around those he isn't familiar with.

He's only white belt at the mo so we shall see...

OP posts:

Hoppinggreen · 28/11/2018 11:22

Depends which school you go to ( I know you are near me to PM me if you want)
Some schools are great, some push too hard and some see it as a money spinner.
If it’s the most popular one here (2 words, in an old church in B area?)
Then they are great but put pressure on and even for smaller dc they are strict with grading and will and regularly do fail children ( I’ve seen them come out in tears). They are supportive but won’t allow mistakes
Having said that if it IS the one I’m thinking about they only give grading forms to dc they genuinely feel are able to grade and give extra grading lessons if wanted

Koalablue · 28/11/2018 11:22

All three of mine did it till black belt. Only kids who were ready were put forward for grading.

AdamNichol · 28/11/2018 11:27

In the 3-6 age bracket, they tend to pass for showing up in my experience. When they get older, they begin to transition to genuine assessment.

Original poster

cjt110 · 28/11/2018 11:28

Cheers Hopping - Yes I'll pm you.

They seemed a lot more serious last week, asking children to pay attention which is when I picked up it may be approaching grading. It's usually very laid back with games of tag and stuff whereas this was pretty much all TKD.

He enjoys it very much and we enjoy seeing him doing it.

OP posts:

Layanne · 28/11/2018 11:31

I have done TKD since I was 8 it really is nothing to worry about, but I get it.. I still get nervous and I'm a 2nd degree BB! The first grading can also be a little nerve-wracking for the parents as you don't know what to expect.
My parents were never aloud to observe (it can put off the kids if there are other adults in the room). However, your DS will have his normal instructor in the room. They also don't suggest gradings if students are not ready.

For a first grading they will do basic movements (punches and kicks) and the first pattern. They will then get asked to sit down and observe as the rest of the students complete their grading.
At the end they will call out each student individually to collect their belt and certificate.

Good Luck to your DS!!

FrenchFancie · 28/11/2018 11:32

I’ve done a few levels of Utd TKD (am now a green belt) and due to the small size of my school often did headings with kids.
Rule of thumb, you don’t get invited to grade unless you are well capable of passing. The usual instructor does it and TBH I mucked up a pattern once and he just rolled his eyes and got me to redo it as he knew very well I knew it.
If he’s been invited to grade then let him, he’ll pass

FrenchFancie · 28/11/2018 11:33

*ITF

Layanne · 28/11/2018 11:35

I assume that it must be different for different classes however my gradings have always been with a higher instructor with my normal instructor present.

HoppingPavlova · 28/11/2018 11:44

One of mine went through the WTF system.

Our gradings were very formal affairs, the assessors were all external, even for yellow, blue, red belts. While kids were only put forward when they were ready not all kids passed. I think the formality and external assessors caused nerves especially for the younger kids and/or lower grades so not everyone performed at their best.

Nothing was given out on the day. Rather, after a week or two when all of the certificates had been printed (this was done externally, all very official) any kids that didn’t pass were taken aside at the start of the lesson and told so they had the rest of the lesson to process it. Then at the end of the lesson everyone in that class who passed was presented with it signed off in their book, the certificate and either a new coloured belt or a tip added to the existing belt as relevant. If you didn’t pass resilience and perseverance were encouraged.

Black belt had a huge palaver surrounding it. If they passed, the paperwork, belts (embroided with names) and certificates had to be issued from WTF headquarters in Korea which took a few months from memory. There was a ceremony with people in national costume, presentation of belts. Kids (all teens as you couldn’t get an adult black belt under 16yo - again from memory) had to go for ceremony rehearsals...... It was a drama. I think there may then have been mini versions of this as they progressed in Dans but I have tried to blank it all out to be honest.

What you say seems very different though so not sure if any of the above is relevant. Ours had classes for young kids (under 6yo) but they were not subject to ‘grading’ for belts until they entered the junior system at 6yo. Instead they just did the occasional display for doting parents and their belt changes had nothing to do with the official system. Something along the lines of 3yo had monkey belts, 4yo had zebra belts, 5yo had tiger belts sort of thing. Belt changes were done by usual class instructors in front of clapping parents and it was pretty much a case of new belt every time they roughly reached the right age, every child gets a prize and has a sense of progression sort of thing. Then at 6yo they moved to Junior stream, white belt and did the proper grading system. With what you describe I can’t imagine how there would be any stressful grading system for kids of preschool age so I wouldn’t worry.

AlexanderHamilton · 28/11/2018 11:46

I assume that it must be different for different classes however my gradings have always been with a higher instructor with my normal instructor present.

Ds’s instructor was one of the highest level instructors in the area so maybe that’s why he always did the gradings.

He used to travel to Korea for his own Dan tradings.

HoppingPavlova · 28/11/2018 11:52

He used to travel to Korea for his own Dan tradings.

We had people travel out from Korea to do it here at that level. All people wanting to grade at that level had to go to central locations on the allocated dates. Ours was one of those locations which I think gives a mental advantage. They came once a year so one annual opportunity.

Layanne · 28/11/2018 11:55

*Ds’s instructor was one of the highest level instructors in the area so maybe that’s why he always did the gradings.

He used to travel to Korea for his own Dan tradings.*

Perhaps, I always thought it had to be someone else so there was no bias in the grading. But obviously if he was a very high instructor maybe that was different.

AlexanderHamilton · 28/11/2018 11:57

He's 7th Dan from what I gather (ds doesn't go any more)

Original poster

cjt110 · 28/11/2018 11:58

Layanne Thank you. I will post when he has graded to let you know how he has got on

FrenchFancie thanks

I believe his instructor has completed his 5th Dan. That's relatively high up isn't it?

OP posts:

Layanne · 28/11/2018 12:09

OP - 5th dan is high. They will be regarded as a Master.
Dans (degrees) Masters are from 4th - 6th dan with grand masters from 7th - 9th dan.

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