To think that karate belt gradings are based on arbitrary assessment criteria?

[wellsoftunbridge]

Are karate clubs obliged to give a reason if a kid doesn't pass a grading? I've watched a lot of gradings over the years my DCs have been doing it and the Sensei's never write anything down. There's usually at least two hundred adults and kids grading at the same time and they don't watch all of them closely. It must be difficult to even keep track of who is who.

As each grade seems to cost around £50 (and £150 for the blackbelt gradings), the clubs must be raking in a fortune, and so long as they keep passing, we keep on paying. But if they fail, what level of feedback can we expect? From what I've heard, the reasons given are sometimes a bit arbitrary.

I have never seen any child fail. And that in itself makes me a bit sceptical. However I am talking

about belts below a black belt. We certainly didn't have 200 in 1 grading , maybe 20 at most. That sounds impossible to manage.

We never had more than 30 in a grading, and I have seen people fail.
I think you need to change sensei

I think you need to change instructors.
Ours may have 50 grading in the same day but they get split in to smaller groups for the actual grading exam, no way should 100 or more be assessed together.
Also seems quite expensive, ours charge £27 which covers a warm up lesson beforehand, grading and the belt.
Sensei won't put people in for exam if he thinks they won't pass so a fail is rare.

150 for a blackbelt grading!

Here it is 30

Takes about 3-4 hrs

Groups of about 8

Maximum of 4 at a time in our club!! Also not seen a child fail, but have seen children have several 'pre-tests' which I've a sneaky suspicion would have been a test if they'd actually passed everything.

No charge here!!!