Kishimoto sensei judging notes 2012
by Kim Taylor
Notes for judges:
A grading is not the same as a tournament. For a grading there is an
objective standard that is either met or not. Everyone can fail or pass
a grading. A tournament means a winner and a loser in each pair, their
relative levels with regard to standards are not relevent, only which
did the best at that time. As such, seme and spirit and other things
become important in tournaments while they may not be as important in a
grading.
The objective standards should be the same all over the world.
The first three dan ranks are "beginner" levels. They involve
etiquette, the uniform, the shape of the kata and the movement of the
hakama. In other words we are looking for a general feeling that the
students are learning it correctly. 4-5 dan levels require a bit more,
while 6-8 dan levels involve other things than technical mastery. The
notes for grading judges should be examined carefully.
If someone fails and re-challenges and shows improvement, take note of
the effort being made. If challengers look like they are improving that
is a good thing.
Take note of the check points for each kata, assign pass fail or
deductions accordingly through the test. For some levels a difficulty
may be OK while for senior levels it will be a fail point. As you go up
in the ranks the number of deductions that mean a fail is less and
less.
Judges should try hard to improve the students if they are teaching a
seminar ahead of the grading but once the grading starts they should
not give suggestions or even a pat on the back. To pat a student on the
back is to say to the other judges "I think this person should pass"
and that is unfair to other challengers. Similarly judges should not
discuss the results or give advice after a grading is over. Judges
should be fair and not consider who a challenger's teacher is.
Medical conditions that require the kata to be modified should be noted
on the application so that the judges are aware of the problem. In
Japan a doctor's certificate is required if a challenger cannot sit
seiza. You can do as you usually do in Canada.
The tape is noted during a grading only when the challengers are
standing behind it at the beginning "hajime" and when they finish their
final bow and are ready to leave. The rest of the time the position of
the tape is not noted. The important point is that the feet are behind
the tape. If the knees drop in front of the tape when they sit in seiza
that is OK.
From past years:
Judges should answer "ask your sensei" if asked for advice on improving
or reasons for a failure. The chief judge on a panel may make a
small comment on pass and fail for lower ranking tests (1-3dan) but
after 3 dan the judges should not discuss or change the results and
each should make their own decision.
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