The kararate-ka’s aim is to be physically and mentally preparing at all times.
In relation to any test of his skills that the karate-ka faces that is appropriate to his grade, he should therefore be able to undertake that test without specific preparation for it.
This seems and odd concept, but consider the ultimate test of karate-ka’s skill – the defence of his life against aggression. It is hardly possible to ask the attacker to defer the attack until some later stage, to give the karate-ka time to prepare for it!
A karate-ka’s grade should be representative of his current standard. This standard should have been achieved before a grading is taken, not just at the grading.
Gradings and competitions should not be seen as events to ‘peak’ for and then slide back down to a lower level. This is the way of sport, whose aim is to achieve short term successes, not the way of traditional karate. Of course, we all have peaks and troughs in our training, but if we are to take a grading, the bottom of out trough should be above the minimum standard required for that grading.
A better approach is to see gradings and competitions as milestones in the student’s progress.
The BTKA offers a structured grading syllabus. Whilst only specific techniques will be examined during a grading, it is essential that a student passing through he grades is competent in all of the techniques, kata and pairs upon which he has been examined in previous gradings.
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