Grading in Silat

Next week a number of our Silat Students are grading, so I thought, maybe this be a good topic for this week topic.

Most Martial Arts clubs have some form of grading, and is a way of recognizing the effort, work and development of a student. In the past in Indonesia and Malaysia before silat became alive in the Western World, there were usually 3 Grades - Student, Teacher, Master. Due to the cultures of the Western World the development of splitting up the levels into sizeable chunks for students to grasp was develop. Some say this is a good ideal others bad, that's another day debate. In Urban silat we have 3 Levels of grades
1) Beginners / Intermediate 2) Advance 3) Instructor

Each of these levels required a different level of training, each level much more progressive, requires more dedication, commitment. For example if a student in class who going for a Instructor Grade, and is doing less classes / training then another going for their Intermediate or even Beginner level, then obviously either they not really serious about training for that level or there is very little chance of them actually passing that grade. So Grading Tip number one! Turn up for class and train this is simply the bottom line, no student fails to develop by turning up regularly for class. In my views training for a Advance or Instructor Grade needs to be minimum of 2 - 3 classes a week for at least a year. If you're training less than that, you are bluffing yourself you preparing for a Grading at that level. You can talk as much as you want saying you are committed but actions will always speak louder than words, and your teacher will notice you absent in class.

Grading Tip 2) Don't Crammed, this is a big no no, and is often practise. The month before a grading a student who hasn't been training suddenly starts cramming. Yes they may be able to show the technique on the day of the Grading, but a few weeks later when the student despite what he said just before the grading, will revert back to old habit of attendance at class / training and will have forgotten the techniques, or preformed them at a very poor level. Give yourself time, usually 6 months out, or 12 months for a Guru Grade you need this time to start preparing yourself mentally and physically for your grading. Give yourself and your teacher the proper time to train well.

Grading Tip 3) Research yourself, begin to find more out about the techniques, or the art itself, it background. Become interested in what you are actually learning. Make it become part of your lifestyle, not something you do 1 or 2 hours a week and forgotten about till the following week. Find other ways for your mind and body to develop, that compliment your training. These very simple easy steps can make a big difference in how you approach a grading and how well you preformed on the day. www.urbansilat.com