Promotions and Awards
A diligent work ethic is always rewarded in life...the same is true in our dojo. At work, recognition comes in the form of a promotion that usually entails more money, more responsibility and an increase in title. In a karate school, work ethic is rewarded with an increase in rank and serves as a measure of a student's achievement level regarding their knowledge and skills.
Since proficiency in the martial arts is developed over time, we have never promoted quickly at our school. We believe that to do so would create a false sense of accomplishment and a level of confidence that cannot be supported by a student's ability - all of which could result in a problem if a student is called upon in a self-defense situation to apply what they have been taught.
To be sure, when we do promote a student it is with the knowledge that they have earned the promotion and are proficient at that level of achievement. Promotions are one of our favorite events at the school because they are a celebration of the acknowledgement that hard work and determination do pay off.
