Next Grading

The next Grading's Start Monday 5 December and go through to Saturday 10th December with Grading Presentation and Christmas Breakup on Sunday 11th December(details below). To participate in the grading you need to have booked with a $20 deposit by Fridays 26 November 2011. This means, if you are planning to grade ANY level, you have to submit your grading application. Late applications incur a $20 additional Service Fee (even one day late!, preparing everything and booking the venue costs time and $). Below are the three ways you can book a grading and three different ways you can pay the deposit and Grading.

Grading Booking Methods

Grading Payment Methods

Deposit of $20 per level graded, needs to be given as with the Booking Form. Balance is due before the Grading at Grading Registration (15 minutes before grading start)!

PayPal Deposit & Payment click on this logo and make a PayPal deposit or full payment! to sijo@shaolin.com.au	EFT Deposit & Payment Account Name - Shaolin Kung Fu Academy Bank - ANZ Oakleigh BSB - 013380 : Acc - 4959 59183	Cheque Deposit & Payment Cheques payable to the Shaolin Kung Fu Academy. Please add $10 for Cheque Service Fee.
PayPal payment do not have a processing fee; please include the name of the person grading, with your payment!	Payments can be made directly into the Shaolin Kung Fu Academy Account and also do not incur any processing fees; please include the name of the person grading, with your payment!	Payments made by Cheque incur a processing fee of $10; please Factor this amount into you cheque total $.

Preliminary Grading's Plan

This is just the template that we are using for the grading's. The final times and details will be posted when Grading's Applications close Friday 25 November 2011.

Confirmed Bookings with Deposit

The Smart Students Workbook of Shaolin Grading's There are two types of people in the world, those that prepare for major events and those that don't. There are two types of people, those that succeed regularly and those that don't! Your choice. We do not wish to tell you what to do but we will make the information and training available for you to choose how successfully you wish to be. On the Shaolin Academy Success Page you will find the 9 Rules of the Dragons Success; 1 - Identify/Define what it is you want; 2 - Identify Dangers and Costs to getting this; 3 - Identify Helpers and Aids; 4 - Seek Experience/Wisdom; 5 - Make a Plan/a way forward; 6 - Review and Check everything; 7 - Do It; 8 - Be Smart and Persistent not Set and Stubborn ; 9 - Know the 5 Rules of Motion.

The Shaolin Academy graders and Grading's Workbook is the companion to what you have learned and your level Workbook. With your training experience, the curriculum listed in the workbook and the Grading process explained and demystified, you are as prepared as you can be! It is worthwhile to peruse (thoroughly go through the GBook) at least once for your first Grading's and review the most important bits before any further Grading's.

Learn to Establish a "Success Pattern" in your life. The first few times it is a bother but when you learn the value and get routines with it, you will feel like me and ask why not everyone prepares to succeed in what they are doing and why people are surprised when they fail! For those who absolutely do not have the time to read it, below are the barest essentials!

Grading's Reminders

1. This is an In-workbook Grading - BRING YOUR WORKBOOK(S) for the level you are grading and the level before unless you are grading only Gray Sash than bring only your Gray Sash Workbook.
2. If you are Grading White Sash or Higher, you need to RE-GRADE PREVIOUS LEVEL. Ie; if you are grading White Sash, you are Regrading Gray Sash and have to be there for the Gray Sash start. If you are Grading for say Orange Sash you will also be Re-Grading Yellow Sash and need to be there for the Yellow Sash Start.
3. If you are currently a Gray Sash you are Grading the Gray Sash; If you are a White Sash you are Grading the White Sash and re-grading the Gray Sash, etc.
4. Be fully equipped! Full Uniform, All the Workbooks you need for the Grading and Re-grading, water, Towel, etc. Details are above in grading Preparations Instructions.

Success through being Prepared

Many agree that one of the key reasons for 'stage freight' and nervousness is either the fact or perception that we are not prepared! It is not enough to just prepare but we need to feel prepared. This feeling generally only comes when we actually put some effort into preparation and than see the success afterwards. Following are some simple and easy guides to put you on the Prepared for Success path.

Four Weeks Before the Grading's

1 - Start attending a few extra classes!
2 - Download and review the Understanding the Grading and Marking Process
3 - Based on the Understanding Grading's, go through the curriculum in the workbook and Grade Yourself!

Three Weeks before the Grading's

1 - Download the Grading Application form, fill it in, add $20 deposit and have it ready for handing in. This determination to the Grading gives you a better focus and thus a better chance for success.
2 - Using your self-grading, work on the items you feel unsure about, let more senior students, teachers and Sijo help!
3 - This is also a good time to start on your Theoretical/Knowledge aspect of the Grading. This needs to be done in Writing and for every level you are Grading/Re-grading for.

Two Weeks before the Grading

1 - Submit your Grading Application form together with a $20 deposit.
2 - Start working on becoming more routines in Systems and Forms
3 - Finish your theory and mail it in!

One Week before the Grading

1 - Check this WEB page above that your booking is confirmed and listed.
2 - Prepare your Grading's Uniform or make arrangement that is is complete and ready
3 - Arrange for timely transport; make sure that there are no know problems with your car; ensure you know train schedules for that day; arrange for someone to drive you

One Day before the Grading

1 - Have your uniform ready to get dressed into in the morning
2 - Make sure all is OK with your mode of transport; enough petrol; trains OK; designated person is still taking you
3 - Have your other training equipment ready; water, snacks, sparring gear, towel, Grading Assignment if you haven't already mailed it . . .
4 - Have the Balance of your Grading Fee ready to take with you.
5 - Go to bed a bit earlier, if possible, for an extra good nights rest.

On the Day of the Grading

1 - Check that all you need is there as per above list
2 - Get dressed in your uniform rather than dressing at the venue
3 - Be at the Grading venue at least 30 minutes earlier. If you have not already taken care of it; hand in your Grading Theory and the Balance of the Grading Fee when you arrive.

It might seem like a long list of things to do, but it's not. Considering the time you have put into training; considering that the Grading's are only twice a year; considering that teaching the habit and ways of Success is part of your training; and considering that this is a well established path, it is the least that you can do to be confident, ready and thus greater chances for a greater success!

Certificates and Results

The Sunday 11th December at 3pm we have our annual Club Birthday and Grading Celebration Event (dress smart casual)! We provide the Venue, Fun, People, Awards, Special Presentations and Finger-food; all you need is to come and pay for anything that you drink. A bit of a Yin and Yang arrangement! This will be held at the;

SIMBA'R Poath Rd (by Poath Rd Railway Station) Hughesdale (between North Rd & Dandenong Rd

If you have any questions about this Speak to any of our instructors or give Sijo a call Toll Free on 1800 SHAOLIN that is 1800 742 654 or 0458 SHAOLIN that is 0458 742 654 Tuesdays to Fridays between 11am and 5pm or e-mail by clicking on this line.

CU there, Sijo

Additional Information About the Process or FAQ's

Why Grading's In the olden days there were no grading's in Traditional martial art! Incorrect; there is always a criteria for allowing students to proceed with higher level techniques, more dangerous movements and learning deeper secrets. Often though these reason were kept hidden from most. A more successful way of teaching, training and testing is 'transparent'. This means that everyone has all the information about the Grading's including criteria, syllabus, date, and the like. It allows the Teachers to run a safe and equal environment not favoring or discriminating against anyone. What are the criteria for Grading's These are best explained in the Understanding Grading's Document If you have any further questions after reading this speak to Sijo or Disifu John.

A Grading preparation Group

How do the Grading's run

Most Grading's are managed the same as a training class, except you go through everything listed in the curriculum in the back of your workbook. The Head Examiner will call out what techniques are to be demonstrated and the Grading Leader will then manage the Graders by explaining what needs to be done and counting the techniques. As an additional help, Gray Sash Grading's items are demonstrated by the Grading Leader. To reduce the jitters of the 'first' Shaolin Exam's, the Grading Leader will Name the Technique and then lead the Graders in Demonstrating this.

When you grade the 2nd level, you ALWAYS need to re-grade the 1st level so we do not have a warm-up as this is done in the 1st level. But all else is the same except, the person in front will not show what techniques will be done, just call them out.

From third level onwards (in Bare Hand) you need to come in 45 minutes earlier, before your Re-grading level and do your own warm-up and be ready and Warmed-up when called.

Red Sash Grading's are a regrading of Gray, White, Yellow and Orange Sash before you Grade Green Sash. This usually take a whole day and is usually only run at the end of the year.

Black Sash Grading's are a Re-grading of Everything, Temple Levels and Animal Levels, and include a special demonstration section of your skills in front of graders and an Audience. Sometimes even Masters from other styles are invited for this!

Results

Usually, on the last weekend in June and the third weekend in December the Shaolin Academy has a Grading Promotion Party. At this time you receive your full results including Certification and Sash (if you so choose).

Didn't Pass?

Rarely happens in the beginner levels. Because of the Shaolin Academy's unique and original method of Grading's and Re-grading's the only way to really fail at a Grading's is;
1 - Hurt yourself or someone else; cause an injury
2 - Unsafe, Obstinate or Aggressive behaviour
3 - Intoxication, Medication or Drug Usage
4 - Not showing up (of course)
5 - Achieving and overall score of less than 60% on a Grading
6 - Not being adequately prepared to the detriment of the process of Grading.

Passed

Passing the Grading's generally means three things;
- you are eligible to go to the advanced classes in Bare Hand and Traditional Chinese Weaponry
- if you want and included it on your Grading Application, you receive an official and numbered Shaolin Academy "Certificate of Achievement"
- you do need to order a New Sash and if you did so on the application, you will receive it at the Grading's Presentation Night
- you will need a Workbook for the New Level
- you may want to 'refresh' your uniform with a new t-shirt and/or training trousers.

Disagreements?

When you receive your results, you have the chance to speak to your Grader, the person who marked you as you were demonstrating. Each Grading Sheet has the name of the person grading you so that if you think something is not right, speak to them to clarify what they saw. If you still disagree, you need to speak to Sijo!

What are Re-grading's

Aside for when you Grade Gray Sash, all other levels require that you re-grade them. If you are Grading from White to Yellow, you need to Re-grade Gray to White. This is part of the safety commitment of the Shaolin Academy to it's members. We know there are people out there who want to really learn Shaolin Kung Fu. So we have devised a testing method for these people whereby they;

To be an honorable Black Sash in Shaolin 5 Animal Kung Fu you need to pass everything with an 80% pass (90% if you wish to be an Instructor). Seeing that you can pass any Temple Grading with 60%, Re-grading's require a 70% pass. Therefore the Red Sash and Black Sash full Grading's require an 80% pass (90% for Instructors). By giving students the chance to re-check their progress so often, there should not be any surprises at the Black Sash Grading as all levels have been checked and re-checked and often re-re-checked.

What are Preview

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to see how well you are progressing without committing to a Grading? Well you can by participating in a Pre-grading! What's the difference?; well you receive you Raw result immediately the Grading has finished.

Members who are Grading and Re-grading have their results reviewed by Sijo for final marking and commenting before the record of the Grading is registered as a permanent Grading Result for each student (we have all records to way back in the previous Century!). Then, if the student wanted, they receive a Certificate together with the Grading Results and the Instructors Makings.

Members who Pre-grade partake in the Grading's class just the same as the members who are Grading and Re-grading except, they receive the Raw results from their Grader directly. It is not reviewed by Sijo; it is not recorded into Shaolin Academy Grading's Data Base and the results can not be used for promotion or advancement, they are just for personal review.

The advantage of Preview are that you can do any and all levels being offered for Grading or Re-grading, whether you feel ready or not; the results are only seen by you and your grader and you receive this information immediately at the end of the level being Graded. It also only costs $19 for Temple Level Staff 1, Broad Sword 1, Staff 2 and Broad Sword 2. For Animal Levels and Spear 1, Wudang Sword 1, Spear 2 and Wudang Sword 2 it is $49.

Not Grading

You can also participate in the Grading's even if you do not want to grade! No cost, no booking and no problems. Just show up to the Grading's as if you were grading and join in. No one will look at you, no one will grade you, you will just participate as a student and train. There is though one draw-back; if you do not know something, there will not be anyone to help you. You are just a silent participant in the Grading. All the focus and attention will be on the Graders, Re-graders and Pre-graders.

Just Observing

And of course, we always welcome Shaolin Academy members, their family and invited friends to watch as the Grading's are being run, no charge! We think spiritually supporting your partner, brother, sister, daughter, sone, father, mother . . . is a great help. We have Empirical and Anecdotal evidence that student who have a 'support' crew on the day of their Grading do better and are less nervous.

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