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One of the biggest days of your karate year is often overlooked. Or at least the preparation leading up to the big day is. Sensei Mark explains. When should you start training for your next grade. There are some differences between training for a kyu grade and a yudansha (black belt) grade, but there are also some similarities. When it comes to a kyu grading, most people approach the grading in the same way they might approach training for a tournament. They check the date, and then plan ahead so they peak around the date. Whilst there is some merit to that, many fail to understand when training date for a grading actually begins. It's not 30, 60, or 90 days from from the grading date. In tr