Testing for Aikido Kodokan of
Virginia Tech

Testing Levels with Approximate Times and with Instructor's Consent

6th KYU = 6 MONTHS
5th KYU = 1 YEAR
4th KYU = 2 YEARS
3rd KYU = 3 YEARS
2nd KYU = 4 YEARS
1st KYU = 5 YEARS
SHODAN = 6 or more YEARS of CONTINUOUS TRAINING

Important Principles

RELAXATION
RHYTHM
TIMING
SPEED/SLOW AND FAST
BALANCE/CENTER
BREATHING/KOKYO HO
ATTITUDE
ETIQUETTE/REI
CONNECTION/MUSUBI
UKEME

Initial Bowing for Testing

NAGE AND UKE WILL SHIKKO UP TO INSTRUCTORS (usually three) WHO ARE ADMINISTERING TEST AND:

  1. BOW TO KAMIZA/O'SENSEI
  2. BOW TO INSTRUCTORS/EXAMINERS
  3. BOW TO EACH OTHER
  4. WAIT FOR YOUR FIRST COMMAND FROM INSTRUCTOR

WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE TECHNIQUE NUMEROUS TIMES ON BOTH SIDES, AND INSTRUCTOR STOPS YOU:

  1. KNEEL AND BOW TO EACH OTHER
  2. FACE INSTRUCTOR, BOW, AND WAIT FOR NEXT COMMAND

At The Very End of The Test

  1. BOW TO EACH OTHER
  2. BOW TO INSTRUCTORS
  3. BOW TO KAMIZA AND SHIKKO BACK TO YOUR POSITION IN LINE

Things to Remember

  1. ONLY TEST TO THE LEVEL YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE, NOT IF YOU ARE ON THE EDGE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT.
  2. THE EXAM IS WHAT YOU KNOW WITH HELP FROM YOUR INSTRUCTORS.
  3. BOWING SHOWS COMPSOURE, SELF ASSURANCE, AND SHOULD PERSIST THROUGHOUT THE TEST.
  4. POSTURE AND FACIAL EXPRESSION -- YOU SHOULD NOT MAKE LIGHT OF THE EVENT; SAVE THE HUMOR FOR LATER; DO NOT SHOW DISAPPOINTMENT OR DISGUST.
  5. ALWAYS REMAIN CENTERED.
  6. BREATHING PATTERN IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN TESTING; DO NOT HOLD YOUR BREATH; KEEP A NATURAL RHYTHM WHEN YOU ARE BREATHING.
  7. MAINTAIN YOUR ATTITUDE AND RESPECT BEFORE AND AFTER TESTING.
  8. TRAINING ON YOUR OWN WITH A PARTNER OR GROUP OTHER THAN CLASS TIME IS BENEFICIAL.
  9. IT IS IMPORTANT AND NATURAL TO STRUGGLE WITH SOME TECHNIQUES WITH YOUR PARTNER.
  10. LEARN THE IMPORTANCE OF NAGE VS. UKE; THE NAGE WILL LEAD THE PROCESS, AND THE UKE WILL RESPOND WITH STRONG COMMITTMENT.
  11. TECHNIQUES WILL START ON YOUR LEFT SIDE AND VARY ACCORDING TO NAGE POSITIONING; THE UKE SHOULD MATCH THE NAGE.
  12. GOOD UKEME IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR TESTING; YOU ARE BEING TESTED FOR BOTH NAGE AND UKE TECHNIQUES; YOUR UKE MUST BE SINCERE AND HONEST, WITH STRONG, CLEAR ATTACKS; UKE SHOULD ONLY ATTACK TO THE LEVEL HE/SHE CAN RESPOND.

 

© Aikido Kodokan USA at Virginia Tech