First testing

[Shinsengumi77]

Hello, I'm new to the forum and have been doing Kendo for only 5 months. My Sensei said she wanted me to get bogu for competition in the fall, but i'm not sure i should have gotten it so soon, due to my lack of experience. I did end up getting it (from e-bogu) and hope to test in the fall. I highly doubt i'd be ready, and my Sensei said i should try for nikkyu for now. What should i expect and how does one go about testing. I know there is a written test, and potentially shiai, right? I know Kata 1-4 and a decent amount of terminology. my Kirikaeshi needs all kinds of work, though.

[xvikingx]

From the AUSKF website:

6th-kyu through 2nd-kyu can be awarded at the dojo level depending on the regional federation. Other federations formally test for these grades and some have age restrictions for children. 1st-kyu and above are done through the formal examination process. While it is normal to have both adults and children testing for the same level of kyu there can be a great deal of difference in the basic skills between the adults and children. Most often the children have been doing Kendo much longer and have much better basics than the adults. However when the mental maturity of the adults is factored in this should not be a problem. An experienced examiner will understand this kind of situation and grade accordingly. (see attachments for skill guidelines used by some regionals)
You probably won't need to worry about kata at this point. Best thing to do is ask your sensei and/or dojo mates.

[tango]

Well, if your sensei says you're ready to test in the Fall, then she's looking at your progress thus far and judging that, by then, you'll be ready at your current pace.

For 2.kyu, you don't even have to worry about kata.
Definitely work on your kirikaeishi, would be my recommendation...

At a normal testing, you kinda wind up in a 3-man rotation...
1 vs. 2, 2 vs. 3., followed by 3 vs. 1
IIRC, 1 will do kirikaeishi against 2... then 2 will do kirikaeishi against 1... then 1 vs. 2 for a very short jigeiko....
1 moves off the floor and waits...
3 will do kirikaeishi against 2... (MAYBE 2 does kirikaeishi again, but MAYBE not, I forget now).. afterwards, 2 vs. 3 for a very short jigeiko...
2 moves off the floor and is finished.. then 1 vs. 3 repeats as mentioned...

If you're doing an in-house promotion, then it's hard for me to say just what to expect.. but what I describe above is pretty typical of all the testings i've seen at regional federation testings (for the SEUSKF)...

continue to work hard and good luck!!

[Shinsengumi77]

Thank you very much for the information. We're actually a new club at CMU (very new, lol) so i doubt we'd be able to do in-dojo testing, which is why i have to do it through the AUSKF. Could you give me advice on relaxing my shoulders during practice? I have a good mindset and remain calm easily in the middle of practice but my strikes suffer from my shoulders' tenseness. And for kirikaeshi, it's difficult for me to do it in two breaths; is there a method to train myself for the breathing? :ponder:

[nodachi]

If you are afraid you won't be ready, then work harder. If you sensei is pushing you to test, then that is a sign that you can be ready in time. Remember that the first few tests aren't as strict as you may think. We are all our own worst critics.

[JoDuncan]

Do the American kendo peeps do official gradings below ikkyu?

[tango]

Jo --
yes, some do.

[tango]

Could you give me advice on relaxing my shoulders during practice? I have a good mindset and remain calm easily in the middle of practice but my strikes suffer from my shoulders' tenseness.

Over time, something generally clicks in folks' heads to get them to relax their shoulders, but that doesn't mean we don't get tense -- especially at tournaments or gradings. For me, I really have to do a lot of suburi or kirikaeishi or kikari geiko or jigeiko to get loose or slightly fatigued...
During practice, the deeper you get into it, the more relaxed you should get (as you get more tired)...


And for kirikaeshi, it's difficult for me to do it in two breaths; is there a method to train myself for the breathing? :ponder:

Just keep doing it, trying to go as long as you can... repetition should help build endurance....

[Shinsengumi77]

I remember now, several times when Fox Sensei from MSU came to oversee our practice and he ran us through some more vigorous training. At the end he said our strikes were much better because we were so tired. Thank you for your insight. I'll be training hard to become a competent kendoka. :)

[Rob W.]

...a new club at CMU (very new, lol)...

Which CMU? Carnegie Mellon University?

[Shinsengumi77]

no, Central Michigan University

[Rob W.]

Ahh, I was hoping for a fellow Pittsburgher.

My first test (which was only a few months ago) was easy in retrospect but very nerve racking. Simple requirements, just kirikaeshi and then a short shiai, but standing in front of a panel with no one else in the room moving, knowing my sensei was watching and judging how I represented our dojo put mind numbing amounts of pressure on my fragile brain. I performed about half as well as I did in the tournament the day before, and was humbled and embarassed.

My advice is take a deep breath and concentrate on your opponent, slow your heart down and do what you do every practice in your dojo back home.

[joekc6nlx]

when I first tested, one of our yondans told me to concentrate on men and kote strikes only and not to try do strikes.

What the judges are looking for is competency at the level for which you are grading.

In the ECUSKF, for a first testing, we recommend that the candidate not specify a particular kyu grade in their application. This allows the judges to award what they feel is the appropriate grade. Besides, if you specify that you want to test for, say, sankyu, and you don't pass, then you will not be awarded any grade below sankyu.

Now, for ikkyu, it's a whole different setup, and it's harder for a reason - this is one step from dan and (insert not-so-humble-personal-opinion) if you're not properly prepared for dan, you shouldn't be ready to take the ikkyu test, because of the higher standards. I don't mean you should be as good as someone in the dan ranks, I mean you should be PREPARED to begin a more rigorous kendo training once you pass ikkyu.

As always, this is always opinion based on my part, except for the third paragraph, which is factual.

BTW, Rob W., where did you test? I recall the last ECUSKF test was in March at Lexington, with the one before that at Ohio State in November.

[Shinsengumi77]

Thank you both for your insight. I'd like to test and let the board decide, and get the rank i've earned up until this point, be it ikkyu or not - i don't mind as long as i actually earn it. I'm not sure how MWKF tests go (about specifying or not specifying testing for a certain rank) so i guess i'll just give it my best and see for myself. I would love to undergo more difficult training though (if i get ikkyu). And we've covered do but we've been concentrating more on men and kote.

[Rob W.]

BTW, Rob W., where did you test? I recall the last ECUSKF test was in March at Lexington, with the one before that at Ohio State in November.

In Cleveland, hmmm, a couple months ago. I can't remember the exact date, it was the tournament that Kato-sensei from NYC attended.

The tournament and godo-keiko were tons of fun, only my second. The grading was, as I mentioned, a little more embarrassing.

[joekc6nlx]

In Cleveland, hmmm, a couple months ago. I can't remember the exact date, it was the tournament that Kato-sensei from NYC attended.

The tournament and godo-keiko were tons of fun, only my second. The grading was, as I mentioned, a little more embarrassing.

Well, if you hadn't done well, I'm sure they wouldn't have "given" it to you. I didn't go to Cleveland, I was in the hospital at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base getting my right thumb reconstructed. You'd think it was from a strong kote strike, but actually, it pre-dated my kendo days, it's been forming for years, and it even has a name: Arthur, Arthur Rightis.

Shinsengumi, good luck, the main thing to remember is they are looking for you to do it properly, not score points. To that end, it's better to just concentrate on men and kote (and yes, you can try a nidan waza such as kote-men), but since do is notoriously hard to do, it's better to not try that, although.....if the opening presents itself, and you react quickly enough, they may be impressed and give you extra credit.

Tests are always nerve-wracking, they don't get any easier as you progress, both physically and psychologically. The best advice I've been given is to go with what you know, do your kendo, don't worry about the other guys' kendo, and above all, do not try to be defensive. At this stage, the panel wants to see offense, not defense. Have fun, though, because whatever grade you make, you earned it and you'll have known what to get ready for the next test.

[dwez]

My first and only test was SO stessful. I was an open grading and we understood the max we could get was 3rd kyu but rumour spread that 2nd and even 1st might be awarded but eventually it was settled on 2nd. It was before the kihon keiko ho kata.

I'd stayed at a sensei's the night before the seminar, seen video footage of gradings and what to expect. had a full days seminar and then at night had good food and got wasted. The following morning I had to use those immortal lines "I'd leave it a while if I was you" to the next guy waiting to use the loo. What gets me is I never fail to omit that part from my story?! BUt I get really nervous and I always get a dicky tummy, so alcohol and rich food doesn't help.

I got to speak to my 'partner' beforehand so we were both clear what was expected and lo I came out of it with 2nd kyu. I was never bothered about grading before, too much pressure too many hassles but it would seem you can't just rest on your laurels in this game. So hopefully my upcoming grading will be slightly less stressful.

I'm confident I can do better kendo than my current grade, I just worry if I can do kendo at the level I am grading for, if you catch my drift. My only concerns had been the kata as it's still new and I don't practice as much as I wish I could. But now I'm questioning everything thinking already I should 'go with what I know' but that's gonna bring a whole slew of issues in itself. I think fingers crossed is my only hope [that's not a technique BTW].

[Shinsengumi77]

thanks for the advice and information joekc6nlx. I've been spending a lot of time on nidan waza in the past few weeks, actually, so i'm hoping it'll be alright. And i've never been an defensive person so i'm not too worried about looking reserved; it's more like i'm really excited to go. :)

[Gessho]

Do the American kendo peeps do official gradings below ikkyu?

We do here in the Pacific Northwest. I'm a lowly 5th kyu and will be testing for the 4th kyu. I think they do it that way (or at least in my dojo) so that we have goals to shoot for. Helps with hierarchy too, I guess.

[Vassily]

I explained everything that happened to me at this post...

http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14961

[Rob W.]

I explained everything that happened to me at this post...

http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14961

Thanks for taking the time to write that post Vassily, it was an excellent read. You tell a good story.

[Landorph]

hey just a question.. If you've been doing kendo for over 2 and bit years, and for reasons that you did not have any chance to grade in those years, now you dont even have a kyu grade, but senseis all think you are shodan level, can you just apply to grade shodan or at least ikkyu without grading from 6th kyu ?? or there is a rule against that?

[JSchmidt]

hey just a question.. If you've been doing kendo for over 2 and bit years, and for reasons that you did not have any chance to grade in those years, now you dont even have a kyu grade, but senseis all think you are shodan level, can you just apply to grade shodan or at least ikkyu without grading from 6th kyu ?? or there is a rule against that?

Ask your teacher?.

[Shinsengumi77]

everyone i've talked to so far said that you at least start off with ikkyu; you don't have to start from 6th kyu -my sensei said in japan 6th kyu was just the absolute basics they tested for in middle school, like what is a men strike, kote strike, and do strike, kind of thing.

[dwez]

I read an article on some UK kendo website by someone doing their first grading, it was very good as it set the whole scene from starting on time through to reflecting afterwards. Unfortunately I can't remember where it was but if it rings any bells with anyone could someone remind me.

[Rob W.]

...can you just apply to grade shodan or at least ikkyu without grading from 6th kyu ?? or there is a rule against that?

Probably depends on your regional federation. In the EUSKF you don't specify the rank desired for your first test and the judges decide what to award you, rokkyu to ikkyu. After your first test you have to progress through all the grades in turn, so if you get sankyu your next test has to be for nikyu no matter how good you've become since your first test. It may be different where you'll test though, who knows.

[Neil Gendzwill]

hey just a question.. If you've been doing kendo for over 2 and bit years, and for reasons that you did not have any chance to grade in those years, now you dont even have a kyu grade, but senseis all think you are shodan level, can you just apply to grade shodan or at least ikkyu without grading from 6th kyu ?? or there is a rule against that?Under IKF rules ranks ikkyu and above are granted by the national organization according to the IKF guidelines (http://www.kendo-usa.org/reference/promo_regs.htm). IKF doesn't care how the member organizations handle ranks below ikkyu. There is a lot of variation. In Canada, it's left up to the dojos who mostly don't bother testing them for adults. In the US, it's up to the regional federation, some test quite strictly, others don't bother. Not sure what's up in Australia but IIRC it's a regional federation thing.

That's a lot of words to say: ask your sensei.

[Ramen]

[quote=Neil Gendzwill;268687]... ranks below ikkyu.quote]

That's certainly the practice here too for adults. You officially test for ikkyu and onwards. Anything below is settled in your dojo. Training for 2 sessions a week for about 6-months to a year after you get your bogu gets most people there. Another 6 months to a year and shodan beckons.

[sminch]

sminch-blog alert... i've got my first grading this evening after around six months of kendo - not all that nervous as i understand that it's not a matter of passing or failing. your grade is awarded based on how well you do on the night, so if you're a genius you'll simply be given a higher grade than those who don't do so well. all good, so long as i don't trip over my hakama.

the bugger is that i'm going down with a cold so am feeling pretty meh, with a headache, coughing, general achiness etc. i was fine yesterday, dammit! not sure how this'll affect the grading though as there isn't any jigeiko, just suburi and some kirikaeshi (sp?).

what could possibly go wrong?

it's just occured to me that i must be nervous, actually, or i wouldn't be posting about it on here :D aaargh.

sminch

[Rage37]

I've been unable to make it to a testing yet >.<

I've been practicing kendo for 3 years come this fall, had to take a year off thanks to a couple of injuries outside the dojo (broken toes, large chunks of flesh carved out of toes . . . these days I where shoes :P ), but managed to get back into things pretty quick.

I'll be going to University of Pittsburgh in *checks dates* holy crap less a month now haha. I guess I'll see you around Rob?

[DarQik]

Hello, I'm new to the forum and have been doing Kendo for only 5 months. My Sensei said she wanted me to get bogu for competition in the fall, but i'm not sure i should have gotten it so soon, due to my lack of experience.Eh, a few weeks late to reply. Short answer--trust your sensei's directions. I'm a few miles south in the MWKF. When I finally got my bogu (shipping seemed to take forever), I received it maybe 3 weeks before the Detroit tournament. I was encouraged to go anyway, but I wasn't confident. Hindsight being what it is, I should have gone anyway. Sure, I would likely have been out quickly, but every shiai has been a significant experience. They don't come along that often. Also, don't skip out on the godo-keiko and other opportunities to practice with and meet people from other dojos.

As for testing in the MWKF, this is the explanation I recall as of spring '07. If you test for nikyu and fail you receive sankyu. If you test for ikkyu it is pass/fail. You must now be ikkyu to test for shodan; although, ;) your menjo probably won't be available yet. Last year, I was told that if you failed ikkyu, you would get nikyu; but that changed this year. I tested for ikkyu directly this spring. I watched the nikyu testing, I don't recall any shiai portion--my foggy memory was just basic reigi, cuts, and kirikaeshi.

Don't worry too much about your experience level. The mudansha division runs the gamut from very new beginner to shodan candidates. If you can make it out to Chicago this fall, please do.