Kata and grading/ footsteps

[Tamaki :)]

Hello I was wondering if there are certain ways that you must put your feet when doing kata and if you have any resources to show me exactly how to do them (I'm having a heck of a time remembering exactly how to do them and I've tried to find decent youtube videos but I haven't been able to find any so far). Also, I would like to know if we have to know a certain kata in certain levels of kyu/dan's and if we do which ones do we have to know for each kyu/dan? o_o thanks again guys!

[Cutie_honey]

Hello I was wondering if there are certain ways that you must put your feet when doing kata and if you have any resources to show me exactly how to do them (I'm having a heck of a time remembering exactly how to do them and I've tried to find decent youtube videos but I haven't been able to find any so far). Also, I would like to know if we have to know a certain kata in certain levels of kyu/dan's and if we do which ones do we have to know for each kyu/dan? o_o thanks again guys!

The footwork is dependent on which kata you do and which side you play, uchidachi or shidachi.
Its hard to describe each one on the internet, so its best to get your sensei or sempai to show you.

In regards to how many kata you do for grading, it depends on your federation's grading requirements.
Again, its best to talk to your sensei.

I can only give you information based on Australian requirements, where you don't do kata in grades under 1st kyu
1st kyu does 1 to 3
1st dan does 1 to 5
2nd dan does 1 to 7
3rd dan + does 1 to 10

[Electronegative]

You are testing for Go-Kyu according to your other thread. You don't have to worry about doing Kata for testing purposes until you are going for 1-Kyu!

[turboyoshi]

I can only give you information based on Australian requirements, where you don't do kata in grades under 1st kyu
1st kyu does 1 to 3
1st dan does 1 to 5
2nd dan does 1 to 7
3rd dan + does 1 to 10

AUSKF has the same requirements. As a general rule, when moving forward, the foot that is already forward will start the first step and when moving backwards, the foot that is already behind will make the first step. I believe there is an exception in sanbonme and there may be others I can't think of right now, so ask your sensei.
As far as videos go, it would be worth the investment to buy one of the AJKF kendo kata dvds or the Kendo Kata: Essence and Application guide that KW published. I have the guide and it's a great book, but you should really only consider them as reference material. Your dojo will teach you the kata as you need them.

[Ariel]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWzdIpayeFk

Let's make it easiear.

Enjoy! :P

[Cailin Coilleac]

Since you're in the US I reckon Turboyoshi's provided you with the grading information.

In the Netherlands, each dojo is free to decide what is required for the kyu grades below ikkyu. In the case of my dojo, Renshinjuku Almere, I seem to recall that our tests are:

* Gokyu: Men uchi, plus a written test
* Yonkyu: Men uchi, kote uchi, plus a written test
* Sankyu: Men uchi, kote uchi, kote men uchi, kata 1
* Nikyu: Kirikaeshi, jigeiko, kata 1&2

Ikkyu is done nationally, not at the dojo

[cr720]

A good guideline for you from the AUSKF site:

http://www.auskf.org/docs/RankAndEligibility.pdf

[turboyoshi]

Since all kyu ranks below ikkyu can vary from federation and dojo, this may not help but in the SEUSKF, which I believe you dojo is part of, we have always done kirikaeshi, men-uchi and jigeiko. Your sensei and sempai in the dojo will tell you what you need to do. They won't make you take a test you aren't prepared for.

[Cailin Coilleac]

In the Netherlands, each dojo is free to decide what is required for the kyu grades below ikkyu. In the case of my dojo, Renshinjuku Almere, I seem to recall that our tests are:
...

My post about our requirements was wrong. These are the requirements from last Saturday's kyu grading.

* Fifth = men-uchi and a written test on kendo equipment
* Fourth = men-uchi, kote-uchi, kote-men-uchi, ippon-me kata and a written test on kendo terms and safety
* Third = men-uchi, kote-uchi, kote-men-uchi, kirikaeshi, ipponme and nihonme kata and a written test
* Second = ...

Nobody tested for second. I believe it's the same as third, but includes sanhonme kata and maybe a round of jigeiko.

[Kendoka]

Hello I was wondering if there are certain ways that you must put your feet when doing kata and if you have any resources to show me exactly how to do them (I'm having a heck of a time remembering exactly how to do them and I've tried to find decent youtube videos but I haven't been able to find any so far). Also, I would like to know if we have to know a certain kata in certain levels of kyu/dan's and if we do which ones do we have to know for each kyu/dan? o_o thanks again guys!

The AJKF/ZenKenRen have an online shop where you can buy an excellent Nippon Kendo Kata manual and a pretty good DVD.