i kyu test at dojo?
 

i keep hearing that AUSKF will allow ikkyu test at local dojo, anyone heard about this?

pete

Unless it is an official grading that is being conducted at your dojo, I haven't heard this being changed, but I don't hear much so what have others heard?

I thought it was already allowed by the AUSKF if the regional federation approved the individual dojo to do it...

Minimum requirements being, (1) permission to do so and (2) minimum of 3 people of at least sandan rank to be on the grading panel...

i just heard about his recently.. i don't keep up much with things like this. and talking to one of the sempai, he has concern this will lead to too many ikkyu who won't pass the shodan test. i like the idea of having ikkyu test at fed level to make it less personal. everyone knows everyone else in the dojo and all..

pete

One thing that was noticed at some exams was that the more junior examiners (7 dan) were a lot more strict than the senior examiners (8 kyoshi and hanshi). I wonder if a lower ranked commision would actually be harder to pass than a more senior one at the kyu level....

Food for thought while waiting for the beer and fries.

Guaranteed.

I've seen this happen personally. A few years back there was a special grading made in Massachusetts so people in places like New Hampshire and Vermont didn't have to drive all the way to NYC. It was a nice thought to be fair to those people with no other options for testing locations. More people than normal failed that day. No one verbally confirmed this, but it is my theory that the impression that it was a regular, official grading needed to be presented. Otherwise people might start to think why test in NYC when you can go to the easy exam. Hence, in an attempt to maintain standards, people may unconsciously grade harder.

Just a theory....

Ummm...I agree with this theory. That exam was my first grading. I've been digging out of a hole ever since.

I heard there will be another one in Mass next month. We'll see how I do at that one. With my kendo, I'm not expecting much.

Hank.

Younger people look for a reason to fail someone. Older sensei are looking for a reason to pass them. It's a different attitude.

I haven't heard anything about AUSKF allowing kyu test at local dojos. I only know that each regional federations usually hold their own annual, or bi annual grading event. (which i suspect most of you already know that) On that note however, I want to know if AUSKF is allowing local dojo testing, what of the "written" test then? wont it pretty much just turn into a "open book" test?

I thought it already was? In Italy, they publish the questions quite some time before the exam. You're supposed to bring your answers in when you register...

Wow! 7-dan sensei are "junior" in Italy? I wonder how many federations, outside Japan, are so rich in numbers of highly experienced sensei that they can field a couple of shinsa grading panels with 7-dan and 8-dan examiners?

In Canada, the western grading committee has one hachidan, the rest nanadan. The eastern/central committee has two hachidan, the rest nanadan.

We wish...

As matters stand today, there is one Italian nanadan, Lorenzo Zago, who contributes to Kendo world occasionally. There are a few who will be challenging this year so hopefully there will be more soon. There are no Italian hachidan yet.

The grading panels are made up of Japanese/Korean/European nanadan and hachidan. My sensei is the only Italian resident who is hachidan. He is Korean.

In the NCKF (my federation) bi-annual shinsa tests candidates from 6-kyu up to 4-dan. The two grading panels (6-kyu to 2-kyu and 1-kyu to 4-dan) are typically filled by 6-dan and maybe one or two 7-dan. I believe we have only one 8-dan sensei in the NCKF. Testing of candidates 5-dan and above is done at the national (AUSKF) level where I'm sure there is a greater number of 7-dan and above sensei for the grading panels. If you are testing for 5-dan or above you may have to travel far outside your federation to attend the shinsa as it rotates around the U.S. to different regions.

Is this typical for other federations, say Canada?

You could always read what the official site says about it:
http://www.auskf.info/main/study.htm

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.

yes, and now, as long as fed agrees to it, 1-kyu can be also tested at dojo level which this thread is about..

pete

Ahhh.....

Haven't heard. My fed doesn't even allow 3-kyu to be tested at dojo level.

I have heard of this approach and I have experienced this attitude as well. I was wondering what your thoughts are in this matter. I think that you're right and I also think that the latter should be the way to grade people. Almost every Japanese Sensei always tells you that you're doing very good, very good indeed. But.... and then comes the point where you should work on. I think that this is a very positive approach and also stimulating.

It's been a struggle for me, but I'm understanding their view better as I've been part of the grading committee a few times now. It's not something I'm willing to discuss in detail.