East Bay Aikido - Oakland, California

Home

Overview

Schedule

Fees

Instructors

Questions

Location

Events

Photos

Articles

The 108

Links

Tai Chi

Members

MEMBERS

Ranking Procedure

Examination Schedule	Ranking Examinations are held several times during the year, usually towards the end of a month. Plan ahead and start training early for your exam. Trying to “wing it” at the last minute will only result in embarrassment for you and your teacher.
Determine If You Are Eligible	Determine if you have the requisite number of training days by checking the Rank Listing and the Kyu Requirements Sheet on the bulletin board. A yellow highlight means you have the requisite number of days in rank ("Time in Grade"). A red check mark means you have the total number of training days ("Total Days") required to be considered for that rank. If you have either a red check mark or a yellow highlight, you may request an Examination. If you have both, even better. If you have neither, get back on the mat and train some more... it's not your time yet. If you have questions, ask Sensei.
Train for Your Examination	Use your regular class training times wisely. Treat each technique that you are doing as if it is the one you will be demonstrating for your Examination. Once you request an Examination, Sensei and the other members of the Kyu Examination Committee will be watching you closely - anytime you are on the mat. Don't forget that the time before, between and after classes is valuable training time. Those extra ten or fifteen minutes can make a big difference. You are responsible for your training. If your training partner is unavailable, ask someone else to train with you. It is worthwhile to train with a kohai - they won't spend a lot of time correcting you and they appreciate the opportunity to improve their falling skills. Run through the requirements from “top to bottom” a number of times. Have someone call out the techniques for you so you can experience what the Examination will be like. Remember... you don't have to be perfect, but you do have to meet the standard.
Request an Examination	Fill out a Request for Examination form and turn it in along with the $25.00 Exam Fee. This must be done at least two weeks before the exams are scheduled.
Choose a Training Partner	Choose someone to take ukemi (the falls) for your examination. It is best to pick someone who is one or two ranks above the rank for which you are testing. Once you have decided who you would like to be your training partner, inform Sensei of your choice. The best time to train for your exam is after class when you and your partner have extra time to train together. Listen to your training partner and trust their opinion. They will be giving you information which will help you meet the standard. Your training partner is responsible for letting Sensei know if you are ready - or not ready - to take your examination. If they decide you are not ready, trust them, train more and take your exam at a later date. If you are uncertain, check with Sensei.
Video Copies	Sensei usually makes an 8mm video tape of all the examinations. If you would like a copy made from the 8mm original, ask Sensei if he will make one for you. If he agrees, you'll need to give him either a DVD or a VHS tape that is queued to the exact spot where you wish him to start taping your exam. A donation is appropriate in appreciation for the time spent making your video.
Rank Certification	After you have passed your examination, you will receive a Rank Certificate - usually during the month following your Kyu Exam. Dan Certificates can take from 3-6 months to arrive from Japan.

Here are a few things to keep in mind about rank:

(1) Receiving rank is not something you MUST do. It is your choice. It is perfectly OK to train for as long as you want and never receive a rank.

(2) Your rank comes from your teacher. Receiving rank is not like getting a smog certificate. Every dojo is different and every teacher maintains their own set of standards and criteria for ranking.

(3) With rank comes responsibility. The higher your rank the greater the responsibility to the dojo community and to your sensei. Senior students are expected to set the example. Don't make the mistake of thinking that you can hide in the shadows as you move up the rank ladder. If you shy away from responsibility, so will everyone who is following you. You may also find sensei unwilling to promote you if you are unwilling to freely serve the dojo community.

(4) Your rank is YOUR rank. Don't compare yourself to others to see how you "stack up." This type of comparison can lead to confusion and frustration. Everyone moves at their own pace, in their own way. Competition, at any level, is discouraged.

(5) Your rank is not a license to be a jerk. Don't "pull rank" on others. Having a hierarchy is a way to keep things running smoothly, not a way to dominate others.

(6) Your rank is part of a relative hierarchy. As the situation changes, so does your "rank." If, for instance, someone of "lower" rank than you is in charge of a dojo project, or is in either the Teacher Training Program or the Soto Deshi Program, they "out rank" you at that time. Help them to succeed in the best way you can.

(7) Receive your rank graciously and gratefully. Even though you have "earned" your rank, remember that your teacher is under no obligation to rank you - ever - no matter what you do. It is your teacher's prerogative.

(8) The higher the rank the deeper the Student/Teacher Relationship. The higher up you go, the more critical it becomes to honor and respect the relationship you have with your teacher. Your conduct inside and outside the dojo reflects on this relationship. If you are not willing to be a representative of our dojo, don't seek rank. If you are unwilling to move to the next level of the Student/Teacher Relationship, don't seek rank. Remember that conduct which can be overlooked when one is a beginner, becomes increasingly inappropriate as one "grows up" and achieves higher rank. It is your responsibility to monitor your own conduct and make adjustments as necessary. Don't expect teachers - or others - to do your work for you.