I have to wonder if other systems go through a beat down hazing like process during testing for Kyu. I assume that Shodan and all Dan ranked testing includes some level of physical examination. I am a proponent of the physical side of Karate- it is after all a contact sport. A sport now, but originally it was a system of training for the martial way. With that said, I still have to wonder what the physical demands are for other systems. The other weekend was a pretest for the upcoming test scheduled for August 3rd.
I know this upcoming Kyu test will be significant for two reasons- the honored guest, from Haifa, Israel, Kyoshi Effi Schleyen, 7th Dan at the invitation of Hachi-Dan Noujaim. Kyoshi Noujaim is a very physically fit and strong man that enjoys very demanding work outs, his close friends include Sabella-Sensie who was the personal body guard of the Prince of Jordan. Sabella-Sensie is a monster of man who’s seminars on martial strength are demanding, enlightening and humbling. For this reason, I know Kyoshi is going to flex- and flex hard this coming test. Many of us testing this coming August, may be selected to test in November in front of the Guests of Honor: Buntoku Ifuku-San 9th Dan Karate, 8th Dan Kobudo and Masao Akamine-San, 7th Dan Karate, 7th Dan Kobudo. So it is a test now and pass or die trying mentality.
The pretest the other weekend was a pretty shocking eye opener. It has been a tough year and much of the physical works outs have been cut or shortened- too much going on. So, test opens and five Sensei take the floor and begin 20 minutes of a beat down work out designed to fatigue the test subjects and reveal their character- who will quit and give up on their selves? Who will stick with it and put it all on the floor? Who has “IT” in the muscle memory? How will the test subjects react to physical exhaustion? Nearly three hours later, in a room that was over 90 degrees with no fans or air conditioning- eight students stood at yoi- only one had passed…
From the muscle fatigue, the Yakusoku Kumite were jumbled and too fast. It is preferred to be slow but powerful. Punctuation of each move is preferred, blurred fast and no definition just looks like something that is blurred and with no definition… not Shorinkan.
Pinan bunkai was chalk with giddy-up’s and false starts- if you are in the middle, you need to know which direction your bunkai is moving and you have to be able to execute the take downs. The kata’s were heavy footed and not nimble- the sweating feet did not help on the dojo mat- sticking and ragged.
That about sums up how we looked as a whole- I myself couldn’t keep Yakusoku six straight in my head- too bad, but thankfully this was just a pre-test.
So what did we take from this? As a family of karateka- we have thrashed ourselves nearly daily in preparation for this upcoming test- we know it will be at least twenty minutes of intense, exhausting, hot work out followed by a test of nearly three hours- we will be prepared and ready- mentally, physically and emotionally.
My question is- how do other systems handle and or conduct Kyu and Dan testing? Is it a beat down hazing like experience or is it a gentle warm up and then test? What are you expected to accomplish?
For my Second Kyu I will be required to perform the following:
1. Warm Up
2. Kihon Warm Up Kata
3. Geki sai dai ichi/ni and complex
4. All five Naihanchi kata, on the floor and some on a plank three feet off of the ground
5. Yakusoku Kumite 1 through 6
6. Pinan Kata and Bunkai: Shodan through Sondan (Random Pick)
7. Either Pasai Sho or Pasai Dai (Random Pick)
8. Kusanku Sho or Kusanku Dai (Random Pick)
It is kubudo tonight followed by an open hand class- time to really step it up this month and train hard.
