SCKF Shinkyu Shinsa, 10/20/13

  • See SCKF page for details about the promotional examination, including a tentative schedule and links to written tests for those testing for 1kyu and yudansha ranks.

  • Basic review for the shinsa:
    • chakuso (the manner of wearing gi and bogu)
      • practice putting on your keikogi, hakama, and bogu, checking yourself in a mirror (practice until you can do everything quickly and properly without the mirror).
      • check men himo length: must be 40cm max (15.75")
      • kote himo must be trimmed and tied securely
      • see this shoelace site if you have problems tying your himo with a crooked bow or if you want to learn how to tie the quick knot.
    • examination points
      • chakuso
      • reiho
      • kiai
      • kamae
      • ashi sabaki (footwork)
      • shisei (posture)
      • basic strikes
      • basic waza
      • maai (distance to opponent)
      • ki-ken-tai-no-ichi
    • kihon test for 4kyu and below applicants
      • reiho (rei @sageto, taito, 3 big steps RLR, sonkyo)
      • kirikaeshi
      • men 3x
      • kote 3x (1 step for cut; 2 steps back to kamae)
      • do 3x
      • kote-men 3x
      • reiho (sonkyo, 5 steps LRLRL @taito, sageto, rei)
    • testing for all other ranks consists of:
      • kendo (jitsugi) with two other people trying for the same rank
      • 4dan: also perform and receive kirikaeshi
      • 1kyu and above: kata (if pass kendo)
      • 1kyu and above: written tests
      • 1dan and above: use the 2-person rei procedure to begin and end jitsugi
    • additional skills (see SCKF shinsa criteria)
      • reigi, including aisatsu and cleaning the dojo
      • fold keikogi and hakama
      • maintain and name parts of the shinai
      • waza

    All of the above is very important for everyone, even if you are not participating in this shinsa.

  • Norwalk participants, including participant number, requested rank and result
    pn   name               req res
    11   Cho Daniel          6   6
    12   Cho Ryan            6   6
    33   Moody Anthony       5   5
    34   Choi Jonathan       5   5
    59   Hahn Lance          4   4
    68   Kim Jun Bae         4   4
    69   Moon Joshua         4   4
    73   Kim Matthew         4   4
    112  Tseng George        3   3
    129  Kim Soung Bae       2   2
    153  Ji Daniel           1   1
    190  Amano Shotaro       4D  -
    192  Nguyen Emil         4D  4D
    202  Cho In Ho           4D  -  
    Note: those requesting 6kyu and 5kyu do not attend the shinsa (rank is awarded by passing the kihon test at the dojo).

  • Be sure to come to practice every Monday and Friday until the shinsa, especially those testing for 1kyu and above.

  • For shinsa day:
    note shinsa start time change to 10am (was 9am)
    • Plan to arrive by 8:45am for sign in. Plan to leave your house no later than 8:15am (earlier if you live farther away) to have plenty of time to drive, park, change, get your tare, and register. Sign in closes at 9:30pm. No late applicants will be allowed. If you get to the sign in table one minute late, you will not be able to participate, plus you will have to pay a $20 fine!
    • For those trying for 1kyu and all yudansha ranks, turn in your completed written test at sign in. Be sure to include your name, participant number, requested rank, and dojo.
    • Wear your nicest keikogi, hakama, and tenugui
      • make sure they are washed and pressed
      • remove your Norwalk patch, otherwise it and any other markings will need to be covered with tape (special tape will be available at the shinsa)
      • check each other to make sure everyone is neatly dressed
    • At shinsa sign in time a label will be put on the center flap of your tare with your participant number. You must be dressed in keikogi and hakama and bring your tare to receive your label. Remove your nafuda (name tag) for the shinsa.
    • Review the SCKF page for more details about the promotional examination. Starting in 2013, yudansha applicants will use the 2-person rei procedure to bow in for jitsugi (same as in AUSKF kodansha shinsa).

  • Application fee varies by requested rank: youth kyu $20, adult kyu $20, 1dan $30, 2dan $40, 3dan $45, 4dan $50. Make check payable to Norwalk Kendo Dojo; the dojo will write one check to pay the federation for shinsa fees.

  • If you pass the exam, you must pay for a menjo (rank certificate) in order for your rank to be officially recorded. Menjo fees vary by rank: youth kyu $10, adult kyu $20, 1dan $30, 2dan $40, 3dan $60, 4dan $80.

    Note: all menjo are in English; AUSKF no longer offers Japanese menjo. Make check payable to Norwalk Kendo Dojo; the dojo will write one check to pay the federation for the menjo.


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