• as announced at the March 2022 SCKF Board of Directors meeting: starting with April 2024 shinsa, 3dan and above applicants (including kodansha and shogo applicants) must have participated in at least one kata seminar and one shinpan seminar within the last 2 years.
• for this shinsa, 3dan and 4dan applicants must have participated in at least one shinpan seminar and one kata seminar from the following list:
  • 2/23/25 shinpan seminar
  • 2/22/25 FIK shinpan seminar
  • 2/11/24 shinpan seminar
  • 7/13/25 kata seminar
  • 7/14/24 kata seminar
  • other federation seminar, pending approval by the shinsa committee
• no tsubazeriai (see AJKF video). Participants should wakare on their own; if not, tachiai will call wakare.
• masks and shields are optional, though recommended

• cover letter must be signed by dojo head instructor (please use it as a check list for requirements)
• dojo application forms will be in each dojo's google drive "from_sckf" folder
• forms must include height/weight and requested rank for each participant
  • "X" indicates a kenshi is not eligible to test at this shinsa
  • however, please note that the absence of an "X" does not guarantee the kenshi is eligible. Please review the shinsa regulations for eligiblity rules.
  • even if a kenshi is technically eligible, that does not mean they are ready to test. Head instructors please review the testing criteria and use your best judgement.
  • for 3dan and 4dan applicants: date of the most recent kata seminar and the most recent shinpan seminar attended (see seminar attendance notes above)
• names will appear on menjo as they appear on the application form
  • if you wish to make a name change, please clearly note it on your application form and in your email when submitting it.
• SCKF membership deadline was 8/31
• non-SCKF applicants: contact Jean Kodama

• no late applicants allowed!

• 2-person rei procedure (to be performed by yudansha applicants at the shinsa)
• kihon test (to be performed by 4kyu applicants at the shinsa)
• kihon kata (to be performed by 2kyu applicants at the shinsa)

• 4kyu applicants shall demonstrate kendo basics with a motodachi (see kihon test)
• 3kyu and above applicants shall perform kendo jitsugi for their examination; grading will be based on the official SCKF ranking criteria
• 4dan applicants shall perform kirikaeshi (striking and receiving), in addition to kendo jitsugi
• 6kyu and 5kyu applicants test at the dojo, not at the shinsa

• rules for requesting ranks (see promotion regulations and recommended skill levels for full details):

  rank   min age   min time in practice
  ----   -------   ---------------------------------------------------
  6kyu      8       6 months practice
  5kyu      9       6 months practice as 6kyu or 6 months practice
  4kyu     10       6 months practice as 5kyu or 12 months practice
  3kyu     11       6 months practice as 4kyu
  2kyu     12       6 months practice as 3kyu
  1kyu     13       6 months practice as 2kyu
  1dan     14       6 months practice as 1kyu
  2dan      -      12 months practice as 1dan
  3dan      -      24 months practice as 2dan
  4dan      -      36 months practice as 3dan

  • all applicants must be in full bogu
  • "minimum time in practice" assumes the kenshi is practicing regularly, eg keiko at least once or twice per week
  • 6-month interval is useful for catching up ranks if a shinsa is missed; the more typical interval is 12 months between ranks

• written tests are required for everyone requesting 1kyu and above.
  • download the SCKF written test form (pdf) and write your answer on this form
    • save your answer to a file (pdf preferred, image also ok)
    • suggested file name: rank_firstinitial_lastname.pdf, eg 2dan_j_smith.pdf for John Smith testing for 2dan
  • tests must include name, dojo, and requested rank, and must be in English only
  • tests must be submitted online using this link
    • be sure to click submit at the bottom of the form, which will open a new page with the message "Your response has been recorded". You will also receive a confirmation email
  • deadline is 10/14/25
  • leave participant number blank (unless your dojo has provided it to you; it changes for each shinsa)

• each applicant requesting 6kyu through 2kyu must perform kihon kata (bokuto ni yoru kendo kihon waza keiko ho)
  • 6kyu: kihon 1-2 (at the dojo)
  • 5kyu: kihon 1-4     "
  • 4kyu: kihon 1-6     "
  • 3kyu: kihon 1-9     "
  • 2kyu: kihon 1-9 (at the shinsa)
  See the kihon kata link for the verbal commands used to conduct the test.

• each applicant requesting 1 kyu or higher must be prepared to perform kata in front of the board of examiners. Note: #8 through #10 use the kodachi (short sword).
  • 1 kyu: #1 through #3
  • 1 dan: #1 through #5
  • 2 dan: #1 through #7
  • 3 dan: #1 through #10
  • 4 dan: #1 through #10

• see other shinsa testing notes below

• $30 kyu (both youth and adults, at dojo and at shinsa)
• $40 1dan
• $50 2dan
• $60 3dan
• $70 4dan

SCKF also charges a $20 "no show" (failure to participate) fee that will be assessed to the dojo if their kenshi signed up but is unable to participate in the shinsa (includes cancellation less than 7 days prior to the shinsa, as well as missing sign in).

• 8:00am: court set up by shinsa personnel
• 8:45am: start sign-in
  • you must be dressed in keikogi and hakama and bring your tare when you sign in
    • a label with your participant number will be applied to the center flap of your tare (remove your nafuda)
    • note: keikogi and hakama should not show markings (eg dojo patch, team logo, or slogans). If present, they will be taped over. You may do the taping yourself before sign in and inspection.
  • plan to arrive early so you can complete sign in well before it closes
  • follow the directions of the sign in team for when and where warm ups will be allowed
  • applicants requesting 6kyu and 5kyu test at the dojo, not at the shinsa
• 9:30am: sign in closes all divisions
  • if you are late you will not be able to participate in the shinsa, plus there will be an additional fee
• 9:55am: all applicants assemble in assigned courts
  • first divisions: bring men and shinai and line them up on the floor according to participant number
  • all participants (all divisions) line up for opening rei in the two courts closest to the head table, lining up by rank
• 10:00am: opening rei; start kendo portion of shinsa
• 12:15pm: start kata portion of shinsa

Shinsa officials: see duty schedule

• see sample evaluation forms for both kendo and kata
• kendo
  • be at your court BEFORE your division starts. Even if you signed in before it closed, if you are not in place before your division performs opening rei, you will not be allowed to participate.
  • bring two shinai, in good condition and ready to go (not brand new in a bag, tied with string). Mark shinai with your name.
  • follow the instructions of the tachiai on your court
  • each applicant for 4kyu will demonstrate basic skills (kihon test) with a motodachi provided by SCKF (you will be in full bogu, which you must put on by yourself)
  • each applicant for 3kyu and above will perform kendo jitsugi with two other applicants requesting the same rank (time 60 seconds for kyu, 90 seconds for dan)
  • for 1dan and above, use the 2-person rei procedure to begin and end jitsugi
  • each applicant for 4dan will also do kirikaeshi at the beginning of each jitsugi, once striking and once receiving
  • remain at your court until all participants in your division finish testing, at which time your division will perform closing rei
  • for those requesting 2kyu and above ranks: after your division is done, stay together near your court The kendo test results will be tallied and announced by the shinsa coordinator, who will then record the participant numbers for kata partners.
    • only those who have passed the kendo portion will perform kata
    • if you lack a kata partner, you will be paired with someone who also lacks a partner
    • if there is an odd number of kenshi, one kenshi will do kata twice (the second performance does not count)
    • if you are absent when the kata pairings are recorded, you will be assigned a partner
• kata
  • kihon kata (bokuto ni yoru kendo kihon waza keiko ho)
    • each applicant requesting 6kyu through 3kyu must pass kihon kata at the dojo
    • each applicant requesting 2kyu will perform all 9 kihon kata in front of the board of examiners, provided you passed the kendo portion of the exam. You will be able to choose, by arrangement with your partner, whether you are motodachi or kakarite. Pairings will be recorded at the completion of kendo jitsugi (see kendo section above).
  • kendo kata
    • kata pairings will be recorded at the completion of kendo jitsugi (see kendo section above)
    • you will have at least 15 minutes to practice prior to the kata test
      • each applicant must be able to perform both the uchidachi and shidachi roles
      • uchidachi/shidachi roles will be randomly assigned (you will be notified shortly before your turn comes up on the court)
    • this is not embu; there is no shomen-ni-rei, and uchidachi is on examiners' right so they can observe shidachi's front during kodachi kata
    • you may no longer request to redo a movement if you make a mistake performing kata, nor may the examination board request any redo's
    • if you do not pass the kata portion of the exam, you may retake the kata test once. This must be done within a 12-month period to avoid retaking the kendo jitsugi and written test portions of the shinsa (see promotion regulations. You will need to pay the normal shinsa application fee. Be sure to specify on your dojo's application form that you are taking only the kata portion of the test.

• notation: E=examiners, C=court coordinator/timer, T=tachiai, M=motodachi

   time   ECTM  description
  ------  ---  -----------------------------------------------------------
   8:00    CTM  set up (courts, dressing area, sign in, etc)
   8:15    CTM  coordinator, tachiai, and motodachi meeting
   8:45    CT   start sign in, tape over any kendogi markings
   8:45   E     examiners meeting
   9:30    CT   close sign in
   9:35   ECT   court meetings: adjust groups for absences, all divisions
   9:55   ECT   line up for opening rei, all participants
  10:00   ECT   rei; start kendo
  11:00    CT   lunch break; set up for kata
  12:00   ECT   start kata
  

  Everyone please read the duty notes for a brief summary of everyone's duties. Court coordinators, tachiai, and motodachi please also see the court duty page for a more detailed description.

• Examiners:
  Please wear coat and tie (not identical to shinpan uniform)
  Abe T (LOS), Arima K (STYO), Chinen Katsuo (GED), Chinen Katsushi (GED), Harada B (STYO), Honda J (LOS), Hosokawa Y (CM), Goya Y (OCB), Kato T (COV), Kikunaga H (SD), Kim S (COV), Kinno K (OCB), Shikai M (CHUO), Shikai Y (CHUO), Shinada S (ALH), Takahashi K (CM), Tew S (COV), Vahl J (SD), Yamasaki J (PCI), Yang C (TOR), Yuge T (TOR),
  Please review the SCKF promotion regulations, shinsa criteria, and evaluation sheet samples
• Shinsa officials:
  Please wear slacks and a plain polo or dress shirt
  Fu L (NOR), Kariya Y (NOR), Kodama J (NOR),
• Court coordinators/announcers/timers:
  Please wear slacks and a plain polo or dress shirt, or keikogi/hakama
  Imai H (STYO), Kawai K (JCI), Lee F (COV), Morioka J (CHUO),
• Tachiai:
  Please wear keikogi and hakama
  DeGuzman Mark (PCI), Inada Charles (CHUO), Kang Tae Hyuk (COV), Liao Steve (NOR), Lin Christina (COV), Mizobe Ken (STYO), Ono Clark (GED), Segawa Shiori (CM), Sera Margaret (GED), Shimizu Mio (GED), Takanashi R (LOS), Watanabe Yoshiaki (COV)
• Motodachi for 4kyu kihon test
  Please wear keikogi, hakama, and bogu; afterwards you will join tachiai duty on your court
  Liao Steve (NOR), Ono Clark (GED), Shimizu Mio (GED), Takanashi R (LOS),

Onegaishimasu!