KENDO GRADING SYSTEM
(extracted from the
Australian Kendo Board – Manual of Documents Section Two)
2.3 Grading System
2.3.5 Rokkyu Technical Requirements
Kihon-waza to be executed with Motodachi,
candidates wearing Tare and Do.
·
Correct Hakama
& Keikogi
·
Correct Bogu
·
Rei and Sonkyo
·
Ashi-sabaki
·
Kihon
Men
·
Kihon Kote
·
Kihon
Do
2.3.6 Gokyu
Grading Technical Requirements
Kihon-waza to be executed with Motodachi,
candidates wearing Tare and Do.
·
Correct Hakama
& Keikogi
·
Correct Bogu
·
Rei and Sonkyo
·
Ashi-sabaki
·
Kihon
Men
·
Kihon Kote
·
Kihon
Do
·
Kiri-Kaeshi
2.3.7 Yonkyu
Grading Technical Requirements
Candidates wearing full Bogu
and demonstrating against each other.
·
Correct Hakama
& Keikogi
·
Correct Bogu
·
Kihon
Men
·
Kihon Kote
·
Kihon
Do
·
Nidan-waza
·
Kihon Kote-Men
·
Kihon Kote-Do
·
Kiri-Kaeshi
·
Kiri-Kaeshi
as Uchidachi
·
Uchi-komi Geiko
2.3.8 Sankyu Grading Technical
Requirements
Candidates wearing full Bogu
and demonstrating against each other.
·
Correct Hakama
& Keikogi
·
Correct Bogu
·
Kihon
Men
·
Kihon Kote
·
Kihon
Do
·
Nidan-waza
·
Sandan-waza
·
Kiri-Kaeshi
·
Kiri-Kaeshi
as Motodachi
·
Uchi-komi Geiko
2.3.9 Nikyu
Grading Technical Requirements
·
Kiri-Kaeshi
·
Kiri-Kaeshi
as Motodachi
·
Uchi-komi Geiko
·
Kakari Geiko
·
Ji Geigo
2.3.10 Ikkyu
Grading Technical Requirements
·
Kiri-Kaeshi
·
Kiri-Kaeshi
as Motodachi
·
Uchi-komi Geiko
·
Kakari Geiko
·
Ji Geigo
·
Kata: O-dachi: Ipponme to Sanbonme
2.3.11 Shodan
Grading Technical Requirements
·
Kiai
The application of kiai to be in harmony with yoko-datotsu.
·
Chudan
No Kamae
Application of Chudan-no-kamae
is maintained before and after Yoko-datotsu.
·
Grip of shinai
Correct grip on shinai
should automatically assume the Chudan-no-kamae and
be the prelude to Teno-uchi.
·
Ashi-waza
The main reference being the correct
foot placing and attention to the height of the heel.
·
Appearance
The reflection of the spirit
of Kendo in dressing.
·
Kihon-waza
- Basic blows
An understanding and display of all
pre-requisites prior to the cut are exhibited.
·
Etiquette
Correct attitude and manners displayed
throughout the grading period.
·
Shisei
Correct posture and attitudes maintained appropriate
to the actions being carried out.
·
Kiri-kaeshi
Fluency of Kiri-kaeshi is
maintained without loss of maai and correct striking
of Men with the monouchi.
·
Kata: O-dachi:
Ipponme to Gohonme
·
Written exam:
What do you want to learn from training in Kendo.
Explain Maai.
2.3.12. Nidan
Grading Technical Requirements
·
Shikake waza
Ability to display correct
form in executing methods of shikage-waza.
·
Oji waza
Ability to display correct
form in executing methods of oji-waza.
·
Shin - Spirit
Demonstrate a true spirit during shiai.
·
Timing for blow
·
Maai
(advanced)
·
Kiri-kaeshi
(advanced)
·
Kata: O-dachi:
Ipponme to Nanahonme
·
Written exam
Explain why etiquette is important to Kendo.
Explain the opportunity for Datotsu.
2.3.13. Sandan
Grading Technical Requirements
·
Timing for blow before and after
opponents attack
·
Blow from Seme
·
Usage of Maai
·
Effective blow
·
Attitude and posture
·
Spirit
·
Zanshin
·
Kata:
Ipponme to Nanahonme
Ko-dachi:
Ipponme
to Sanbonme
·
Written exam
Explain why it is important to do Kendo Kata.
Explain why it is necessary to do Kiri-kaeshi.
2.3.14 Yondan
Grading Technical Requirements
·
Nobility and appearance
Nobility is a requirement which is not considered for Sandan. For Yondan, nobility and
near perfect kendo spirit are required. Nobility is
something naturally generated as one progresses to a higher level in terms of
technique and spirit.
·
Attitudes and manners
This requirement applies to any grade but for Yondan, an irreproachable attitude and manners are
required. In this regard more composite attitudes than ones required for Sandan and they include manners, appearance and the state
of shinai.
·
Rational blow
In short, this means that one never misses
opportunities to attack, use of maai to the advantage
demonstrate a good body maneuvre and utilize San-sappo (Kill sword, kill spirit and kill technique of
opponent). A state of Kendo where one does not miss opportunities to attack, control Maai, do not engage in
unnecessary attacks and utilizes San-sappo.
·
Seme with effective Kensen
For Sandan a blow from Seme
was a requirement, which is an indispensable in Kendo. For Yondan,
additional types of Seme are also required, including Seme in Spirit and Seme
in sword. To place oneself in a state of total concentration
and coerce opponent with Kensen.
·
Qualifications as an instructor
After achieving requirements for Shodan,
Nidan and Sandans, Yondan is required to obtain a higher level of techniques
such as Suri-age, Kaeshi-waza,
Uchi-otoshi-waza, Nuki-waza and apply these techniques depending on
opponents. Required to understand Kendo both in techniques
and in theory with achievement in a higher level of Kendo than Sandan. Also required to perfect all ten Kata and able to instruct them.
·
Rational response to opponents
attacks and change in techniques
The more senior one becomes, more rational response to
a change is required, such as not to be perturbed by opponents, show rational
response to attacks or a change in opponents attacks. It is a condition to be Yondan that one remains calm against any changes in
opponents techniques and respond rationally to it with desirable techniques.
·
Zanshin
The more senior one becomes, better Zanshin is required.
·
Speed and Te-no-uchi
Brilliance in cuts and good Te-no-uchi
are a barometer to measure improvement in Kendo. Requirements of good Te-no-uchi applies to Sandan also but
for Yondan and above this becomes of further
importance.
·
Kata
·
Written exam
What is the important thing about learning basics in Kendo.
Explain the meaning of Zanshin.
Explain the correct manner of Kendo.
2.3.15 Godan
Grading Technical Requirements
The
process from Yondan to Godan
involves polishing through further training what has been achieved so far. For Godan, one would have to have mastered all requirements for
Shodan up to Yondan through
long persistant training and all the requirements up
to Yondan would need to be brought up to completion
in Godan. While the requirements to be qualified as Godan are similar to that for Yondan,
there is a certain variation in the order of priority, that is, ones’ quality
as an instructor becomes more important. For instance, the following are the
requirements for Godan in order of priority.
·
Rational blow
In techniques, Godan should
be able to utilise Shikake-waza, Oji-waza spontaneously in a match and should never miss
opportunities to attack. One is also required to demonstrate a good footwork,
good manoeuvre and good Zanshin after blows. Rational
blow is the highest state in Kendo technique one can achieve. There should be
no unnecessary movement or blows, it is a result of
perfect balance, hit, techniques and spirit. Once one achieves this level of
Kendo it becomes a beauty in its style and makes ones sense of the art in it.
·
Nobility
For ordinary people, Kendo carries either a high or low nobility. Which one one’s Kendo would end up
with depends on one’s personality. If one trains both physical and mental
aspects of kendo and face opponents with a belief of winning rather than being
possessed by winning, his Kendo will achieve high nobility. High nobility, this
is what is required for Godan.
·
Qualifications as an instructor
Quality as an instructor becomes important for Godan. They are required to instruct Yondan
and below with theory, kata, techniques and style of
Kendo. While qualifications as an instructor is one of the most important
requirements for both Yondan and Godan,
Godan is required to possess a higher level of this requirement.
·
Attitudes
·
Zanshin
·
State of
·
Kata
·
Written exam
Explain your own mental attitude toward being a Kendo
Instructor.
Explain the meaning of Yuko-datotsu.
Explain the importance of Kihon
(Fundamentals) in Kendo.
Explain the Referee’s duties.
Explain when it is the best time to attack.