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The testing for kyu levels is carried out by your own teacher at your own dojo. Testing for dan levels will be in major cities so that larger numbers can test at the same time and maintain a closer standard of evaluation. This is true for testing of dan levels up to 3rd which are held in cities close to you. 4th to 6th dans are in very large cities. Testing for 7th dan and above is usually held in Tokyo, Japan.
The testing kendoka assemble and take the name covers off their TARE, and a judge writes your registration number on it three times. Then the kendoka will be divided by rank. Sometimes the men and women are separated also. First the kendoka will do the kendo kata. One side is UCHIDACHI and the other is SHIDACHI. Shodan (1st) rank goes up to the first 5 kata. Nidan (2nd) and Sandan (3rd) do up to the 7th kata. From Yondan (4th) all ten have to be performed. The first seven are done with the bokken (long wooden sword) by both, The last three use the kodachi (short wooden sword) by the SHIDACHI.
Up until now the kendoka are wearing their Keiko Gi, Hakama and Tare only. Now they put on their Men, Do and Kote. The next section is Kirikaeshi and Shiai. Each kendoka will first initiate Kirikaeshi then do a shiai with one opponent. Then that same kendoka will receive for Kirikaeshi then do shiai with the next kendoka.
Now comes the toughest part. The panel of teachers go off and finish their evaluations of the testing. If you don't pass this section of the test you leave after picking up the registration portion of the testing fee. If you pass, you find out by looking at the list of numbers that have been hung up on the wall showing only the people who have passed. This is also how Japanese people find out whether or not they have passed the entrance exams into high school and college. Trust me tension is high. As soon as this list is posted, every one swarms around it.
Having completed the physical portion of the test. And seen your number displayed proudly. You are now ready for the written test. The test for Shodan has a mandatory question and optional questions (decided before the test), the answers are mostly in list form. Nidan and above have their own questions to prepare for. The answers to these are in paragraph style. The kendoka are given the study sheets from which to prepare well in advance. When your test is completed you hand it to one of the judges and it is graded right then and there.
You've done the physical section, the waiting, the written test, now more waiting. Everyone is asked to reassemble (only those who took the written test, the others have left) and the announcement of those that passed the written test starts. From this point on your rank has been awarded even though you won't receive your certificate for some time. The All- Japan Kendo Federation in Tokyo has the responsibility to prepare those. But you've done it!
