Exam Requirements

Testing for advancement in rank is an exciting and tense time for everyone, regardless of rank. Relax, train regularly, and testing time will be less anxious. The following points will help alleviate last-minute confusion at the time of your test and aid in achieving a relaxed and calm mind.

Exam Protocol

EXAMINERS: If the exam is being administered by Parker Sensei, then the following protocol will be used. Otherwise, the dojocho or examining instructor will take the position of Sensei, as listed below. If no other instructor is available, the examiner will either call the test him/herself or designate another person to do so.

  1. Parker Sensei/examiner will be positioned in front of shomen or in front of the class, depending on which direction in the dojo the exam will be taking place.
  2. The dojocho, or instructor who is calling the test, will be to Parker Sensei’s “left”, close to or at the edge of the mat. This will be determined by the dojo layout.
  3. The dojocho will call the exam as presented to him/her or based on the shinsa syllabus.
CANDIDATES FOR ADVANCEMENT:
  1. Arrive early, to warm up and loosen up.
  2. Wear a clean dogi.
  3. When your name is called, bow, answer with a loud hai or osu and run to your correct testing place.
  4. When you run to your testing position, try to balance that position in relation to Sensei, your partner, and the size of the room. If only two people are testing, arrange yourselves as shown in the diagram below:
Sensei
#2 #1

  • If there are several pairs of people testing, arrange yourselves as shown in the diagram below
  • It is very important that you call each person up in order. First call up the student testing, then his/her uke. For example, in the diagram below, positions 1, 3 and 5 would be shite and positions 2, 4 and 6 would be uke.

Sensei
#6 #5 #4 #3 #2 #1

Stand calmly and correctly (heels together, arms at your side) and wait for the call to bow. The command to bow to Sensei will be done by the person in position #1. Command: Sensei Ni Rei

The following are the command to be called by the dojocho/instructor calling the exam:

Ichi Ni Tsuite: Move to your designated spots and face your partner. This should be arranged prior to exam.
Otagaini Rei: Bow to your partner.

Notes:

- Do not say osu or bow again during the test.
- Wait for the instructions from the person calling the test.
- During the exam, remain in kamae at all times between techniques.
- You should not adjust your dogi without being told to do so by Sensei.

After the last technique, remain in kamae. The following commands will then be called.

Kamae naoru: Move back from kamae to attention position
Otagaini Rei: Bow to your partner
Modoru no ichi: Return to your starting spot and face Sensei
Sensei ni Rei: Called by person in position #1
Taijo: Run back to your position in line. Kneel, and pay attention to the next exam or instructions.

General format for a test:

All exams will start with kihon dosa. Generally, you will do Tai No Henko and Hiriki No Yosei at the beginning of the exam and Shumatsu dosa at the end. Kihon dosa is done as follows:

  • 10 ~ 9 kyu -- all dosa are done without a partner on one side only.
  • 8 ~ 6 kyu -- kihon is done without a partner. Techniques are done both right and left.
  • 5 kyu -- kihon dosa and kihon waza are done with a partner both right and left.
  • 4 kyu -- kihon dosa and kihon waza are done with a partner both right and left.
  • 3 ~ 1 kyu and yudan – kihon dosa and kihon waza done with partner both right and left side. Refer to general syllabus for order.


If taking the exam with other student’s, harmonize your movement with them and try to stay together until the command of YAME. Stay in kamae with your focus in front of you. Wait for next command/technique. Techniques will be done on both right and the left sides. All Ichi techniques start in Migi hanmi and all Ni techniques start in Hidari hanmi. At the end of each technique, quickly return to kamae. Be sure to KIAI with each atemi.

How to move to and from Migi and Hidari hanmi:

First, remember to maintain proper MAAI (distance). You should have at least one tatami/mat length between you and your partner. All Ichi techniques will be done in Ai Hanmi (same stance). All Ni techniques start in Hidari gyaku hanmi (opposing left stance). The command sequence is as follows:

1.   Start in migi ai hanmi kamae
2.   Examiner gives name of technique. Once you hear ichi/ni, you immediately close the distance.
      EX: Katate mochi, shihonage ICHI (move forward)
3.   Hajime (uke attacks)
4.   After the technique is done, return to migi hanmi. Examiner will say “Onajiku”. Move forward into Hidari ai hanmi
5.   Hajime (uke attacks)
6.   Return to Migi ai hanmi
7.   If more than one person is taking their exam, the Examiner will call “Shite Uke Kotai” (shite and uke switch roles)
      Name of technique is given again. Remember to close distance on Ichi or Ni command.
      Same procedure as above
8.   Return to Migi ai hanmi. Second technique of series will then be called.
      EX: Katate mochi shihonage NI
         i.      Shite moves forward to Hidari hanmi
         ii.     Uke shuffles forward and remains in Migi hanmi. You are now in Hidari gyaku hanmi (Opposing left stance)
9.   Hajime (begin technique). At the end of the technique, return to Migi ai hanmi.
10. Onajiku (shite moves forward and remains in Migi hanmi. Uke moves forward to Hidari hanmi.) You are now in Migi gyaku hanmi
     (Opposing “RIGHT” stance)
11. At the end of technique, return to Migi hanmi.
12. Shite Uke Kotai
13. Follow same procedure for next technique

Note:

On “most” shomen uchi techniques, shite will attack on Ichi and uke will attack on Ni. Unless otherwise told, this is how the exam will be done.

Incorporating this test protocol for all levels will ensure a smooth exam. Be sure to review this with your students often. This is the testing protocol used by Parker Sensei and the Seiseikai. When in doubt, check with Parker Sensei well in advance.

Prepared by: Steven Miranda
Approved by: Amos Parker Shihan