What are your promotion tests like?

Sailor Sindbad · Yellow Belt

For the lower kyu ranks, it's three hours, beginning with 100 pushups. For the upper kyu ranks, it's 8 hours of hell. It starts with 45 minutes worth of calisthenics, then a 5 mile run which includes sprints. There's knuckle pushups on the asphalt, and kumite, and then going through the entire curriculum up to the rank you're testing for, with more calisthenics spread throughout the test. The black belt test is this, plus requires 500 pushups.

After going through my first test for the upper kyu ranks, I'm second-guessing whether or not I want to ever do that again.

I'm doing some research, and I'm finding that not all dojos are like this.

But I want to hear directly from people out there.

LionsDen · Orange Belt

Testings are normally about an hour and a half maybe two.
The biggest point is simply to tire students out and add pressure.
If they’re invited to test it’s a 99% chance they pass because we’ve already decided they’re ready. As long as a student doesn’t quit or perform absolutely atrociously then they’ll pass.

LionsDen · Orange Belt

crash · Orange Belt

aurik · KF Sempai

Our tests are pretty much the same, no matter what the grade you're testing for, but the intensity goes up as your rank goes up. Each test has the following components:

- Sanchin (with focus testing for nikyu and above)
- Rank Kata
- Rank Kata bunkai (seisan for all dan ranks)
- Hojo undo
- Kote kitae (arm rubbing/pounding)
- Rank appropriate yakusoku kumite
- For nikyu and above, free sparring
- For shodan and above, oral exam

During testing, there are several areas that test the candidate's CV fitness. Our seisan bunkai generally runs 10-15 minutes, where you are running full-intensity for short bursts. Likewise free sparring is a test of CV fitness as well.

It also keeps testing to a manageable time frame -- generally 1 hour for kyu tests and 2 hours for dan ranks.
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hezekiah · White Belt

Well well, here in Japan (I've lived here for 20 years). Gradings are unbelievably soft. For all grading up until blackbelt you simply do the below.

1. Kihon Kata - simple movement, blocks depend on your grade
2. 10 Punches, 10 Kicks
3. 10 push ups
4. And then your Kata
Finished in like 10-12 mins

For Brown belts almost the same just more advanced Kata

Black belt !!! - same just two Kata and thats it no Kumite.

Now in Japan, for Brown and Black you have to grade twice. Once for your local Dojo as above.

Then you need to go the the official JKF Dojo's and do it again, but this time sparring a stranger or two. You make you go around 2min non stop but not counting any point.

So simple.

sensei8 · KF Sensei

1-3 days long depending on the Testing Cycle level; the higher the level, the more must be done. Godan and above Testing Cycles usually take up to 3 full days to complete.

At each Testing Cycle stage, the Candidate will execute each and every technique taught in said curriculum level for THAT Testing Cycle particular level; inasmuch, the higher the testing level, the more must be,

That's the Kihon stage. There MUST be a noted improvement before advancing to the next stage. If not, the Testing Cycle for that candidate at said stage is terminated.

Second stage is Kata, including Kobudo Kata for 6th Kyu and above c
Candidates. Of course, Testing Cycle Candidates must execute all required Kata's per their level. There, too, must be a noted improvement before advancing to the next stage.

Third stage is Bunkai of which the Testing Cyle Candidates must execute all required Bunkai per their level. Once again, there must be noted improvements before advancing to the next stage.

Fourth stage is Kumite:

**Ippon Kumite (one step sparring)
**Sanbon Kumite (three-step sparring)
**Gohon Kumite (five-step sparring)
**Kiso Kumite (derived from a Kata
**Jiyu Ippon Kumite (one step semi-free sparring)
**Jiyu Kumite (free sparring)

Again, there must be a noted improvements before advancing to the next stage.

Stage six is Q&A, of which varies by the Candidates level as well as their experience and knowledge.

Stage seven's where said Candidate submits their specific Thesis. Thesis topics are chosen by the Candidates from a provided list which was sent to every network dojo by the Hombu weeks before the Testing Cycle deadline, of which the candidates are required to return said Thesis back to the Hombu for its review. Not all Testing Cycles Candidates are required to submit a Thesis of which these are usually required from Sankyu to Hachidan.

We test every rank from Jukyu to Hachidan with no exceptions. Kudan and Judan are reserved for the current Kancho and Kaicho; there's only one of each at any given time.

All Testing Cycles from Godan to Hachidan are required to Test at the Hombu. All ranks can submit a request to Test at the Hombu, and not at their home Dojo, of which, those request must be submitted 3 months before the next Hombu Testing Cycle.

No one can attend a Testing Cycle without the explicit approval of the Hombu. All network dojo's must submit all Testing Cycle Candidates lists to the Hombu 6 months before the next scheduled Testing Cycle. Inasmuch, each Testing Cycle Candidate must submit to their immediate CI a Petition to Testing Cycle application beforehand, of which the CI then submits all approved Petitions to the Hombu by that 6 months deadline.

Hombu will then approve or denial all Testing Cycle Candidates accordingly in a given time frame decided by the Hombu. All denied can resubmit the following year, and no CI can conduct a Testing Cylcle In-House without the explicit approval of the Hombu.

Randomly, chosen and approved representatives of the Hombu will make unannounced visits to a network dojo to ensure that Testing Cycle protocols are adhered. Any network dojo found in violation might face severe discipline, anywhere from a letter of reprimand to expulsion.

Seems harsh?? Seems whatever else? Not when the integrity of rank is involved.

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Zaine · Black Belt

My first school we had to go through our opening calisthenics, lead them after 5th kyu, then every kata, then 3 3 round sparring matches for lower kyus, 5 3 minute rounds for upper kyus, and for Shodan and above there are various rounds for 30-60 minutes.

My current dojo depends on how many are testing, but it tends to be 10-30 minutes for kyu ranks, and 2 hours for Shodan. No calisthenics, no exercises, just a demonstration of techniques learned. This includes any Hojo Undo introduced at the current rank, if you're testing with juniors then you do their Hojo Undo with them as well. Afterwards it's the kata you've learned for that rank (at Shodan it's every kata), and then ippon kumite for that rank. For kyu ranks, that's it. The board will go to another room and discuss, and then after that you rank up if you didn't totally bomb the test or have a bad attitude. For Shodan, there is also sparring involved. From what I understand, pre-covid sparring was included in upper kyu tests as well. Furthermore, the testee has to put together a demo to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of karate.
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bushido_man96 · KF Sensei

Our colored belt candidates do their required form and one-steps; anyone above orange belt then spars at least one, if not two matches. Brown belts and up are required more forms, more sparring against higher ranks, and then board breaking. High brown belts have to perform all one-steps at their testing, and recommended black belts have to perform all forms and all one-steps, plus sparring and board breaks.

We don't have a set time on the testing. If it's a small one, it can take an hour. Larger testings just take more time to get the students through, and if we have a few higher ranks testing, that takes longer.
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crash · Orange Belt

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