[email protected] 1 Shodan Test As Displayed at the Iwama Dojo, Ibaraki, Japan, Under the Late Saito Morihiro Sensei 9Th Dan
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TRADITIONAL AIKIDO EUROPE | www.traditionalaikido.eu | [email protected] 1 Shodan test as displayed at the Iwama Dojo, Ibaraki, Japan, under the late Saito Morihiro Sensei 9th Dan. - photo courtesy of Eric Savalli TRADITIONAL AIKIDO EUROPE | www.traditionalaikido.eu | [email protected] 2 Introduction The shodan test in this Syllabus is based on the standard test Saito Morihiro Sensei would give in the Iwama Dojo in Japan in the !"#$s till his death in %##% &see photo on previous page'( )ewis *ernaldo de +uiros drew up the essence of the present examination system in the early !!#$s when he was an -i.i.ai examiner under Saito Morihiro Sensei with the Iwama shodan test at the heart of the Syllabus( The weapon sections were added from the separate weapons system of grading that Sensei created around that time( /yu ranks are a progression towards shodan and the ranks beyond are an extension with shodan and nidan forming a pair focused on .ihon static techni0ues and sandan and yondan grades completing the basic training with .i no nagare and more advanced techni0ues from the full curriculum. 1anks are divided into 2 .yu ranks &white belt' and # dan ranks &blac. belt'( The ha.ama is worn from 3rd4 st .yu or shodan as decided by individual Dojo 5ho’s within the association. -t the /yu level Dojo 5ho's should consider each student individually and award grade either through testing or recommendation as appropriate in each case( -t the dan level examinations are re0uired up to and including yondan and are carried out by the members of the examination committee with the candidate6s instructor in attendance( Dan ranks are -i.i.ai recognised ranks( Dan examination candidates need to be in regular disciplined training and are advised to have attended three full seminars in the 7 months prior to the exam &by any senior -i.ido teacher nationally or internationally' preferably outside of their own dojo’s( This is to ensure that candidates during their preparation not only step outside of their comfort 8one and challenge themselves beyond the confines of their regular group but also are exposed to other teachers to give them different perspectives on their practice and challenge their understanding and ability in different ways( 9or testing and grading costs please consult with instructors( :eneral Dan Grade Committee: The examination committee consists of at least one of the -i.i.ai recognised examiners within T-E in addition to at least one more senior member( The candidate$s instructor should ideally be present but has no say in the decision ma.ing process( Special Dan Grade Committee: This committee is composed of all the 1okudans within T-E and is responsible for the promotion of senior ranks beyond yondan &see :odan re0uirements below)( TRADITIONAL AIKIDO EUROPE | www.traditionalaikido.eu | [email protected] 3 Testing rationale and objectives The Syllabus can be understood as both a roadmap to ac0uiring the basic techni0ues and as a chec. on one$s level of progress in the understanding and embodiment of the ;rinciples of -i.ido. Techni0ue and ;rinciple should be understood as two interrelated aspects with Techni0ue the outer form and ;rinciple the inner dynamic that gives life and meaning to the practice( The grades can be broadly divided into four main areas as discussed below: • 2 – > .yu • 3 – .yu • Shodan = ?ondan • :odan and above !th – #th kyu The emphasis at this entry level is on developing u.emi and footwor. plus a clear sense of direction and basic movement s.ill &front and bac.4 entering and turning) in the context of basic solid techni0ue &.ihon wa8a' both with weapons and empty-handed training( -ttac.s at the @grasping$ level are emphasised &.atate4 morote4 ryote4 .ata dori' and the basic format for ai.ido training, that of a ritualised agreement &.ata' where attac.er and receiver ta.e turns practicing prearranged techni0ues &nage and u.e format' is established( -t the body level the focus is on coordinating hands and feet and rela,ing the body weight downwards into the ground as the principle of being balanced is emphasised throughout( $rd – %st &yu A.emi4 footwor. and being balanced remain the primary focus points( Bnce the periphery of the body &hands and feet' are more coordinated and the weight is more @underneath$4 further ;rinciples such as being whole and coordinated and being centered are explored along with the 1elational ;rinciples of non-resistance4 joining and following &awase'4 which receive more focused attention. The objective by st .yu is to have a clear idea as to the basic techni0ues as well as a clear idea of the primary principles governing body use4 relationship and the generation of power &.okyu ryokyu'( st .yu is essentially a pre-test for shodan and thus the re0uirements for this ne,t exam should be consulted when preparing for st .yu( TRADITIONAL AIKIDO EUROPE | www.traditionalaikido.eu | [email protected] 4 Shodan – 'ondan Shodan: /atai &solid' Shodan literally translates as @first step$ and at this first level the emphasis is on the solid development of the .ihon &.atai .ihon) forms( Techni0ue should be solid and clear4 grounded4 heavy and balanced( The basic principles of body use &being grounded4 being integrated and balanced4 being centered and calm) and the basic relational principles &listening, joining, connecting and leading) are not just abstract ideas but can be distinguished in one$s experience4 albeit at a @first level$( Shodan is the culmination of the training and development undergone through the .yu ranks( -s such4 at this level the following aspects4 which are introduced to the student form the very beginning of training, should form a solid framewor. for practice and all future development( • (ke)nage format of training: /ata is understood as a cooperative effort where u.e gives nage measured pressure in his attac.s and nage measures the power of his techni0ues in accordance with u.e6s ability to ta.e u.emi( In this sense this training format is a cooperative engagement and precludes competition. There are no winners or losers4 only learners( • *e els< *asic solid to more flowing dynamic with everything in between. • +wase< Chat harmonising with an opponent @is$ and is @not$( -n understanding of the ;rinciple of Don-1esistance( • &okyu ryokyu< @Chole body power$( The power we are see.ing to develop in -i.ido is a @whole body power$ generated from our connection with the ground4 directed through our center and expressed through our hands &or any other peripheral contact point'( This power4 and to the extent that we are able to generate it4 should be clearly distinguished from using part of our body in isolation to bring about a result &commonly .nown as @forcing$'( • Intention< To understand that -i.ido is not a means whereby opponents are simply defeated but that it is a martial art whose ideal is the restoration of harmony beyond the opposites of winning and losing. The ultimate aim of training in -i.ido is not to be just an effective fighter4 but to not have to fight at all( However this ideal is not attained by avoiding conflict and hard training but by entering it directly and going through and thus beyond it( It must not be forgotten that to be able to overcome an aggressive adversary with -i.i entails that the martial and mental s.ill of the ai.idoka are superior to those of the attac.er. In this sense -i.ido is a *udo. TRADITIONAL AIKIDO EUROPE | www.traditionalaikido.eu | [email protected] 5 ,idan: ?awara.ai &flexibility F suppleness) The emphasis remains on the .ihon solid level but the @hardness$ and @sharpness$ that were more predominant in the techni0ues at shodan have their @edges ta.en off$( The exam is essentially the same as for shodan with a few technical additions but now the form should be $smoother$4 more flexible and supple in execution. *alance and connection are @deeper$( The development from shodan is one of going toward more @internal$ in both feeling and hence technical execution. Sandan: Dagare &flowing' -fter the first two levels4 which focus on clear solid basics at the static level4 the emphasis at sandan is on ta.ing the @yawara.ai$ 0uality developed at nidan into movement( The main issue here is not only the @heavy underneath$ 0uality of one$s movement with its inherent sense of deeper balance but also being able to maintain connection at three fundamental levels< with the ground4 with oneself and with the other = and to .now when connection at any one of these levels is lost4 and hence ma.e the appropriate corrections in real time( 'ondan: /i no Dagare &flow of .i' ?ondan is the last rank for which extensive technical examinations are carried out( Apon reaching yondan in essence the first stage of basic training has been completed &although this never ends as such'. The instructor who up to this point has been serving as a guide and @mirror$ for the student$s experience and learning process is no longer necessary for further development( The student can now mirror his or her own experience and evaluate accurately the feedbac. received from his or her actions. He or she has learned @how to learn$( 9rom a technical perspective4 at yondan one should have a detailed .nowledge of the -i.ido technical repertoire plus a full understanding of the various levels of practice &.ihon, .inonagare4 henka4 oyo, .aeshi and ta.emusu ai.ido) in addition to a firm understanding of the principles that give the techni0ues their power and the art its meaning.