Standard Rules for Dan/Kyu Examination

excerpt from the Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei News No.3, 1998

The Dan/Kyu examination of an affiliate organization (hereinafter called Organization) of International Kendo Federation (hereinafter called IKF) shall be conducted in accordance with the rules set forth below:

General Provision

Article 1:

The Dan/Kyu shall comprise 11 grades from 1 Kyu (ikkyu) through 10 Dan (Jyu Dan), shall be granted by the respresentative of Organization according to the overall Kendo ability of a grantee, and shall be mutually recognized as being equivalent among Organ izations.

Applicant's Qualification

Article 2:

1.The applicant for an examination shall be a registered member of Organization.
2.The applicant shall have the following periods of practice:

Dan/Kyu Practice Period Lowest Ages
1 Kyu (ikkyu)
1 (Sho) Dan Three months or more after 1 Kyu 14 years and over
2 (Ni) Dan One year or more after 1 Dan
3 (San) Dan Two years or more after 2 Dan
4 (Yon) Dan Three years or more after 3 Dan
5 (Go) Dan Four years or more after 4 Dan
6 (Roku) Dan Five years or more after 5 Dan
7 (Shichi) Dan Six years or more after 6 Dan
8 (Hachi) Dan Ten years or more after 7 Dan 46 years and over

Examination Method

Article 3:

The examination shall be conducted by Organization; however in case wherein the Organization lacks the examiners to meet the required number given below, other Organization(s) may provide examiners.

Examination Subjects

Article 4:

1.Examination subjects are as follows:

Dan/Kyu Applied for Examination Subjects
1 Kyu Matches and KENDO-KATA
1 Dan ~ 5 Dan Matches, KENDO-KATA and Written Test
6 Dan, 7 DanMatches, KENDO-KATA, Written Test & Refereeing
8 DanMatches, KENDO-KATA and Thesis

2.KENDO-KATA shall be examined as follows:

Dan/Kyu Applied forExamination Subjects
1 KyuTACHI 1 ~ 3 BONNME
1 DanTACHI 1 ~ 5 HONNME
2 DanTACHI 1 ~ 7 HONNME
3 Dan ~ 8 DanTACHI 7 HON & KODACHI 3 BON

Article 5:

Examiner's qualification, required number of examiner and eligibility criteria are as follows:

Dan ExaminedExaminerNumberCriteria
14 Dan & over5Consent of min. 3 Examiners
25 Dan & over5Consent of min. 3 Examiners
35 Dan & over5Consent of min. 3 Examiners
46 Dan & over7Consent of min. 5 Examiners
57 Dan & over7Consent of min. 5 Examiners
67 Dan & over7Consent of min. 5 Examiners
77 Dan & over7Consent of min. 5 Examiners

Examinations for Kyu and 8 Dan & Over

Article 6:

The examinations for Kyu and for 8 Dan and over shall be determined by each Organization.

Method to Appoint Examiners

Article 7:

Examiners shall be appointed by a Committee which shall comprise Organization representative's nominees. Committee for examiners of applicants for 6 Dan and above shall be organized as follows:

1.The Committee shall comprise Organization representative's nominees.

2.There shall be 10 nominees as follows:

Director-on-Board 3
High Rank Instructors 4
The Learned 3

3.The Committee's meeting shall be called by Organization representative at necessity and presided by him.

Fees for Examination and Registration

Article 8:

Fees for examination and registration shall be stipulated by Organization.

Return or Deprivation of Dan/Kyu

Article 9:

Organization representative may, in consultation with an Investigation Committee, order a Dan/Kyu grantee of Organization to return his Dan/Kyu or deprive him of the same, in case wherein the grantee disgraced the Dan/Kyu. The action shall be immediately reported to IKF Headquarters.

Recording

Article 10:

Organization shall inform IKF Headquarters of Dan/Kyu granting for recording.

Iaido and Jodo

Article 11:

Dan/Kyu examination and granting at Iaido and Jodo shall correspond to the preceding Rules.

Appendix:

Article 1:

The Rules shall be put in force as of March 26, 1997.

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