Taking an Examination

Knowing in advance how an examination proceeds can ease your nerves. Examinations at the Hombu Dojo generally proceed in the following order.

1. Application: Fill in the required details on the set form and submit it in advance with the examination fee. At this point, be sure to check your joining date, the date you received your previous rank, and your training days to confirm that you are eligible.
2. Assembly: On the day of the examination, come to the dojo early and confirm your attendance. As instructed, line up by the kyu you are taking and wait sitting in seiza (正座). If you cannot avoid being late, be sure to let them know in advance.
3. Start of the examination: Examinations go in order from the lowest rank. The head examiner and examiners sit facing the front, and candidates for the same rank perform techniques together in the middle of the dojo. The other candidates wait in a row, sitting in seiza.
4. Format: Following the examiners’ instructions, candidates perform the designated technique continuously, on the left and right and in omote and ura, from the command “Begin” until the command “Stop.” You must not stop a technique at your own discretion. Candidates take only the role of tori (取り); uke (受け) is chosen from among candidates of similar ability.
5. Results: When all the examinations are over, the head examiner gives a review, pointing out what the candidates need to correct and what they should build on. The day’s examination ends with bows to the front and to one another.