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Please note that as of 2011 the regulations are being revised and should be finalized at the 2012 KIF Board Meeting.

STANDARD GUIDELINES FOR DAN/KYU EXAMINATION

INTERNATIONAL KENDO FEDERATION

Rev. December 7, 2006

(Purpose)

Article 1: The purpose of this Standard Guideline for Dan/Kyu Examination is to define the basic standards of examination, which shall be common to every affiliated organization (herein after called Organization) of International Kendo Federation (hereafter referred to as FIK. When an Organization conducts a Dan/Kyu examination this standard guideline applies.

(General Provision)

Article 2: The Dan/Kyu stipulated in this Standard Guideline shall be from 1 Kyu (Ikkyu) through 10 Dan (Jyu Dan) shall be granted by the President of Organization according to the overall Kendo ability of an applicant and shall be mutually recognized as being equivalent among Organizations.

(Applicant’s Qualification)

Article 3: (1) An applicant shall be a registered member of Organization and shall have the following period of practice.

Dan/Kyu

Practice Periods

Lowest ages

1 Kyu (Ik kyu)

--

--

1 (Sho Dan)

1 Kyu holder

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

9 (Kyu Dan)

After granting of 8 Dan

65 years and over

10 (Jyu Dan)

After granting of 9 Dan

 

(2) Those who desire to apply for a 6, 7 or 8 Dan examination 60 years old or older and have practiced for a certain years as below shall be allowed to apply.

Dan/Kyu

Practice Periods

6 Dan

Two years or more after 5 Dan

7 Dan

Three years or more after 6 Dan

8 Dan

Five years or more after 7 Dan

(Examination Methods)

Article 4: An examination shall be conducted by Organization; however in case wherein the Organization lacks qualified examiners to meet the required number given below, other Organization(s) may provide qualified examiners with the approval of the President of the Organization(s).

(Examination Subject)

Article 5: (1) Examination subject are as follows:

Dan/Kyu Applied For

Examination Subject

1 Kyu

Matches (Jitsugi)

1 Dan ~ 5 Dan

Matches (Jitsugi), Nippon-Kendo-Kata and Written Test

6 Dan, 7 Dan

Matches (Jitsugi), Nippon-Kendo-Kata

 (2) Nippon-Kendo-Kata shall be examined as follows:

Dan/Kyu Applied For

Examination Subject

1 Kyu

 

1 Dan

Tachi-no-Kata 3 or more forms

2 Dan

Tachi-no-Kata 5 or more forms

3 Dan

Tachi-no-Kata 7 forms

4 Dan ~ 7 Dan

Tachi-no-Kata 7 forms and Kodachi-no-kata 3 forms

(3) When success of jitsugi, Nippon-Kendo-Kata and written test are separately announced after each occasion, if an applicant fails in Nippon-Kendo-Kata or in written test after the success in Jitsugi he/she may be allowed to take that subject only again at an examination held afterwards. This special treatment shall apply only once for one occasion per applicant.

(Examiner’s Qualification, Required Number of Examiner and Eligibility Criteria)

Article 6: Examiner’s qualification, required number of examiners and eligibility criteria are as follows:

Dan Examined

Examiner

Number

Criteria

1 Dan

4 Dan & over

5

Consent of min. 3 Examiners

2 Dan

5 Dan & over

5

Consent of min. 3 Examiners

3 Dan

5 Dan & over

5

Consent of min. 3 Examiners

4 Dan

6 Dan & over

6

Consent of min. 4 Examiners

5 Dan

7 Dan & over

6

Consent of min. 4 Examiners

6 Dan

7 Dan & over

6

Consent of min. 4 Examiners

7 Dan

7 Dan & over

6

Consent of min. 4 Examiners

Special Treatment
  Concerning the 4-Dan or higher Dan Examination; if the required number of qualified and suitable examiners cannot be appointed by the method stipulated in the Article 6 the number of the examiners may be reduced to 5. In this case the consent of minimum 4 examiners shall suffice for the decision of passing.

(Examination for Kyu and 8 Dan & Over)

Article 7: The examination for Kyu and 8 Dan and over shall be determined by each organization. Regarding the 8 Dan and higher Dan examination, each Organization shall determine a rigorous way of examination including Jitsugi evaluation.

(Method to Appoint Examiners)

Article 8: Examiners shall be appointed by the President of Organization after a discussion with the officials and fully-competent Dan holders. Fully-competent Dan holders here means persons with equal or higher grades stipulated in the Article 6 Examiners Qualification.

(Fees for Examination and Registration)

Article 9: Fees for examination and registration shall be stipulated by Organization.

(Return or Deprivation of Dan/Kyu)

Article 10: The President of Organization may in consultation with the concil or the investigation committee of the Organization order a Dan/Kyu grantee of Organization to return his/her Dan/Kyu or deprive him/her of the same, in case where the grantee disgraced the Dan/Kyu.

(Issuing Certificate and Recording)

Article 11: Organization shall issue a certificate with the signature of the President of Organization to each successful applicant. Organization shall keep the Dan/Kyu records properly.

(Criteria for Awarding Dan Grades; 'Fuyo Kijun'))

Article 12: The acceptability criterion of each Dan 'Fuyo Kijun' shall be stated separately as 'Guidelines for Assessing Pass-Fail in Promotion Examinatiom'.

(Iaido and Jodo)

Article 13: The Dan/Kyu examination for Iaido and Jodo shall be conducted conforming to this standard guideline.

(Dan/Kyu Examinations in a non-affiliated Country)

Article 14: In case a Dan/Kyu examination held in a non-affiliated Country, the 'Memorandum of Dan/Kyu Examination in a IKF Non-affiliated Country' as of May 23, 2005 shall apply.

Appendix:

Article 1: This standard shall be established and put in force as of April 11, 1975
Article 2: This standard shall be revised and put in force as of May 11, 1987
Article 3: This standard shall be revised and put in force as of March 26, 1997
Article 4: This standard shall be revised and put in force as of July 3, 2003
Article ?:(article no. not on original) This standard shall be revised and put in force as of December 7, 2006