Ranking Requirements

Ranking Requirements

Here are the requirements and suggested skill levels for rokkyu through shodan in kendo in the PNKF

Rokkyu 6 months practice 9 years old no kata
  1. Display proper reigi - (Dogu not required) cleaning of dojo, proper bows and addressing of instructors and senior students
  2. Knowledge of basic commands - kamae, sonkyo, seiza, rei, mokuso, hajime, yame
  3. Perform suburi
  4. Perform basic strikes - kote, men, do
  5. Able to do kirikaeshi (not graded on receiving)
  6. Put on and fold up their dogi
  7. Put on dogu without assistance
  8. Perform minimal footwork
  9. Understand maai. (i.e. issoku itto maai)
  10. Perform kirikaeshi, kote, men, and do
  11. Able to do kakarigeiko and jigeiko
  12. Able to begin and end a keiko or shiai properly

Gokyu 6 months at rokkyu 10 years old no kata
  1. Show improved basic skills of all lower rank requirements
  2. Perform nidan waza (kote-men)

Yonkyu 6 months at gokyu 11 years old no kata
  1. Show improved basic skills of all lower rank requirements
  2. Maintain and name the parts of the shinai

Sankyu 6 months at yonkyu or
1 year total practice (if first test) 12 years old no kata
  1. Show improved skills of all lower rank requirements
  2. Perform taiatari
  3. Perform harai waza

Nikyu 6 months at sankyu 13 years old no kata
   1. Show improved skills of all lower rank requirements
  2. Demonstrate solid footwork and proper kamae
  3. Perform taiatari and hikiwaza
  4. Demonstrate the ability to act as a motodachi

Ikkyu 6 months at nikyu 14 years old kata one through three
  1. Show improved skills of all lower rank requirements
  2. Demonstrate proper chudan kamae
  3. Perform proper posture and body movement
  4. Able to demonstrate proper distance (maai)
  5. Perform debana wazas
  6. Able to perform basic hits
  7. Show ability to properly grip the shinai
  8. Demonstrate a sense of timing for attack
  9. Perform nuki waza
  10. Able to do kirikaeshi properly
  11. Demonstrate good kiai

Shodan 6 months at ikkyu 15 years old kata one through five
  1. Show improved skills of all lower rank requirements
  2. Perform attacking techniques
  3. Show ability to receive techniques
  4. Show timing/opportunity for attack
  5. Perform combination multiple hit attacks (nidan and sandan waza)

Rokkyu	6 months practice	9 years old	no kata
1. Display proper reigi - (Dogu not required) cleaning of dojo, proper bows and addressing of instructors and senior students 2. Knowledge of basic commands - kamae, sonkyo, seiza, rei, mokuso, hajime, yame 3. Perform suburi 4. Perform basic strikes - kote, men, do 5. Able to do kirikaeshi (not graded on receiving) 6. Put on and fold up their dogi 7. Put on dogu without assistance 8. Perform minimal footwork 9. Understand maai. (i.e. issoku itto maai) 10. Perform kirikaeshi, kote, men, and do 11. Able to do kakarigeiko and jigeiko 12. Able to begin and end a keiko or shiai properly
Gokyu	6 months at rokkyu	10 years old	no kata
1. Show improved basic skills of all lower rank requirements 2. Perform nidan waza (kote-men)
Yonkyu	6 months at gokyu	11 years old	no kata
1. Show improved basic skills of all lower rank requirements 2. Maintain and name the parts of the shinai
Sankyu	6 months at yonkyu or 1 year total practice (if first test)	12 years old	no kata
1. Show improved skills of all lower rank requirements 2. Perform taiatari 3. Perform harai waza
Nikyu	6 months at sankyu	13 years old	no kata
1. Show improved skills of all lower rank requirements 2. Demonstrate solid footwork and proper kamae 3. Perform taiatari and hikiwaza 4. Demonstrate the ability to act as a motodachi
Ikkyu	6 months at nikyu	14 years old	kata one through three
1. Show improved skills of all lower rank requirements 2. Demonstrate proper chudan kamae 3. Perform proper posture and body movement 4. Able to demonstrate proper distance (maai) 5. Perform debana wazas 6. Able to perform basic hits 7. Show ability to properly grip the shinai 8. Demonstrate a sense of timing for attack 9. Perform nuki waza 10. Able to do kirikaeshi properly 11. Demonstrate good kiai
Shodan	6 months at ikkyu	15 years old	kata one through five
1. Show improved skills of all lower rank requirements 2. Perform attacking techniques 3. Show ability to receive techniques 4. Show timing/opportunity for attack 5. Perform combination multiple hit attacks (nidan and sandan waza)