Testings
Shinsa (審査), or testings, are the means by which a karateka moves up in rank over time as they demonstrate further proficiency in karate. Kyokushin shinsa in particular are particularly grueling affairs. In general, a testing will consist of the following elements:
Junbi undo (準備運動), or warm-ups
Sono-ba Kihon (その場基本), or in-place kihon, or fundamentals. Kyokushin has a fairly standardized set of sono-ba kihon, which essentially consists of fist techniques, shita-dzuki and elbow techniques, shuto, or knifehand techniques, uke-waza, or blocking/response techniques, and keri-waza, or kicking techniques
Ido-geiko (移動稽古), which literally means “movement practice,” is the practice of single techniques or combinations of techniques in traditional stances
Kata (型の演武), The performance of kata. The karateka who is testing is responsible for all kata that they have learned, up to and including the recently required kata for their rank.
Tameshi-wari (試し割り), or breaking. While not required in the beginning and sometimes held separately from the date of the shinsa itself, later on tameshi-wari becomes a regular part of shinsa, and traditionally consists of four different techniques: Hiji-oroshi, shuto-oroshi, seiken-tsuki, and sokuto.
Goshin-jutsu (護身術), or self-defense. The student is paired up with an attacker who may or may not be armed with a weapon, and the student is required to adequately demonstrate their proficiency in removing the threat and preventing further harm. This stage is not necessarily required for beginners, but will gradually become mandatory at later lengths.
Kumite (組手), or sparring. This stage is always deliberately last. It is the final, real test of what the student has learned so far in a more free-form format. The student is required to succesfully compete in a number of rounds of kumite commensurate with the rank that they are testing, beginning with 1-2 for 10th kyu, and ending with 15-20 for the first rank of black belt. Each round is 1-2 minutes in length and follows the ruleset of most Kyokushin tournaments.
In addition to these normal stages common to the vast majority of shinsa, students will be asked to engage in a fair amount of physical fitness requirements interspersed through the event. And, of course, there is a character and fitness requirement that is to be evaluated by the dojo operator on a pass or fail merit.
It is bad form to ask when your next shinsa is. Your sensei’s job is to be mindful of your progress and when you are ready. You will be informed with adequate time to prepare. But asking when your next shinsa will be held is a guaranteed way to be sure your shinsa is delayed. If you need to know what you will be tested on, make sure that you check the rank syllabus.
Another thing to note is that at Aranami Dojo, ranks are not given on the day of the shinsa. Instead, the ranks are awarded at a nondeterminate date a number of weeks following the shinsa.
At Aranami Dojo, the following grades are given for each shinsa:
Goukaku (合格), or pass - The student is judged to have satisfactorily met the requirements for the next rank, and will be awarded their next rank with others who also received the rating of goukaku.
Horyuu (保留), or hold - While the student has fallen short of the requirements for meeting the requirements for the next rank, the sensei has determined which areas of the curriculum they are currently lacking in, and will give them a time frame in which to shore up those deficiencies, after which, if satisfactorily met, they will be awarded the next rank, usually after the students who have passed have received theirs.
Fugoukaku (不合格), or fail - The student has not met the requirements for their next rank. They will be informed on which parts they need to improve. Should they be judged ready to try again at the next shinsa, they will be given an opportunity to do so.
