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[Kudoist]

In Dec 2006 I passed my shodan test.
I'm probably not the most qualified person to be giving advice about it. But I know there are a couple of guys on here intending to take the test sometime soon, so I thought I'd share some of my experiences of it.
Perhaps you can find something of value to you.

Generally it consists of about 1 and 1/2 ~ 2 hrs of kihon and combinations, followed by a 10 man kumite.

I advise you to take it easy on the kihon. So long as your technique is sharp, dont go over exerting yourself. Save your strength for the kumite. You're gonna need it!

Because of my age(36) I only had to fight 8 opponents.
For evey win you earn 1 point. A draw earns 0.5 points.
Usually You must get 5 points to pass. I needed to get 4.
Your opponents are all grading too, so they are going to come at you full power. Its not sparring its a fight. Dont expect any mercy.

I won 3, drew 3 and lost 2, giving me a total of 4.5 points.

The first 3 fights are 1.5 mins. Full Kudo rules. Ground fighting is alowed 1 time for up to 30 secs.
The next 2 fights are 1 min with stand up and throws only.
Then you get a 2 min break.
The last 5 opponents are kyokushin rules. But you still have to wear the helmet.

Your first opponent will be one of the other 1st kyu who are testing. The next 4 will be 2nd , 3rd or 4th kyu.
The last 5 are 5th and 6th kyu.

You may think that the 5th and 6th kyu opponents will be easy, but by that stage you're so tired that even your Grandad would be a challenge!
Remember they will be fresh, and they only have to fight for 1min. So they are going to come at you hard, and persistently trying to knock you down.

So if your kyokushin type sparring is a bit rusty I advise you start practising.
At my dojo we dont spar kyokushin rules at all, so I found it really hard.
I tried to use sabaki and move around, but i was so tired that my opponents kept pushing me back.
Get 1 of those body shields and practise having the pad holder push forward while you try to stand your ground and punch and kick constantly.

Obviously stamina is a big issue for this test. You gotta work reeeaaly hard on your stamina.
You dont want to have to do this test again!
Of 7 guys who tested I was the only 1 who passed. The other guys just gassed out and couldnt put up a fight by the last couple of fights.

It will reach the point where even stamina is not enough.
Its a test of whether or not you have the ability to dig down deep and find the grit and determination to keep fighting when your body just doesnt want to respond.
Its a test of heart.
Training hard and pushing yourself beyond your boundaries regularly in the dojo will help build that heart.

I strongly advise you do a mock test at your dojo to get a feel for what it will be like. I did 2 practise tests before the real one.

Regarding the actual fighting the only advise I can give is to make sure you win your first 2 or 3 fights. It gets harder and harder as you go, so a couple of decisive wins at the beginning is really important.
The trick is in acheiving that without over exerting yourself. You have to pace yourself but win.
Hey nobody said it would be easy!

Even if you're exhausted and behind, just dont give up. Keep throwing techniques. So long as you show you can put up a decent fight, you may be able to get a draw. Draws add up in the end.

Well thats about it I guess. I hope this can be of some help to you guys.

[ibuki]

Originally Posted by Kudoist

In Dec 2006 I passed my shodan test.
I'm probably not the most qualified person to be giving advice about it. But I know there are a couple of guys on here intending to take the test sometime soon, so I thought I'd share some of my experiences of it.
Perhaps you can find something of value to you.
...
Well thats about it I guess. I hope this can be of some help to you guys.

OSU Kudoist!
I have sticked the thread as an important since Daido Juku Kudo is one ot the main topics discussed in ths part of the forum and the experience that you share with us is unique. Keep up the information coming.
OSU!

[Kris]

Congrats to your black belt.

I am doing Zendokai (DJ offshoot) and my goal is to get the black belt. Since I do not know how the grading is done here in Japan the story you told is very interesting to me. The lower color belts are not so difficult to acquire here but it seems a lot of people here are "stuck in brown". This is only my impression, but from that I assume the step to black is harder than the steps up to brown. (and of course it should be that way)

[Sonny Crockett]

Thank you for your thread, very very good... last years i have failed my first black belt test
The next I hope to better do...

[bwownwice]

Congratulations!!!
Nice detailed post, thank you.

[Kudoist]

Originally Posted by Kris

Congrats to your black belt.

I am doing Zendokai (DJ offshoot) and my goal is to get the black belt. Since I do not know how the grading is done here in Japan the story you told is very interesting to me. The lower color belts are not so difficult to acquire here but it seems a lot of people here are "stuck in brown". This is only my impression, but from that I assume the step to black is harder than the steps up to brown. (and of course it should be that way)

The only Zen do Kai I'm familiar with is the one started by Bob Jones in Australia. But since you're training here in Japan I cant imagine its the same style that I'm familiar with?

There are alot of guys that are "stuck on brown" as you say. The step to black belt is a big one. The responsibility to honor it after you get it is a daily task too.
From what I've seen, Japanese guys are in no hurry to get their black belt, and will put it off until they're absolutely confident in their skills.
A couple of my sempai have been brown belts for years.
1 of them is an ex Hokutoki champ, but he still wont go for his shodan!

I told him to hurry up and get his, so I wouldnt feel bad about getting mine before him!

[Martin H]

Originally Posted by Kudoist

The only Zen do Kai I'm familiar with is the one started by Bob Jones in Australia. But since you're training here in Japan I cant imagine its the same style that I'm familiar with?

Not remotely. The australian zendokai has nothing to do with the japanese zendokai. The australian zendokai is a offshot from shotokan if I remember right.
The japanese zendokai is a offshoot from Daido juku (splintering out 1999), and was founded by Takashi Ozawa. No idea why he splintered off. Probably just politics (as usual). It uses its own spin on the kudo rules (with another name naturally), but its basically the same.
Official japanese site:
http://www4.ocn.ne.jp/~zendokai/


I think it only exist in japan and bangkok so far.

[dethhead]

Originally Posted by Kudoist

I tried to use sabaki and

whats sabaki?

[boldbhoy]

Congratulations on getting your black belt. And a very interesting description of how you got it! OSU!

[Martin H]

Originally Posted by dethhead

whats sabaki?

Basically evasive footwork to move around the opponent, preferably into his weak angles. (well, there is more to it, but that is the easy explanation).
In some styles it is close to religion (ashihara and enshin), but you will find it taught in all knockdown styles to some extent.

[DKKC]

Well done!!! Congratulations Kudo!!

just one question about yuor post:

For evey win you earn 1 point. A draw earns 0.5 points.
Usually You must get 5 points to pass. I needed to get 4.
Your opponents are all grading too, so they are going to come at you full power. Its not sparring its a fight. Dont expect any mercy.

Do i read this correctly? Does this mean that there will always be people who fail their grading at this stage? Or do you get opponents from people who don't grade as well?

[Kudoist]

These points apply only to those going for shodan. Your first opponent is another brown belt taking the shodan test. But after that your opponents will go down in rank for each stage.
i.e. first opponent 1st kyu
next 4 opponents 2nd kyu~4th kyu
next 5 opponents 5th and 6th kyu.
So the level of your opponent gets easier as you go along. However each one of them is fresh and only has to fight once. So they come at you with everything they've got.
Its very exasperating to take a beating from a yellow belt that you would usually dominate. But you're just so tired that its very hard just to stay on your feet.

So theoretically every shodan testee has the possibility of passing. However not many do, on their first attempt.

The lower kyu ranks dont have to fight multiple opponents. They only have to fight the shodan testee, and will be graded on how they perform. I dont know if they have to win to pass. I dont think so.
This isn't a typical grading for them either. At normal gradings the lower kyu ranks would have to fight each other and their sempai.

[DKKC]

Thanks for clearing this up - that makes more sense.

[martelo]

Osu,
Dear friend, congratulations,
Now you have a tot more of responsibilities, shodan is a new start in everybody life…keeps on the path.
OSU!!

[brian]

I know this is a little off subject, but are there kata in Kudo?

[Kris]

Do you also have to win regular tournaments as part of the black belt grading? In ZDK we have to win a tournament to get the black belt.. muskashi.. nee.. (difficult)

[vapor]

muzukashi to omou yo...(I do think that's difficult!)

vapor

[Kudoist]

Originally Posted by Kris

Do you also have to win regular tournaments as part of the black belt grading? In ZDK we have to win a tournament to get the black belt.. muskashi.. nee.. (difficult)

No we dont even have to compete at all if we dont want to. Not everyone practices budo for competition.
But our performance at tournaments will certainly have an influence on judging at gradings.
We do have to complete the 10 man kumite though.
Sore mo muzukashii Guys who dont compete would have a very difficult time passing this test, as it is a competition of an extreme nature.
Or some guys take the option of fighting for their belt at a local or national competition. In such a case I dont think you have to win the tournie, but you have to do pretty well.

[Kiryu]

Kudo Daido Juku is the toughest style I've practiced. You must be strong physically and mentally and these test are percfect to achieve this goal. These test prepares us for the worst in order the make the best happen...
That's the way I understand that!
Kudo are very tough! Ever tougher than competitions in other martial arts!!

[robc]

Adding to Brian's question: if kata is practiced is it standard Kyokushin kata or is it something else, such as modern kata used in Ashihara or Enshin karate?