5th Kyu Testing
Before proceeding, please read the article on 6th Kyu Testing to make sure you are familiar with general testing expectations, procedures, and philosophy.
At our club the goal of a 6th kyu test is to make sure that students are familiar with the structure and outline of aikido. They should know a few basic techniques and how they relate to basic footwork. They should have a basic sense of etiquette and how to participate in class - important skills for if they go to another dojo. They should be able to maintain posture and hopefully show a glimmer of how to apply aikido principles.
The goal for 5th kyu is not just to expand on technique, but to start to show an understanding of aikido. Students start to show their strengths in aikido, sometimes favoring end of a continuum of qualities that sometimes seem to be in tension with one another. Some will favor structure while others will favor relaxation. Some will favor precision while others will favor fluidity. Some will favor technique while others will favor sensitivity. Each test should bring cleaner movement. Every test should bring a clearer sense of where a student's distinct potential is taking them.
A 5th kyu test is not a time to go fast - never sacrifice smoothness for speed. It is also not a time to try and prove your aikido works. I have seen many 5th kyu tests where students underperformed because they were trying to hard. Show what you know, as well as you can, confidently. The best 5th kyu tests I have seen have had at least some moments of being slow and by the numbers.
Students should still be able to demonstrate all techniques on the 6th kyu test and an appropriate level of ukemi when being thrown by peers. The higher testing ranks go, the more likely you are to have something unexpected asked of you on a test, either to make you sweat at little extra, or to give you to show off a particular skill you have been cultivating.
Testing is usually performed annually in the spring. Students who have been coming weekly or more since they achieved 6th kyu will be eligible for 5th kyu, if they are prepared appropriately. Students who cannot come as frequently may end up sitting out a testing cycle to ensure that their rank carries an appropriate amount of weight when they achieve it. Remember that testing and ASU dues are each $25 ($50 total if paid together, past annual dues must be paid before testing as well).
Technical requirements:
All previous techniques plus
- Shomen uchi nikyo
- Kata dori ikkyo and nikyo
- Mune tsuki kaiten nage
- Ryote dori tenchi nage (optional)