Aikido Journal

Joined: 12 Apr 2000 Posts: 628 Location: San Jose, CA USA

3 or 4 is the most scary number, after that unless you are in the middle of the desert, they start getting in each others' way.

Shodan is not the grail, only another marker. After 11 years, I'm infinitely closer to your level than I am to even my teacher's.

Enjoy the training, that's the only point.

Joined: 24 Mar 2000 Posts: 1105 Location: wild deadly north

Hi Mariana,

in my dojo , for shodan level they do deadly randori with 55 uke!

....just kidding......

Seriously now,in your dojo,how many uke it takes for :
nidan
sandan
yodan
godan

please?

------------------
Szczepan Janczuk

Posted: Thu May 25, 2000 7:11 am

Hi, Mariana
Things really chage from an organization to another, even in the same style. In our organization, as in Aikikai Honbu Dojo, there is no randori for shodan, although you are expected to start doing it afterclass with an increasing number of partners by this time. It is just not part of the shodan test. But this things really change, some do all the techniques from 6th kyu to shodan, some do only 10, some do jo and ken no suburi, some do not, some require that you take randori from Shihan, some do not. I do not know the reason why we all do not follow the aikikai patern (i am talking to the aikikai practioners, obviously) but i believe it happens because they, the Honbu Dojo, prefer to leave it this way than to impose a way of doing things to their members. Gambate!

Toni Rodrigues

[This message has been edited by Arashi (edited 05-25-2000).]

Posted: Fri May 26, 2000 2:30 am

I don't think there are any fixed rules here, it varies from dojo to dojo.

In ours we do ninin dori/ futari dori for all gradings from 5th kyu. At 5th kyu level the attack is predetermined and the ukes follow in sequence waiting for the previous attack to be completed. This is gradually increased through the gradings in line with your individual ability.

After eight years of regular practice I graded for 3rd kyu two months back, my ninin dori was any attack as fast as the uke's could get back up.

As far as increasing the number of uke's, the more there are, the easier/ harder it is for you. What? You have to be more aware of where they are and what they are doing, but they will get in each others way when they are attacking or you are throwing.

Don't worry about it too much right now, your Sensei will help you develop your ability as you practice more.

Love, Light, joy & laughter

Bryan

Oops! I've been 3rd kyu for so long, I forgot that I went to 2nd kyu at my recent grading.

[This message has been edited by batemanb (edited 05-27-2000).]

Posted: Fri May 26, 2000 4:15 am

I just passed my Shodan exam last week which took me well over two and a half hours to complete. Keep in mind though that training in Shirata Sensei