A group of Honbu Dojo regulars rent out the #1 Dojo at the Shinjuku-Ku Cosmic center on irregular Saturdays. Usually the training focuses on items required on tests that are rarely or never covered in classes at Honbu itself. The classic example is multiple attacker randori. It is required above black belt but it is simply not taught! So, Cosmic Center is where these extras can be tacked on.
The mat opens at 9:00 though no-one shows up until around 9:30. This gives plenty of time to take both morning classes on the Honbu 3rd floor and then haul ass (10 minutes by bicycle) to the Cosmic Center for additional training. The group has the mat until noon so there is plenty of time to abuse oneself on those Saturdays when it is reserved. Since it is not reserved every Saturday, the problem of “when” is a toughie. Almost all pre-test weekends will be reserved and almost all post-test weekends will not. So, if you are interested in going but are not sure if it is open, ask around, the news is spread mostly by word-of-mouth.
The cost is 1,000 yen but if you are preparing for a test, the additional practice and attention to test related details that sempai (5th dan senpai) provide are extremely helpful. Also, they have a wealth of experience actually taking tests at Honbu so if you are concerned about etiquette or practices that might differ from your home dojo, these are the people to ask.
To everyone testing: Good luck, stay relaxed and try to keep your feet from going numb while waiting for your turn!
Happy rolling!
e.
Filed under: Aikido, Japan | Tags: 3rd dan, Honbu, jodori, tachidori, taninzu gake, Testing, 参段, 合気道, 審査, 本部道場
If I train for 139 more days and complete an essay, I will be allowed to test in December of 2009. Different to some schools, the testing staff at Honbu do not flex or fudge numbers in order to test a student who they believe “ready”. They check that all minimums have been met and then schedule tests for everyone who meets the minimum requirements. Given the number of students who train here, the judges often don’t have a sense of the students’ ability before seeing their technique. As a result, they tend to be strict and it is common to see people fail for technical reasons.
The Aikikai Honbu requirements for 3rd dan are
“Minimum 2 years since 2nd dan, with 300 days of practice
Same as above plus Tachidori , Jodori and Taninzugake
Same as above (Topics will be assigned)”.
“Same as above”, means all previous test requirements and an essay. The additional requirements beyond 2nd dan are sword and staff disarming and multiple attackers (unspecified number).
Since I tend to be a bit on the wordy side, the essay requirement doesn’t bother me. The others will be challenging. You see, despite the world-class teaching staff and the resulting high quality students they attract, Honbu has neither sword nor staff training in their official curricula. Multiple attacker practice is also rare. So, what to do?
Do it anyway! After class, before class, outside of class, these are the times and places to add the extra tools to the old Aikido bandoleer. After morning class, Mr. Kamitani has been grabbing me to practice sword disarming techniques. His 3rd dan test is in about 6 months and he is very worked up about swords. When Mr. Kamitani is absent or has found another victim (anyone who went to Iwama with the Russians seems to be fair game), I try to join Murai Senseu for jodori. If neither of them is available, Patrice still seems to enjoy very rough tanto tori practice.
For multiple attackers, I haven’t come up with a plan yet but I think getting a list of willing folks together shouldn’t be too hard. After that we just need to commandeer a corner of the mat and go for it. Only 139 training days till Christmas, Woohoo!
Little House In Ise 