Dan Testing at CAF 2020 Summer Camp (Halifax)

CAF TESTING FOR DAN GRADES

https://canadianaikidofederation.ca/black-belt-tests-en/

Testing for yudansha grades, shodan through yondan, will take place the afternoon of Thursday 2 July 2020. All test candidates must be registered participants in the CAF, with their dues paid up. Read carefully the following procedure:

Yudansha test application instructors must supply the following information on each and every test candidate in the body of a plain-text e-mail:

  • Candidate’s name
  • Candidate’s age
  • Testing rank
  • Date of last test (for shodan candidates) or of Hombu registration of current dan grade (for nidan, sandan, and yondan candidates)
  • Days of practice since last test (for shodan candidates) or since current dan grade was registered at Hombu (for nidan, sandan, and yondan candidates)
  • Dojo name
  • Sensei name
  • Optional information

Generally, all candidates for dan tests must provide documentation demonstrating that they have attended at least two CAF seminars/camps since their last promotion. For test candidates of 1st dan and higher, this typically would be a Yudansha booklet containing seminar records. A scan of the relevant pages can be sent along with the plain text e-mail above.

Please note:

  • The candidate’s name should be as it appears on the dojo list from the CAF.
  • Days of practice refers to the number of days (not hours) that the candidate has practised; adjust these to include the expected additional days of practice the candidate will have by the test date.
  • Optional/complementary information may be supplied, such as regarding physical limitations.
  • The candidate’s sensei should submit the completed dan test form. Otherwise, the candidate may submit it with his/her sensei’s permission.

Deadline for Application

The dan test application must be received by the Chairperson of the Examination Committee, George Hewson, by 31 May 2020 (at least one month before the test date).

Other necessary forms

All candidates must fill in the following two forms and then print, sign and submit these to the Halifax 2020 summer camp organizers along with the test fee at the start of the camp.

  • CAF Application for Promotion
  • Hombu Application Form for Dan Grading Examinations

Two additional forms are required for shodan candidates:

  • Hombu Application Form for Enrollment in Aikikai
  • Hombu Application Form for Aikikai International Yudansha Book

All forms are fillable PDFs. Acrobat Reader seems to work best for these fillable PDF files.

  • The Halifax 2020 summer camp organizers will only accept forms from candidates cleared by the Examination Committee.
  • All forms must be typewritten with no handwriting except for signatures.
  • Where an instructor’s signature is required, your current instructor must sign, except for dojo chief instructors, who must get a signature from a member of the Examination Committee.

The forms are available on the CAF website (Hombu forms are available under Members > Hombu Forms, and the CAF application for promotion form is available under About > Test Materials).

Payment

Candidates must pay a non-refundable examination fee of $30. Payment of the examination fee must be submitted in advance of testing along with the necessary forms.

After the announcement of a successful test, the promotion fee must be paid to Doug Mathieu, the CAF secretary, or George Hewson, chair of the exam committee, before you leave the camp. The promotion fee varies with dan level, see the CAF website for details under About > Fees.

Both the examination and promotion fees are payable by cheque made out to the Canadian Aikido Federation. (No cash or credit card will be accepted.) Please anticipate that your payment might be required at the camp following the announcement of a successful test.

Withdrawal

Candidates expecting to test can withdraw at any time before the day of the test. However, they should inform as soon as possible:

PROMOTION BY RECOMMENDATION

Nominations for promotion by recommendation must be emailed to the CAF Secretary (Douglas Mathieu: ) and the Chairperson of the Examination Committee (George Hewson: ). The application should include:

  1. a scanned image (.pdf) of the candidate’s yudansha book, showing
    1. the Aikikai registration number
    2. the list of previous dan promotions (where applicable)
    3. the list of all seminars/camps attended
    4. a photograph of the candidate
  2. an electronic format letter of reference from the nominee’s Chief Instructor
  3. a scanned and completed copy of the CAF Promotional Recommendation Form (found on the CAF website > Members > Policies)

Please note:

If the candidate is a chief instructor him/herself, the letter of recommendation can be written by a member of the examination committee or a Shidoin.

Because of a special activity at Hombu Dojo in 2020, all requests for promotion by recommendation must be received by the CAF secretary and the exam committee chair by 31 May 2020. This is a change from previous years when the submission date was 31 October. Any form arriving later than 31 May 2020 or not correctly completed may not be considered.

All documentation must be received by Douglas Mathieu and George Hewson in electronic format: .doc, .pdf, etc. Hard copy documents will only be accepted if approved in advance. Handwritten documents will not be accepted.