KAU Dan Promotion Examination Video (Shodan Examination – Full Version)

The KAU dan promotion examination was held over two days, on December 6 and 7.

The video below documents the entire examination process of an Ansan Dojo member who applied for the KAU Shodan (1st Dan) examination.

Video Chapters

• 00:00 Intro

• 00:47 Examination Criteria & Important Notes

• 01:18 Dan Promotion Examination

• 20:11 Final Evaluation & Comments

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The dan promotion examination was conducted in accordance with KAU regulations, and was evaluated simultaneously by three examiners, including Dojo Head Instructor Sung Juhwan, the presiding examiner.

For reference, KAU dan examinations use a deduction-based evaluation system.

On each examiner’s score sheet, every required kata is marked as O / △ / X, representing three levels of evaluation.

If an applicant receives six or more “X” marks, they fail the examination.An “X” is given under the following conditions:

1. Failure to perform the required kata

2. Placing oneself or the uke in a dangerous situation

   
   

The dan examination follows a last-man-standing format.

The basic kata required for the examination are the same for all candidates. However, as the rank increases, additional elements—such as multiple attackers, tanto-dori, jo-dori, and ken-dori—are included.

This reflects the principle that, even when performing the same kata, higher-rank candidates must demonstrate a higher level of completion, along with greater experience and technical capacity.

Accordingly, the O / △ / X standards become increasingly strict at higher dan levels.

Higher-rank candidates are expected to present results that are convincing not only to the examiners, but also to the members observing the examination.

All score sheets are 公开ed to all KAU members immediately after the examination.

This transparency helps minimize subjective bias, allows differences in evaluators’ perspectives to be recognized, and enables candidates to clearly identify areas where improvement is needed.

All applicants who participated in this KAU dan promotion examination successfully passed.

We hope that this examination has helped clarify each individual’s growth and future direction in their Aikido journey.