Poll: Was your chief instructor present for your last aikido exam?

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[AikiWeb System]

AikiWeb Poll for the week of January 23, 2005:

Was your chief instructor present for your last aikido exam?

I don't do aikido
We don't have exams
Yes, for a dan rank
Yes, for a kyu rank
No, for a dan rank
No, for a kyu rank


Here are the current results (http://www.aikiweb.com/polls/results.html?poll_id=257).

[Kevin Kelly]

Our chief instructor is present for all testing as far as I know. I know some chief instructors are pretty busy with other things, but I always thought it strange that a chief instructor is not around very much in some dojo's. Our chief instructor seems to really love to teach so he is around for most of the classes. We have a pretty active class schedule though, so he does take the occasional break and one of the senior dans will teach some of the other classes.

[Rupert Atkinson]

What a strange question - like - how can the chief instructor not be present? What do you do -grade yourself?

[akiy]

Hi Rupert,

Some situations have people testing for rank (especially dan rankings) to go to a special week-long camp or some such wherein the head(s) of your organization (and, perhaps, others) preside over your test. Also, for instance, some lower kyu tests may be run, say, by the senior student at the dojo (rather than the chief instructor). In some situations, the chief instructor of the dojo may not be there for the test...

-- Jun

[SeiserL]

Yes. Phong Sensei of Tenshinkai Aikido, is there for all the classes (usually teaching them), the testing, and the promotions.

[Janet Rosen]

What a strange question - like - how can the chief instructor not be present? What do you do -grade yourself?
We have several high ranking instructors, so kyu rankings are done, AFAIK by 3 different folks.

[Jerry Miller]

In truth I was thinking about the chief instructor of the organization and not of our Dojo when I first responded.

[Taliesin]

For our Dojo. The Senior instructor has to be present and grade for 1st Kyu + gradings, which for us includes 2 gradings before you take Shodan and 4 more before you can take Nidan. Sensei not only does the gradings he gives you individual feedback on the (numerous) things you need to work on.

For the Junior grade gradings their is a great failsafe in that the grading instructor has to be able to explain to Sensei why he graded X

[Jonathan]

I have never been tested for a rank by anyone other than the CAF shihan, Kawahara sensei. Inasmuch as I have not had a sensei since 3rd kyu (I'm sandan now), I could not have had him present for my testing. :D