Wat does Your Dojo do for tests?

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[Karl]

Just a wondering, but what does your dojo do for test, I mean how important is it, and how do you prepare and such?
For us at where I go, we had Keiko (testing practice) several weeks (we have two classes a week) before the test, then at the test we basically put up a larger (much larger) kamidana, which only goes up for the test, and then we warm-up and do some real quick refreshers for the test and start, then the Dans go to one end and the people testing, well test.
It is usually a big deal, with lotsa people (or not) watching, of course more than usual (which is all most always no one).
And then we go out to a restraunt after wards, cause we're a small (cerently and mabye forever) group, and can all go out to dinner afterwards, (heheheh).

[Sid]

In my dojo, we just carry on practicing, and our sensei grades us as we go along. IMHO, it's silly to brush up on technique for a grading, and then to relax afterwards. Rather be on your toes the whole time :)

Sid

[ian]

I would say testing is not about how good your technique is, but how good your technique is when you are under pressure. People during testing rarely do their best aikido - and to me that's the point of it. It's the closest you can get to the stress of a real fight, but in the dojo (unless you have a particularly violent club).

Ian

[Karl]

It is closest to that when you are testing for Shodan, I would guess, since then you'd have to do all kinds of high pressure stuff.
But yes I think it is the highest test when you are practiceing under pressure.