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Re: Poll: How often do you get to choose your uke(s) for your rank testing at your aikido dojo?
A couple of people have mentioned things which touch on another point. In our style we test basic ukemi in the first grading. But I think it's important that at 3rd kyu ukemi should be a large part of the test. And not just in a "take ukemi for the other 3rd kyu applicant" kind of way. They should have senior grades pounding them into the mat with hard, difficult throws. In many styles 3rd is the point where you go from white to brown belt. I think when you see a brown belt you should have the confidence that they can handle whatever you dish out (within reason), and such a component of the grading would give you that confidence (no doubt some styles all ready do this).
Then when you get some random guy thrown at you for your shodan grading you don't have to worry about whether their ukemi is up to it, you can just have fun :-)
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