2010 Iaido Shinsa questions.

[Jonathan Anderson]

For those of you that are interested, these are the current (as of 2010, anyway) Iaido shinsa essay questions:

Questions for AUSKF Iaido Shinsa
Please answer two of the three questions for your desired rank.

First Kyu candidates:
1: List the names of all 12 All Japan Kendo Federation Iaido kata.
2: What is reiho?
3: What do you hope to gain through the study of Iaido?

Shodan candidates:
1: Explain what is meant by the term saya biki. Describe its use in one All Japan Kendo
Federation Iaido kata.
2: Draw a simple diagram of a katana, label as many parts as you can.
3: Describe proper finger control of the tsuba and explain its importance.

Nidan candidates:
1: Discuss the concept of zanshin. Describe its use in at least one All Japan Kendo
Federation Iaido kata.
2: Define hasuji and explain its importance in Iaido.
3: What is meant by the term Iai goshi? Describe its use in one or more All Japan Kendo
Federation Iaido kata.

Sandan candidates:
1: What is kirioroshi? Describe its use in one All Japan Kendo Federation Iaido kata.
2: Describe how to clean a sword (shinken or iaito).
3: How should the left hand function while drawing the sword?

Yondan candidates:
1: Write what you know about kokyu (breath control) in Iaido.
2: What is meant by jo-ha-kyu? Describe its use in at least one All Japan Kendo
Federation Iaido kata.
3: Describe the hara, and explain its use in Iaido.

Godan candidates:
1: Discuss reiho; what does the word mean, why is it important in the dojo?
2: Discuss metsuke.
3: Explain ki-ken-tai-ichi, and give two examples of its application in All Japan Kendo
Federation Iaido.

Rokudan candidates:
1: What is kigurai?
2: What are ma and ma-ai? Describe their application in one or two All Japan Kendo
Federation Iaido kata.
3: What is important when teaching Iaido to beginners?


Remember that essay questions only become a requirement when attempting to advance to 1 Kyu or higher.

[mrind001]

Generally, what is the expected average length of essay questions?

[Jonathan Anderson]

I don't know that there is a minimum length, really. I've seen people hand in half a paragraph - so they didn't follow the "submit your essay with your shinsa application" instruction, make of that what you will - all the way to a full page or more. Length is not the key factor in the quality of a work. What is stated in the work is more important. Of course, some of these questions are asking for easily definable answers (names of all 12 Seitei kata, katana diagram with labeled parts, etc.), but some are asking deeper philosophical questions that don't necessarily have an obvious answer. That's part of the test: CAN you answer the question, and HOW do you answer it? Or, perhaps more to the point, have you been considering the deeper elements of the Art, and appropriately trying to find the answers to them, or have you simply been swinging a sword for want of something better to do? ;D

For my view of it, it's better to be thorough, but concise in your answer. Don't resort to "padding" your response just to try to make your essay longer.

[lane]

should it be a formal paper with in-text citations and a references page? just wondering(serious question)

[Jonathan Anderson]

Nov 5, 2010 17:06:42 GMT -4 lane said:

should it be a formal paper with in-text citations and a references page? just wondering(serious question)

First, I always treat any question as being serious - it's not always easy to ask, but as I've said before, the only stupid question is the one you don't ask!

That being said, your question is a very good one, and I'm very glad that you asked it. An essay-style question should be written with a serious tone, but ultimately all essay questions are supposed to test your personal knowledge of a subject. Think about essay questions in tests at school. You don't have references to call upon (in many cases, anyway), so your answer is put in terms based upon your best understanding. These essay questions are a touch different, as you can use references (online searches, ask me, Iaido reference books, etc.), but here are my personal thoughts on that (remember: these are my PERSONAL thoughts - not the end-all be-all truth for Iaido shinsa!):

1. You can and may use personal research in answering any essay questions required for a given rank, but
2. If you cannot answer any part of any question without researching it thoroughly, then in my mind, you're not yet ready for that rank, regardless of what your physical skills are.

Now, that being said, an example I can give for myself is the second Nidan question (define and describe the importance of hasuji). When I first started seriously thinking about attempting Nidan, I looked over the questions, and found that I had no idea what that question was asking - I didn't know what "hasuji" translated as. A very quick online search gave me the understanding of the term that I needed, and confirming it with Parker Sensei, was all I needed to be able to answer the question accurately. If I had needed to learn what the term translates as, then if I had to research the definition of the term, then if I had to research the importance of the term, etc., then I'd have considered that I wasn't ready to test to Nidan.

Hopefully that makes sense.

Also, I must stress to most everyone that in all likelihood it's highly unlikely that you will be testing for Ikkyu at this event. Again, it's not impossible, but please don't get your hearts set on that rank. Somewhere in the Gokyu-Sankyu range is probably more realistic. I don't want to douse anyone's spirits in any way, but I also don't want anyone hit with a heavy dose of disappointment. In all honesty, I'd be surprised if Michael Vanderhoof isn't tested for at least that rank, just based on how long he's been training. By the same token, I'll be pleasantly surprised if anyone else in the current group IS tested that high this time around.

[mrind001]

It is wishful thinking that we all can get to 1st kyu ;D on our first attempt....but we should accept the reality of where we will actuallly test at. Personally, just about every test I have taken, I was asked questions, no matter the rank I was testing for...so I will answer the essay questions. I believe tests are more than just physical ability, but also intellectual. In life our real tests that we face a majority of the time will not be with the sword, but the use of a pen and what we say.

[lane]

what if you do not know one of the kata they tell you to perform?

[Jonathan Anderson]

First, you should know the first 5 by now... at least somewhat, and we'll be reinforcing that knowledge over the next couple of months - you ARE practicing your kata at home, right?

Second, we will be covering more than just the first 5 kata over the next couple of months as well.

Third, EVERYONE can help facilitate covering the later kata by PRACTICING THEIR KATA AT HOME!!! "I don't have enough room at home," is not a valid excuse for 2 reasons:
1. There's the Great Outdoors.
2. You can always take a few minutes out of every day, close your eyes, and see yourself doing the kata in your mind.

Do not underestimate the mind's power - in my TKD days, I learned entire techniques purely through mental visualization.

I seriously doubt that you'll be asked to do any kata beyond the first 5 for your first shinsa, but on the off chance that you are, you shouldn't be asked to do anything past the first 7, which we should be able to cover sufficiently between now and then.

Fourth, your greatest concern should be ensuring that you know ha-rei and to-rei without question.

[kendocubano]

I really liked this, as an answer to the question of reiho: www.umich.edu/~umkendo/kendo.html