General
Shintaido examinations are held with the rigor and formality that is characteristic of most traditional martial arts: throughout the ceremony, strong concentration and particular attention to etiquette is requested not only from the the examinees, but also from all who are present. More than anything, however, Shintaido examinees are expected to burst into their fullest expression and to give themselves completely to their demonstration. While technical mastery of the forms is essential for promotion, the strong commitment to active expression is a far more important quality that must be demonstrated at any rank.
Format
Examinations often take place during a gasshuku or other special event. Examinations may also be scheduled as a stand alone event. An examinee has applied for a specific rank and appears before an examination jury to perform the required techniques, which are called out by the goreisha. The latter directs the procedure of the examination and serves as a facilitator between the examinee and the jury, which may require the presence of at least one general instructor, in addition to one or several senior instructors. The jury may ask to see the examinee demonstrate techniques that lie beyond the scope of the requested rank. Exams in several disciplines may be taken consecutively.
Requirements
Links for exam criteria can be found on the SoA Curriculum page.
Following is a table describing eligibility and necessary examiners for each rank.
| DISCIPLINE | RANK CHALLENGED | INTERVAL BETWEEN EXAMS | NECESSARY EXAMINERS |
| OPEN HAND | Instructor | 1 year | Two General Instructors |
| “ | Graduate | 1 year | One General Instructor OR Two Senior Instructors |
| “ | Assistant | Two Instructors | |
| “ | Advanced Student | Two Instructors | |
| KARATE | 2nd-dan | 1 year | Two 4th-dan holders |
| “ | 1st-dan | 1 year | One 4th-dan holder OR Two 3rd-dan holders |
| “ | 1-kyu & below | Two 2nd-dan holders | |
| BOJUTSU | 2nd-dan | 1 year | Two 4th-dan holders |
| “ | 1st-dan | 1 year | One 4th-dan holder OR Two 3rd-dan holders |
| “ | 1-kyu & below | Two 2nd-dan holders | |
| KENJUTSU | 2nd-dan | 1 year | Two 4th-dan holders |
| “ | 1st-dan | 1 year | One 4th-dan holder OR Two 3rd-dan holders |
Registration and other forms:
Exam Registration: All students challenging for an exam needs to fill out this form:
SoA Exam Registration Form
Shintaido Assistant Level: Fill out this form in addition to filling out the registration.
Application – Assistant Level
Shintaido Graduate Level: Fill out this form in addition to filling out the registration.
Application – Graduate Level
SoA Exam Fee Structure as of January 2019
You must be a fully paid member of SoA to take an exam.
Pay Membership Dues here – Choose “Shintaido of America Membership”
| Bo, Karate and Kenjutsu | 10 kyu – 6 kyu | $30 |
| 5 kyu – 1 kyu | $40 | |
| Shodan | $150 | |
| Nidan | $200 | |
| Shintaido | Advanced Student | $40 |
| Assistant | $40 | |
| Graduate | $150 | |
| Instructor | $200 |
Graduate/Shodan and Instructor/Nidan exam fees include an SoA Examination Licensing/Diploma Fee (one-time fee paid after passing an exam) of $50 for Graduate/Shodan and $100 for Instructors/Nidan. If the examinee does not pass, the appropriate diploma fee is refunded. Above Nidan and Instructor, licensing fees are handled directly by the International Shintaido Project (ISP).
| Bo, Karate and Kenjutsu | Shodan | $50 |
| Nidan | $100 | |
| Shintaido | Graduate | $50 |
| Instructor | $100 |
Pay Exam Fee + Diploma Fee – Choose “Shintaido of America Exam Fees”.
Enter the combined amount of the Examination Fee & the Diploma Fee
Other Resources
- The SoA Examination Book has more details about the examination process.
- Examinees interested in challenging for 3rd-dan and above will find the International Technical and Exam Committee requirements for examinations (PDF) useful.
