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from the April, 2012 issue of Kiai!
Advanced Black Belt Testing in Seido Karate –
A Rare and Special Tradition
By Jun Shihan Sarah Ludden
Co-Executive Director
Testing for promotion to 6th degree black belt in Seido karate was a rich, multi-faceted and inspiring experience, every step of the way. Thank you to my Thousand Waves extended family for your outstanding and completely surprising fundraising for our scholarship fund in honor of my promotion! Over $13,000 was raised! I was so moved by all the kind messages, beautiful cards, delicious cookies and candies, and the gifts of love and support I received. I am encouraged to continue training and teaching the Seido way after the wonderful time I had at Honbu, learning from Kaicho and Nidaime Nakamura and testing with the 40 other dedicated Seido karate-ka I had the privilege of grading with.
The week I spent in New York was a glorious karate retreat. I arrived early morning Wednesday, March 28th, and had the opportunity to spend the next 5 days focusing on my training, connecting with my teachers and getting to know my fellow testing karate-ka. TW black belts, Katherine Nichols and Chris Dyrek, 3rd degree Senpai testing for 4th degree, also arrived on Wednesday and began training with me that night. We did everything together except for the time that Sensei Chris, unfortunately, was afflicted with a 2 day bout of the stomach flu.
We took many classes, including a special class with Seido Grandmaster Kaicho at the beautiful new dojo in Westchester, and enjoyed meals with him and his son, Vice-Chair Nidaime Akira. We participated in the final testing of students presenting for junior black belt and adult shodan, nidan and sandan. People testing for 4th through 6th dan came from all over the globe – Sydney, Australia, Tokyo, Japan, Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa, Florence, Italy; as well as from Honbu, the greater New York area, Berkeley, Los Angeles, Ithaca and Chicago. What a diverse group!
On Saturday, we all arrived at the dojo by noon, warmed up and were ready to begin our test at 1:00 PM. Our first task was to watch and support the children’s black belt test. 15 children, ages 9 to 14, presented for junior shodan and 3 for junior nidan. They looked as nervous as we all felt! But they did a great job and showed warrior spirit, motivating us with their shining examples. Their teachers, Sei Shihan Sana, Kyoshi Karen and soon to become Jun Shihan Pam beamed with pride and satisfaction as Kaicho tied their belts and reminded the new black belts to keep training and above all “appreciate their parents!”
Pictures were taken, the happy families departed, and our overnight test began. 41 of us, alone with Kaicho and Nidaime for the evening and through the night and early morning hours, demonstrated basics, kata, sparring, weapons work and memorized Seido fighting sequences. After each two hour physical segment we would sit in chairs and listen to each other’s oral presentation of our essays, and then, after an hour or so, return to the physical testing. Collectively, we were 10 women and 31 men, ranging in age from our late 30’s to late 60s; some of us began our training in Seido Karate in the 1970s, others as late as the early 1990’s. In our oral presentations we shared our strengths and weaknesses, challenges we had faced, and gratitude for the important role that Kaicho and Seido karate has played in our growth and development as people and martial artists.
The physical test enabled Kaicho and Nidaime to evaluate our knowledge of the vast Seido curriculum, the integrity of our basic techniques, our fitness and our spirit under stress. We performed much of our material with our eyes closed or with imaginary partners or imaginary weapons in our hands! This added challenge made remembering even the most familiar sequences difficult. I was grateful for the years of training I had as a Kyoshi and the extra training I did in the finals months leading up to my test. Of course I could not remember some things, especially as I grew a bit tired by 2 AM; my goal when this occurred was to remain calm, composed and responsive to Kaicho’s feedback.
The oral test was a time for Kaicho and Nidaime to ask us questions about our training, our commitment to Seido, our path of growth and change as senior black belts in his organization. People spoke honestly and from the heart and we all grew closer to each other. The final part of the test was meditating on seiza benches in 3 concentric half circles while Kaicho and Nidaime placed in front of each of us our new embroidered gi and our belts. An hour later, we ended our meditation, listened to Kaicho’s message of inspiration and congratulations, bowed, and then retired to the locker room to change and “freshen up.” We ended our overnight experience with a delicious pot luck breakfast (with coffee!) and a long series of formal pictures taken with Kaicho and Nidaime.
Then, at 6 AM, about 150 black belts arrived to assist in the conclusion of the black belt test of approximately 30 advanced brown belts – two hours of some of the most impressive sparring I have ever seen. I had the honor of supervising two students’ rounds and did my best to keep the fighting safe and challenging. What a great job they did. And what a great way to end my week – supporting this next generation of young black belts.
Congratulations to our new Sensei – Katherine and Chris – and thank you very much to the TW community for your support of our testing experience. Thank you to Jun Shihan Nancy for your instruction, guidance and support of all of us. And thank you again to the TW family for your love and donations of over $13,000 to our scholarship fund!
Osu!