All Nippon Kyudo Federation

Regulations For Rank Tests
(translated from the Kyudo Kyohon, Volume 1, pp. 201-202)

Rank
Requirements
3rd Kyu
One who is judged able to both perform the basic movements of shooting and handle the equipment to a certain degree, showing that he or she is training under systematic instruction.
2nd Kyu
One who is judged to have made marked improvement over the 3rd kyu level of training.
1st Kyu
One whose shooting form (shaho hassetsu) and conduct of shooting (taihai) are judged to be correct in their main points.
1st Dan
One whose shooting form and taihai conform to the proper form and who has reached a level where the arrow flight is consistent and not erratic.
2nd Dan
One whose shooting form and taihai both show proper form, whose execution of shooting technique shows vitality and spirit, and whose arrow flight is consistent and not erratic.
3rd Dan
One whose form has developed consistency, whose taihai has become settled and calm, whose breathing is well regulated, whose execution of shooting technique follows the correct principles, and whose arrows fly straight with fairly consistent accuracy.
4th Dan
One who, in addition to the required elements for 3rd dan, has correct breathing, a sharp hanare, and has reached a level where accuracy is consistent.
5th Dan
One whose shooting form, shooting technique, and taihai all conform to correct principles, who has begun to display shahin (dignity, quality, and elegance in shooting), and who, in particular, is judged to have achieved refinement.
6th Dan
One who shows excellent shooting technique and whose further development of refinement is striking and obvious.
7th Dan
One who has made shooting form, shooting technique and taihai a part of him or herself so that they are naturally expressed, who is possessed of a high degree of shahin, and who has reached an expert level.
8th Dan
One whose technical ability is perfect (mature), whose shahin is refined and elegant, and who has mastered the mysteries of the art of shooting.
9th Dan
One who has penetrated to the ultimate truth of kyudo.
10th Dan


translated by Yoshiko Buchanan
Shiseikan Kyudo Dojo
San Jose, California

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