Naomi Watanabe Aikido Shodan Exam

Highlights from the shodan (1st degree black belt) test by Naomi Watanabe of the University of South Florida Aikido (Tampa), taken on September 2008 at Shindai Aikikai (Orlando, Florida). The exam was held during the annual Florida Rokudan Seminar under a committee of 6th degree instructors.

Video by Masao Yatsui, edited by University of South Florida Aikido (Tampa, Florida - http://usfaikido.com).

Category:

Education

Tags:

• aikido
• test
• exam
• black
• belt
• shodan
• student
• aikik

[Dogma12341]

@conanfiles- in our dojo, the purpose of randori is to show how well you can blend with your attackers. moving in any direction (even backward) is preferable to "standing your ground". that is a phrase that is never uttered in aikido, as the basis of the art is to harmonize, or blend with the attack so that is may be neutralized without permanent damage to the attacker.

[sum1otosh1]

Poor for the most part. No offence to the girl but that little display wouldn't have been a pass. Wouls like to have seen how well she did on the kata. After all, the grading is based on the kata. Her jo work was impressive though. That so called randori (san-endori) was feeble. Even mid level kyu grades manage to keep posture and know not to keep running backwards.

[giriasis]

@dojomania I've seen people failed several times

[dojomania]

@conanfiles agreed. There's a lot to learn in aikido, and unfortunately, there are financial incentives to pass a student ..let's be serious... how many folks have actually failed a shodan exam ? Yeah, the randori looked like she was running away, actually didn't see a single throw...and her nikyo at the beginning was messed up..But, it's the journey, not the destination, and I applaud her for trying.

[buffordlande]

This is a bit late but Congratulations Naomi!

[buffordlande]

This is a bit late but Congratulations!

[conanfiles]

wasn't impressed with the randori...that's the real test....she didn't hold her ground well

[masashi01]

Good job!!!

[myoharmonics]

Wow, that's a shodan? Credit to the teacher and student. Well done!