September Belt Test!

Today was the biggest belt test we've had so far at Five Cities Keichu-Do. We had five white belts testing, two yellow belts, and --- for the first time in our dojo --- a brown belt testing for ikkyu. The test began promptly at 9:00, with warm-ups and stretches, followed by kihon (basics) and the yellow belt requirements.

Some of the test candidates being tested for kicks:

Lizzie Houghton performs an excellent Ichi Heian:

Jessica Houghton, after being awarded her junior yellow belt:
They are no longer white belts! Lizzie Houghton, Brian Mandara, and Jessica Houghton in the back row, with Peyton and Trevor Maas in front.
After our brand new and weary but excited yellow belts were excused, the orange belt candidates continued testing. Mr. Chaney performs Ni Heian while Noelle King waits on deck:

Once all of the orange belt requirements had been tested, it was time for the sparring portion of the test. The candidates fought two rounds each of continuous sparring. We excused Mr. Chaney due to his shoulder troubles.


Our happy new orange belts!

Now the only candidate left testing was Daniel, who was testing for ikkyu, or first kyu, the last rank before black belt. He sped confidentally through the green and purple belt requirements, and then it was time for the closed portion of the ikkyu test. Once all the guests had left, he began the final part of his test, which covered all the brown belt material and more.

Here Daniel throws Jesse in kata guruma, also known as shoulder wheel or fireman's carry:

Daniel performs the black belt level kata, Keri Zuki Shodan:

The triumphant but exhausted new ikkyu poses with the black belt testing panel:

Overall, I was very pleased how well everyone did. There were a few fits of nerves and a few "oopses", but everyone was definitely up to the challenge of testing, even Daniel who was still recovering from an illness and Mr. Chaney, whose not-fully-recovered shoulder began to suffer after a front fall. It was rewarding for us as instructors to see how much effort and how much "Keichu attitude" each student put into the test.

They definitely impressed us, and they succeeded in convincing us that they had each earned their new belts. Congratulations!