We've all experienced the feeling, a little embarrassed, very uncomfortable. You don't want to watch and you don't want to be there. Someone that you hardly know is struggling through an Aikido test and doing pitifully. It's tough on the person testing. It's tough on the instructors. It may be toughest on the Shihan conducting the test. Not only does he have to witness it, he also must resolve it with a pass fail grade.

I wanted to share some thoughts about tests in Aikido. These are simply from my own experience and I welcome your comments. For everyone's sake, I wish to avoid the situation that I just described. As a loftier goal, I hope that students will think more about their physical and mental approach to Aikido testing.

Aikido is in unique position when it comes to testing. Other martial arts have tests, but most of them also have some form of competition. In a competitive martial art, one may demonstrate their aptitude by winning tournaments, taking tests, or both. Aikido only has the testing aspect. Because of this, tests are much more important in Aikido.

Not only are they more important, they are an essential part of learning Aikido. Some students say that they are not interested in testing. However, we should view examinations as a yardstick of progress. Tests require focus on various techniques and aspects of the art. They provide structure to learning. An interesting curiosity of Aikido tests is that once you begin to focus on the next level, you are forced to apply an understanding of your current level. In a way, it is similar to high school mathematics, where you don't really understand Algebra I until you need to use it in Algebra II. In the same way, the tests in the United States Aikido Federation (USAF) curriculum build on one another and thus, are a powerful learning tool. I would encourage everyone who is currently avoiding taking a test to rethink that strategy. The rewards are great.

Aikido tests are not only important for the individual student testing, but also for everyone else involved. The people sitting on the mat observing may be testing soon and learn something from watching. It goes without saying that the uke profits from the experience. The student's instructor profits from the experience by seeing what needs attention. Spectators hopefully profit from the experience. In fact, Aikido tests, which are demonstration in nature and frequently attended by spectators, singularly represent to many, what Aikido is. Given this importance, this exposure, who suffers from a bad test? The student? The instructor? The spectators? The Federation? I believe the answer is everyone.

Given this importance, tests need to be confronted with the utmost seriousness and honesty. It begins with preparation. Often students have not prepared properly. This may be due to an improper mental approach as well as the more obvious approach to adequate physical preparation. For example, the required hours that appear on the USAF test requirements represent a minimum, not an average. Just because a student acquires the minimum number of hours does not mean that they are ready for the test. They are only eligible. Rather than be driven by the number of hours, students should carefully assess their own preparedness and seek their instructor's input. This should be the determining factor, and should be obvious, but it is often overlooked. Invariably, when a student with significantly more hours than the minimum takes an exam, the test stands out against its peers.

The USAF tests are cumulative in nature, but many times a student taking a 4th kyu test will forget a requested 5th kyu technique. The USAF test requirements are well defined, yet often students exhibit poor conditioning for their test. In the upper kyu and dan tests, students are allowed to select techniques for given attacks, yet out of the thousands of techniques in Aikido, students often don't appear to have spent much time making that selection. This is a fine opportunity to demonstrate favorite techniques, ones that are good for the way you move your body or ones that you just may do particularly well. All these issues can be addressed by serious and thorough preparation.

Every Aikido test is a unique opportunity. A well-executed test is something to be proud of. It justifies the hours of preparation that achieved the result. It is a positive reflection on yourself, your instructors, the USAF Shihans, and the USAF at large. Unfortunately, there is risk because the opposite is also true. A poorly executed test is a negative reflection on the same set of people. Confronting this risk honestly and thoughtfully is the first step.