In Jissen Kobudo we wear a dark blue kendo-gi ("training-jacket") with black karate-pants. As someone new to the arts you start off with a white obi ("belt"). From shodan ("black belt") on a dark blue hakama is worn instead of the black pants, along with a kaku obi ("coloured wider belt" - the specific colour is no indication of rank).

There are three official Jinenkan kyu-degrees ("beginners") and nine Jinenkan dan-degrees ("advanced") in our system.

Every Jinenkan Dojo Cho can also decide to use some introductory kyu degrees (e.g. 6th, 5th, 4th kyu). In the Kounryusui Dojo sankyu (3rd kyu, green belt) is the first belt to be studied. In our shibu dojo (jissen kobudo training groups) extra preparatory kyu-degrees are mandatory.

From sankyu on, tests in every Jinenkan Dojo worldwide are the same:

SANKYU (3rd kyu, green belt)

Literally the kanji "kyu" means "bringing the threads together". It's like the practitioner weaves all structures into a carpet.

As an IKKYU you prepare yourself to test for your first dan degree (shodan). Contrary to some other martial arts we don't use a black belt, instead we wear a dark blue hakama from this rank on.

To succeed in the SHODAN test you will need to perform the following:

• koto ryu koppojutsu kamae: seigan, hira ichimonji, hoko, bobi
• koto ryu koppojutsu kata: kouyoku
• gyokko ryu kosshijutsu kamae: ichimonji, hicho, jumonji
• gyokko ryu kosshijutsu kata: koku
• kosshi kihon sanpo: ichimonji no kata, hicho no kata, jumonji no kata
• kukishin ryu rokushakubojutsu kamae: seigan, hira ichimonji, tenchijin, chudan, gedan, hokosaki (ihen), kyohen
• kukishin ryu sanshakubojutsu kamae: katayaburi, munen muso, otonashi.

Each student also needs to pass a written test about the schools and their kamae + kimochi.

The kanji "dan" means "chopping steps in a rockery". The student sees an ideal image in the teacher, sees what (s)he wants to achieve him- or herself. The student works towards that ideal image, closer and closer to the top of the rocks...

Climbing the ranks is like a snake sheathing skin.

All definitions will be explained during the classes, so don't worry about the japanese terms for now.

All techniques are (amongst other things) taught via the principle "SHU HA RI":

• "Shu" (beginning students) means loyally/correctly keeping and following the technique, kata or form;
• "Ha" (advanced students) means "breaking up" the form, varying it;
• "Ri" (most advanced students) means "forgetting" the form, "leaving it behind"...

These three terms play an important role for all those who want to study an authentic japanese art.

These three principles keep coming back, no matter how many years you've trained or whatever rank you've attained.

Until and including shodan we focus – regarding a test that is - on performing (almost) all movements slow, fluently, and technically correct.

The requirements for all further dan-ranks will be supplied to you in the dojo.