Who's taken the JKA Certification? What Dan are you? Is there any way to take it in the US (either through a representative here or via Skype or something)? How was your testing experience? Etc.
There's a lot of good info in the JKA thread, you should check it out. I'm currently 2 Dan, and my experience with testing has been good. The rules are firm but fair, and it's fun to feel the pressure. Make sure you know the rules for each trick though. For example, adjusting the tama or your fingers on a lighthouse/falling is not allowed.
Hey Sam! I'm a JKA 2nd Dan. The only way for you to take it in the States is that you need a certified JKA examiner to grade you in person. They do not accept video submissions or Skype/video conferencing. It was nervous for me! Went to the JKA HQ in Tokyo, back in 2015 to get myself examined. My adjudicator requested that i first do my Moshikame to determine which Dan i'm capable for. Used an unstrung Oozora for this. After a couple of tries (and bouts of nervousness), i managed to hit 301, allowing me to be examined under ni-dan. Used a Mugen to get graded. Also, to take the tests and obtain the original copy of the Dan cert, a fee applies. Failing which, you'll be given a temporary certificate, with a year's validity.
I bought this in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles. It is a JKA pamphlet for foreigners to study and prepare for the examination.
Anime Jungle. Yes they do. In fact that Shin Fuji in the photo I purchased there. I've also bought a few other Shin Fujis and Ozoras there too. They also have non-JKA like KUSA, Sweets, Krom, Active, etc.
@azleonhart When you say youn had a couple of attempts at your moshikame what do you mean? I was under the impression that you get one try and thats it! Or were your first couple of trys official practice attempts before you said 'This is my official try' and gulped? I got a BKA grading (1st Kyu)at last years BKO(British Kendama Open). At home I could comfortably self certificate up to 1st dan and regularly hit over 200 moshikame. However when I got infront of my BKA examiner @Donald Grant I comfortably did all tricks to 1st Kyu then did my moshikame run. I got 16 on my first attempt. Thats only good enough for 2nd Kyu. Howeer The BKA allow a second run at the moshikme and on this run I beat the nerves and hit 316! Hurah i though, I can try for 1st or 2nd Dan! Alas no the second run is just to allow for nerves but only the first 50 moshi counted. Donald just kindly let me carry on so I could get a feel for the speed required BKA run a grading system that is exactly like the JKAs and I believe is recognised by the JKA too. Although may not carry the kudos that the JKA exam does. Also if you belong to the BKA forum you get your name on a list that you can find under "Tricks" on https://kendama.cz/en website.
@Stuart Barron i had something like three attempts for moshi! First try, was nervous, dropped it around 20 haha! Second try, still nervous at being looked at, dropped at 100+. The adjudicator told me to relax, take a breather, try again in 10. Then i hit 301! Always a different feel, with yourself, vs in front of someone judging you. My name's on the page, yeay!
If you can find an Ozora poster or mini poster (A3 paper) they have the same information. (some of the early full sized posters are only one-sided though) Kendama USA has the full sized poster in stock but they don't mention it having the second side printed.
Does anyone know if the 40th Anniversary Seals are permitted for use in competition and/or certification? (Or are they like the "recommended" seals, and attached on a product made by a company that makes approved product, but this product is not actually approved?)
@sambarboo Keyaki shinfuji? Very nice! Not sure about the special JKA 40th seal kendamas. That looks like a beech TK16 but other than that I couldn't tell you. @azleonhart The JKA(BKA) exam is a surprisingly nerve racking, especially the moshikame, as that can make or break the deal so to speak. I'd be happy getting to 1st/2nd Dan at some point in the future though.
@sambarboo Seeing as some American and Canadian kendamas also carried the JKA 40th seal I suspect they wouldn't be approved for certification purposes though.
I have my third Dan (and got the certificate before they started charging foreigners. Woo!), I tested with Katsuaki Shimadera while at EJC 2012 in Poland. I used an OG green ozo.. the best. I tested once again at the JKA 40th anniversary event, but dropped at 890something moshikame so I didn't qualify for 4th Dan. No westerner has made it to 6 Dan yet, but Ruisch, Sweets, and Void are 5 Dan and have been trying. I know Keith has 5 dan as well. A bunch of people have 4th too (Roddama, Philip, Thorkild, Matthias Steen, etc)
i'm a first dan as of last week. the test is great, the pressure is real lol. i managed 314 or something for moshikame (i tried to scratch my eye, what was i thinking!?), so i can test for 2nd dan next month and not do the moshikame again. that's how i'm told that works, and there's a one month waiting period between test attempts for dan 1 ~ 5, pass or fail. also i hear you have to test in order, starting at 1st. i wasn't charged and was told you only get 2 tries on the moshikame. i suppose there can be discrepancies depending on who/where it gets done.