"The Godan Test The Only Test Of Its Kind In The World"

With in the martial arts world there are many truths and fallacies that live in a world of shrouded mysticism. I believe this is an intentional act by those who wish to preserve the heritage and culture of the arts from the modern world. 

Many outsiders are left wondering weather what they are witnessing is a plausible reality or a misleading falsehood. While there are many bogus people out there claiming to be Grandmasters or direct line lineage to some grandeur that lives only in their own imagination. With modern culture and movies popularising the fantasy world of elite untouchable superhero's, that can vanquish a room of attackers without being punched. Such depictions where also seen in the iconic ninja's from the 70's & 80's. All born from the imagination of people who don't understand what they are seeing, when they look at martial arts. It can be incredibly difficult for people to decipher the good from the bad in any art and it is no different in trying to find the real art of Ninjutsu.

"The Godan Test The Only Test Of Its Kind In The World"

Within the Bujinkan Ninjutsu art, is the Godan Test. A test of perception and one that might be looked upon by outsiders, as one of the falsehoods I spoke of earlier. For many years the tests were only given by the 34th Grandmaster of the art himself "Dr Massaki Hatsumi." It is now however also being given by his trusted 15th Dan instructors from around the world but still strictly under his supervision. 

The tests purpose is to establish if the student is ready to become a 5th degree black belt. It also determines the students ability to perceive danger, moments before it happens. The test is given without warning, timing or alerting the student. It is just the student sensing the threat and moving out of the danger of the sword cut. We all have this innate ability, you might have noticed a feeling of being watched, only to turn your head and someone is looking at you. It is a skill that we all have however a good martial artist will hone and get better with this over years of training.

THE TEST

I had no intention of taking the test that day. Being early in my trip I had envisaged myself taking it in the second week, however Rob Renner had other ideas nominating me that night. Having not considered or prepared for the test, moments before I asked Rob for any advice all he said was don't move, worst case scenario you get hit. I am thinking well nothing like pointing out the obvious there. Rob then went on to tell me who ever gives you the test. Start building the connection with them by walking towards them and getting strong eye contact, before turning to kneel and then just wait. That was it the sum of the prep talk, the nerves went into overdrive as I was called up to go first. 

The test is normally carried out in front of a room full of your peers. As you kneel on the mat and close your eyes, the room once alive with everyone training and talking becomes one of calmness and you are alone! Just you accompanied by your racing heart and mind on full tilt struggling to get them under control and find focus. As I knelt waiting for what seemed like an eternity with my adrenaline coursing. I thought to myself okay Craig be calm and instantly and somewhat surprisingly, my heart began to return to a somewhat regular pace.

Knelt with my back to Rob, waiting for the him to take position in his own time before cutting down at my head with the training sword. I went from the calm space on the mat to feeling the intention of his attack, which I can only describe as an alignment of  our energies. Creating the need for me to roll or shift out of the way of the attack. Completely avoiding the swords cut.

At the beginning of my test below, you will here Hatsumi Sensei making a statement to Rob in Japanese, roughly translated he tells him; 

"Do not hold back, otherwise it won't be transmitted to him clearly, give 100%". 

Craig W. (The Real Fitness Ninja) Taking the Godan Test in Nov 2014 in Noda, Japan.

Watching the test is as interesting as sitting it, you can see the metaphysical changes in a person as the connection happens. As the connection is being made in front of your eyes, you know if they will pass or not. The eternity I mentioned earlier was actually no more than 20 seconds, that would change me forever. 

Stepping back to my test. Once I had my mind and heart beat under control I did nothing but wait, not wanting to be a twitcher. I had no intention of trying to guess when it would be coming, so resided myself to the fact if I get hit, then I just get hit. Meaning that I'm not ready to pass yet, some people take numerous attempts. To me it felt like time had slowed as I was waiting, then nothing until I was brought back to reality by the applause of the onlookers. An instant elation of emotion realising that I had moved and passed. Somehow still feeling the connection that had just been made but also a strange feeling that Rob had in fact cut deeply through my body. I can only describe this as the feeling of energy that forced me to move, I know sounds a little mumbo jumbo right.

The tests are rarely filmed and it was only as a result of the misfortune, or on my part luck given a camera crew who had been filming for nearly two weeks in Japan. Suffered a camera malfunction and lost all of their footage earlier that day, so on the day of my test they where frantically trying to recapture as much as they could. The test was given by Rob Renner one of my teachers and personal friends, he is also an incredible wealth of information in the Bujinkan having lived and trained with the worlds top teachers in Japan. Often as much as several times a day, 7 days a week for the past 12 years. That is a lot of hours training and communicating directly with the source of our art. 

The Godan test is also sometimes called the "Sakki Test". Ultimately passing this test means that the student is then recognised as a 5th dan black belt known as a Shidoshi (teacher). Able to begin teaching without having to be governed by a senior instructor.

The Godan test is very different from most traditional forms of grading systems, used in other styles. Assessments are more often done based on a Kata or the student winning a fight against a higher ranked student. The Godan test, serves a purpose of determining the students ability to not only rely on the normal senses of hearing, sight and touch but perceive the threat of an attack from the other persons intentions. The 6th Sense.

"Perceiving the intentions of others is as important as learning to listen"

A big thank you to all of my teachers over the years that helped me to be ready when the time came. To Rob Renner for giving me a good test and pushing me to do it on the day. Also to Alan Blackburn from the NinjaTrainingTV.Com for losing all his footage and subsequently capturing my test that day. 

If you have any questions or comments please leave them in the comments section below.