---

TEST GUIDELINES

---

For Students joining us from other Bujinkan Affiliations

*	Ranking Advancement- Material Required
*	Rank Recognition
*	Testing your Students
*	Affiliation Procedures for a Kyu level Student with a Hombu certificate who was certified by another instructor
*	Affiliation Procedures for a Shodan with a Hombu certificate who was certified by another instructor.
*	Affiliation Procedures for a Shodan certified by another instructor without a Hombu certificate.

Many students and instructors decide to train with us and continue their ranking certification gradings with us after training with other instructors in the Bujinkan system for many different reasons. Most of them want a solid standard curriculum to know why they are given a grade which we openly offer. We want all of our gradings to mean something special for everyone. It is a personal journey and since we think of gradings as a way of showing the measurement of how far a student has travel down the path and that they have effectively learned the material to a certain level. Especially as many people who first start never thinking they will become a teacher someday end up becoming a teacher to at least a few others. Ninjutsu training is so much fun that it is contagious. Here is our guidelines for ranking certification and how a student can become affiliated with us at the many possible levels they can already be at. We welcome you to the ABD training!!

Ranking Advancement- Material Required
Everyone who trains at American Bujinkan DojoTM must abide by the same guidelines for learning and advancement.
Everyone must learn and properly demonstrate the exact same material for all rank levels as taught and detailed in the kyu and dan manuals no matter where or from whom they learned it. At American Bujinkan DojoTM we want all students and instructors to know the same basic material as they grow and expand their knowledge and travel the budo path to inner enlightenment.

Rank Recognition
We will recognize your certification from the Hombu Dojo in Japan as your rank, whatever the rank level is that you currently hold. We will also require you to learn all of our American Bujinkan DojoTM kyu and/or Dan material up to the next level you wish to test for before advancing you to your next rank. It is the learning that is most valuable to us as martial artists and not the rank, which is only a recognition that you have learned certain material up to a certified level. Again, anyone choosing to have affiliation with Shihan Van Donk at any level must know the information American Bujinkan DojoTM requires of its students up to the rank level they want to be recognized at, whether that level is 9th kyu or 4th Dan While we respect everyone and their teachings the only recognized rank certification American Bujinkan DojoTM recognizes is that from the Hombu Dojo of Soke Hatsumi in Japan. This must be shown to us before we can consider any new rank testing certification. And while we do recognize all certification from the Hombu dojo as valid we also that the practitioner learn our American Bujinkan DojoTM material as it is usually much more in-depth and comprehensive than that of other instructors who may have a different learning curriculum than us.

This is especially important for Dan level persons who have decided to join our training after having reached an instructor level. These persons are required to get the Black Belt Home Study Course so they will know our kyu level material as we at American Bujinkan DojoTM teach it. This will give them a reference for teaching others and it is important that all ABD students can attend any class from any American Bujinkan DojoTM instructor and be assured that the instructor can help them with their training. This American Bujinkan DojoTM instructor can teach his or her class in any way they desire, adding whatever lessons they desire, as long as when the student tests they know and can demonstrate proficiently the kyu level material laid out by American Bujinkan DojoTM. Again, knowledge is more important than rank and this is why no one offers more Ninjutsu training information than we do at American Bujinkan DojoTM and Bushindo Martial Arts University.

Testing your Students
Every instructor must have a relationship with Shihan Van Donk to test their students. Most all instructors will need to be a Shidoshi-ho to rank students.
Only by special permission will Shihan Van Donk allow Shodans to test their students up to 5th kyu before becoming a Shidoshi-ho.
Shidoshi-ho (a junior licensed teacher still under a Shidoshi) ranking is usually allowed at Nidan (2nd degree) by Shihan Van Donk. As a Shidoshi-ho you can rank your students directly with Japan up to one rank level certification below your own grade, or you can have American Bujinkan DojoTM send the ranking to Japan for you if you'd rather.
Shidoshi (a fully licensed teacher) is given by Soke Hatsumi after the passing of the Godan test (5th degree) and at that time you will rank directly with Japan (if desired).

Affiliation Procedures for a Kyu level Student with a Hombu certificate who was certified by another instructor

1	The student must write a letter of intent to train with us. The letter must include their current teacher's name and state how long the student has trained in Ninjutsu and in other martial arts.
2	A readable copy or clear readable photograph of the kyu certification you hold must be sent to us with the letter.
3	Once American Bujinkan DojoTM has accepted you as a student you will be required to obtain and learn the Black Belt Home Study Course material.
4	For advancement you may come to a camp or seminar so we can see your taijutsu or make a video of yourself to test up to 1st kyu. Shodan testing is always done in person.

Affiliation Procedures for a Shodan with a Hombu certificate who was certified by another instructor.

1	Write a letter of intent to train with us. Letter must include your current teacher's name and state how long you have trained in Ninjutsu and in other martial arts.
2	Send with the letter a copy or clear readable photo of your certification.
3	Come to a camp or seminar so we can see your taijutsu or make a video of yourself doing the Kihon Happo, Sanshin and Bo work.
4	Once American Bujinkan DojoTM has accepted you as a student you will be required to obtain and learn the Black Belt Home Study Course material.
5	At the same time you can begin your Nidan material as outlined in the Nidan course.

Affiliation Procedures for a Shodan certified by another instructor without a Hombu certificate.

1	Write a letter of intent to train with us including your current teacher's name and stating how long you have trained in Ninjutsu and in other martial arts.
2	Send with the letter a copy or clear readable photo of whatever certification you do have.
3	Once American Bujinkan DojoTM has accepted you as a student you will be required to obtain and learn the Black Belt Home Study Course material.
4	Make a video of yourself doing the Kihon Happo, Sanshin and Bo work for us to determine what help you may need to acquire a Shodan level certification from us.
5	Come to a camp or seminar so we can properly test, certify and award you with a Hombu dojo ranking certification.