KANGEIKO 2026
SANTA MONICA DOJO
For the first time, we will offer JKA dan and license exams at the conclusion of Kangeiko week.
Currently planned are dan examinations up to JKA sandan as well as JKA Judge D licensing exams. (Other exams may be added upon request and by approval of the examiners).
Check-in time for the examinees is 1 PM on Sunday, January 11, 2026. Please be there early so we can handle the paperwork!
The exams will begin a 2:30 PM for the practical part, to be followed by the written part, if applicable, to begin at about 4 PM.
It is mandatory for examinees to attend all Thursday and Friday evening classes and Sunday classes. Those not taking exams on Sunday (but planning to take JKA exams in the future) are welcome and highly encouraged to take the JKA exam preparation classes on Sunday.
Examiners: Sensei James Field & Sensei Isami Shiroma.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL EXAMINEES
• Be a current JKA member.
• Have a JKA Passport. (If JKA HQ has not sent your membership card or passport yet, please let us know well in advance so we can look up the information).
• Have permission from your instructor as well as the Chief Instructor of your JKA Group. (For Sensei Field’s JKA Group, USD-04, all requests to take JKA exams must be presented to Mr. Jeffrey French, who will discuss them with Sensei Field).
• All necessary forms must be completed clearly and legibly.
• If applicable, you must present your existing dan certificate, or a valid copy
• You must meet the JKA requirements for specific exams:
Qualification test requirements: https://www.jka.or.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/List-of-the-requirements-for-qualification-test-examinee.pdf
Dan test requirements: https://www.jka.or.jp/en/about-jka/dan-ranking/
If you are converting from ISKF dan rank to JKA dan rank, the examiners will need to see a copy of your most recent ISKF dan diploma.
Please note: a registration fee for the successfully converted dan rank and a conversion fee applies to each dan rank previously obtained from ISKF. (This is payable in Japanese yen to JKA Headquarters and currently amounts to approximately $35 per conversion).