The February 2026 Rank Testing will be held on Saturday, February 28th. Students in all four Kids Divisions as well as Adult students will be testing on this day.
The February Rank Test will be held on Saturday, February 28th, 2026 at the New York City dojo. Eligible adults and kids will have an opportunity to test for their next rank.
Testing is By Invitation
Testing, of course, is by invitation of Sensei. If you have received a written invitation, please return your completed information form to the Front Desk as soon as possible. It's important to get this form back to the dojo as soon as possible to allow for planning and logistics.
Note that because Rank Testing is an all-day event, the regular class schedule, including any LiveCast classes, is canceled on Saturday, February 28th, 2026.
The Dojo opens at 11AM for those participating in Testing. All students testing are reminded to be prompt and arrive at the dojo in ample time for the start of their testing. Testing in the Juniors, Youth, Teens, and Mentor Divisions starts at 11:30AM; Adult testing begins at 1PM (but Adults should be at the dojo by 12:30PM).
Appropriate Uniform
In addition, all students testing are reminded to be sure to wear a gi that has both a Goju shoulder patch and a Goju chest patch. Rank testing is a formal event and all Goju karateka are required to wear a gi that displays both patches to formal events. This applies to both kids and adults testing.
Don't have patches? Stop by the Front Desk at the NYC Dojo– they're available for a nominal cost (you'll need one for your shoulder and one for your chest: they're different). Please remember to sew them on: these patches aren't iron-on patches.
Shinzen Katami
If you're testing, also please consider bringing a shinzen katami with you. If you don't know what this is, please read about that here.
Kids Rank Testing
Kids rank testing will begin at 11:30AM. This includes all divisions, including Teens (who will begin their written examination while younger kids begin their physical test). Teens will join the in-progress physical test once they've completed the written examination.
Kids in the Junior and Youth divisions do not take a written examination, but rather proceed to the general examination directly at 11:30AM.
Typically, the Kids Rank Testing event lasts until about 1PM, although kids in the Junior and Youth divisions finish their rank testing earlier.
Adult Rank Testing
Adult rank testing for kyu-belt rank students begins at 11:30AM (instead of the usual 1PM), with a written examination for all adults who are testing. It is followed by a general examination. The entire event, for adults in the 10th through 2nd Kyu ranks, lasts between two and four hours total, depending on rank.
This is an all-ranks testing event. That means that all kyu-level students (10th through 2nd) are eligible to test, pending an invitation to do so, of course.
As per tradition, Adult rank testing is a closed event: no spectators are permitted.
